Meet Royce Austin | Music Producer & Rapper

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

Hi Royce, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk is the fuel that propels us from our current reality toward the life we envision for ourselves. The late Jim Rohn’s concept of “the timid approach to life” resonated deeply with me. He admitted to being too cautious as a young adult until he came to the realization that “it’s all risky”. He then elaborates saying “life is so risky, you won’t get out of it alive”. That’s all I needed to hear to completely shift my perspective on risk. No matter how cautious we try to be, our life will end and therefore demands that we embrace risk and adventure in pursuit of our biggest aspirations, even if it means venturing into the unknown. Every creative endeavor I pursue, from hearing a melody in my mind, to spending months crafting that melody into a song, to investing in professional mixing and mastering, is a deliberate act of faith. It’s a bet placed on that persistent inner voice saying, “you’re capable of more.” When I left my job to be more flexible for our son and focus more on my music, it wasn’t a reckless leap to me; it felt like strategic courage. Embracing calculated risks and navigating the resulting uncharted territory has been instrumental in fueling my growth, sharpening my resilience, and ultimately leading me to the completion of my debut album, AJ, and the exciting new challenge of learning how to market my music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I express myself best through music—plain and simple. I’ve worn a lot of creative hats over the years, but my songs are the purest reflection of who I am and what I hope to leave behind. My art is about real connection. I make hope-filled music that sees you, moves you, and reminds you that authenticity always wins over surface-level noise. Sonically, my sound is an eccentric, cinematic blend of contemporary hip-hop, soul, and pop with orchestral flair and truth-laced undertones. Think vulnerable verses over grand soundscapes. My songwriting style leans clean, reflective, and uplifting—rooted in faith, fatherhood, and the everyday fight to keep going.
One of the things that makes my process unique is that I don’t start songs by fiddling with plugins or aimlessly looping sounds. I can somehow hear and develop full songs before I even open my DAW. Melodies, harmonies, the emotional arc, sometimes even the drums and vocal inflections—they all come alive in my head first. It’s like my brain plays me the finished song, and my job is to reverse-engineer what I’m hearing into reality. That’s been both a blessing and a creative anchor as I have battled with perfectionism along the way. It’s also what gives my music its cinematic, intentional feel.
What sets me apart isn’t just the music—it’s the mission behind it. I create everything in-house: writing, producing, rapping, singing, graphic design, shooting and editing visuals, etc. My aim is to make music that resonates deeply and reminds people they’re never alone and there’s more to be hopeful for than anything in this life.My goal is to create deeply resonant music that offers hope and reminds listeners that they are never alone. I’m most proud of my unique sound and my ability to craft songs that feel both personal and universal, emotional yet empowering.
That’s what led me to create AJ—my debut album, named after my firstborn son. It’s not just a collection of songs. It’s a tribute to legacy, to growth, to the struggles of being a man, a husband, a father, and an artist without losing yourself in the process. Every track was recorded in my small bedroom studio whenever I could find time between working and raising a family. And the truth is—it was hard. I spent years developing my sound, piecing songs together, improving my songwriting, and letting ideas sit on my hard drive. But completing a full, cohesive, competitive album was a whole different beast.
The hardest part wasn’t writing—it was finishing. There’s a difference between creating and completing. I wasted months (maybe years) trying to mix and master everything myself or working with engineers remotely, and it just never worked out. Eventually I had to get over myself and admit that some things are best left to professionals. That mindset shift led me to Andy Flebbe at Side3 Studios. Working with Andy marked a turning point—not just technically, but emotionally. I had to learn how to communicate what I really wanted and how to trust someone else with my vision while still holding the line on quality and authenticity. It was humbling. Especially for someone like me who’s naturally frugal, always tryna save money, always bootstrapping. But growth costs. And I realized that if I wanted my music to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with what’s out there, I had to invest—in people, in process, in excellence. It’s easy to play around with music software and make beats or record for fun. It’s another thing entirely to craft and finish songs at a level that can carry your name into the future.
