Meet Austin Ludwig: Artist, Songwriter, & Pastor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Ludwig and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
A pursuit of self-awareness is something I think we should all value highly. Although the word “self” is found here, self-awareness is actually the opposite of being self-centered and egocentric. When we seek to become self-aware we are attempting to understand how we are truly perceived by others around us and those we are in relationship with. To be self-aware is to willingly step out of a selfish mindset. I spent many years of my life operating as what I considered to be my authentic self. I unapologetically was honest with everyone and did all that I could to maintain autonomy. But as time ensued I recognized that my “honesty” and the the truth were two very different things. I left a wake of relational destruction in my path and continued to believe that if people were offended by me that it was their problem. However, functioning this way only created distance between myself and those I desired to love and be loved by. Another attribute of self-awareness is to not just understand what we do, but why we do it. We must ask ourselves what fuels our desires and motives behind our actions. As I journeyed toward self-awareness, and continue to do so, I realized that I was calloused because of past wounds, and the result of this was a fear of vulnerability. Now my encouragement to others is to not challenge everything and everyone around them while leaving themselves out of the picture. We have far too many macro-critics and not enough micro-solutionists. Society doesn’t need another opinionated voice of cynicism. What we need are individuals who take responsibility for their own life and their world within reach. It takes a moment to see the speck in someone else’s eye, but sometimes a lifetime to realize we have a plank in our own. It’s that very plank that blinds us to our flaws, because it has become the lens that we interpret everything and everyone through. We must each drag ourselves kicking and screaming out of our echo chambers, invite a voice that doesn’t sound like our own into our circle, and listen first, speak later, and sometimes not at all. Pride and comfort usually go hand-in-hand, but to be uncomfortable is usually a sign of humility. The lowest place is where the river runs. Humility is not cowardice, but strength restrained. The person we are meant to become is actualized on the other side of our comfort zone. Humility will carry us into that fray and teach us to be born again.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a songwriter, artist, and producer. I am thrilled to announce that I will be releasing my debut album this year and will drop my first single in the coming summer months under my actual name. People can follow “Austin Ludwig” on Spotify to be the first to hear new music went it comes. I never want to promote through comparison, but I’d say what sets my work apart is my story and how it bleeds into everything I create. Growing up as a survivor of abuse and years as a foster kid scars you, but having overcome these challenges has given weight to my art. My art is living proof of the ability to change, to heal, and to help others do the same. I want the world to know that this is just the beginning, a humble beginning, but even so I hope the end of my journey is covered in just as much if not more, humility. I am grateful for every person who has supported me and will support me along the way and will never take them for granted. I am not looking to just build fans or followers, but I am looking to build a community of people who believe in the message of my music and are inspired by it to journey toward self-awareness, humility, and ultimately positive transformation. I hope to beget testimonies in others through art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I was to show a friend around Atlanta for just one day I would actually stay away from the “big hitters” you see on websites like Trip Advisor. Sure, the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, and all those places are cool, but I’d like to help someone put their finger on the pulse of the culture a bit. We’d probably start by going to my favorite brunch place, Cafe intermezzo and then maybe stop at the The High Museum briefly, of course skipping over a lot of the art and shortcutting to the modern and local art. Honestly I would most likely take them to the Belt Line, rent a bird or a bike, and check out a few different spots in the city. We’d hit Ponce City Market and Krog, taste some local beers, head over to Piedmont Park at some point, and without a doubt go to a Ford Fry restaurant for dinner. To end the day I would definitely take my friend somewhere ratchet like MJQ or Opera. If they stayed a week the flow would look a little different, but for a day I would say that’s my little taste of ATL. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt my community at Riverstone Church has been the greatest catalyst for any success I have stumbled upon in the past 7-8 years of my life. Community is necessary for growth. If you want to stay the same then isolation will do just that. To live in community requires courage and vulnerability. Community will shape you and prune you, but in order for trees to bear fruit and grow they must be pruned. I see every relationship and even the conflicts that come with that as the pruning sheers of God. Pruning can be painful, but the fruit that comes as a result is always worth it.

Website: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DKCKaDzsoRmeqiQq5QHgL?si=pFbQIY6eRTGgOD3dzPM3uQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinludwig/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinludwigmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBB8qHj_UuZYlPT9sgSbi8A

Image Credits
Graphic Design: Erastus McCart Photography: Rachel McCart & Garret Drake