I’ve had some wins along the way—the 2020 USA Songwriting Competition finalist nod for my track “YWF” with R&B artist Shyann Lee, and a top 10 placement by TaxiMusic for my song “Let It Go.” But what means more to me is the album itself. AJ represents everything I had to fight through to believe I was worthy of being heard.
I want people to know I’m not chasing trends. I’m building a legacy. If you’ve ever felt like you were made for more—but life keeps throwing curveballs… If you’re someone who values depth over hype, soul over surface, meaning over noise—then my music is for you. AJ is a record rooted in authenticity and courageous honesty. It’s for people like me raising families while chasing dreams in silence. For those who’ve tried to walk away from their calling but keep getting pulled back by purpose.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a music producer who enjoys sitting in the same room for months working on music, I’ve definitely turned into a homebody these days. Add three small kids and my old soul into the mix, and I’m not exactly out painting the town every weekend. But if my best friends were coming to Denver for a week, I’d dust off the extrovert in me and give them the royal Royce Austin experience. Day one starts with breakfast at Village Inn—don’t laugh! It’s been my favorite spot since I was a kid, and you haven’t lived till you’ve had their French silk pie. That’s tradition. From there, we’d ease into the week with a live music night. I’m all about live music events and experiences, and Denver’s packed with legendary venues. Depending on who’s in town, we might catch a show at The Fillmore, Cervantes, or the Ogden. For something truly iconic, we’d do Red Rocks. Throughout the week, we could hit Dazzle for some jazz, maybe Mission Ballroom if someone dope is in town. Maybe Boettcher Concert Hall for the symphony if they’re playing the likes of John Williams or Aaron Copeland. I’m also down for weird, whimsical experiences—so of course we’d wander through Meow Wolf. If they’re feeling brave, I’d unleash my inner adrenaline junkie: skydiving with Mile-Hi Skydiving (yes, I’ve jumped before and I’m ready to go again), bungee jumping at the Royal Gorge Bridge, or racing go-karts at K1 Speed. We could hit Eliches and ride the XLR8R. And if it’s winter, we’re definitely snowboarding at Loveland Pass or Winter Park.
I grew up on arcades and gaming systems like Sega-Channel so arcades like The 1Up, Dave & Busters, Player Two, and Super Awesome Fun Factory are perfect. For something retro and outdoorsy, the horse race at Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is always a good time. I’m always down for anything I can do with my kids because I’m still very much a big kid at heart. So places like Urban Air or Slick City are good spots for them to join in. I’m not a foodie, and I’m definitely not a fan of expensive five-star cuisine. I like the freedom to explore and fill up on a variety of food without draining my wallet. So my go-to is buffets like Golden Corral, Hibachi Buffet, Little India, Yak & Yeti, and Pappadeaux. For local flavor, I’ll take them to Denver Biscuit Company, Sam’s No. 3, Pete’s Kitchen, Voodoo Doughnut, Moonlight Diner, Jason’s Deli, D Bar, and maybe Beau Jo’s for a proper Colorado mountain pie. And look—if Casa Bonita is open and the cliff divers are diving, you know we’re pulling a Cartman and going all in.
Honestly, if Sweet Tomatoes hadn’t shut down, we’d eat there every day too. R.I.P. to my favorite salad buffet.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my wife, Alyssa, whose unwavering support and confidence in my vision transform my doubts into drive. Shoutout to my three kids, who are a constant reminder that my endeavors are aimed at establishing a legacy that will endure beyond my lifetime and positively influence their lives as well as many others. I also want to shout out my mom, my biggest fan and greatest source of encouragement. Additionally, I commemorate my late father, who, alongside my mother, invested in and managed rental properties, exemplifying entrepreneurship and instilling in me the significance of ownership. I also want to shout out my two brothers and sister for their honest, sometimes harsh, opinions and unwavering support. I also want to shout out my longtime collaborator, Shyann Lee, whose soulful voice showed me how creative synergy can ignite extraordinary results. And finally, I want to shout out my music coach, Dr. Harry Ibergs, The Opera Doctor, for being my accountability partner and aiding me in realizing my vocal potential.

Website: https://royceaustin.com/

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

Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/in/goroyceaustin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/goroyceaustin

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/goroyceaustin

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goroyceaustin

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gzEpRqEMfTfcIeg55J5fE?si=y8Y_rCAYTHKJ_UxOR5RnaA

Image Credits
Justin McGrew and Greg Williams