Austin Carr On the Making Of “Tame Me?”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Tame Me?"
For a while, I wasn’t sure if I would ever record this song myself, because I tend to make pretty introspective sad boy music. Coming out with a higher-energy, flirty song where I repeatedly belt the words “tame me” over and over felt extremely out of character, but I wanted to lean into the silliness and take myself less seriously as a songwriter.
This song is ultimately about a power struggle in a relationship. I wanted to write a story about someone trying to “fix” or “save” their partner using the metaphor of a person trying to rescue a wild animal by putting them in captivity. There’s a cat-and-mouse fight for control throughout the song, loaded with tongue-in-cheek double entendres that were very fun to write. In the end, it’s up in the air about who is taming who.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for "Tame Me?"
I worked with the producer for my EP, Alyssa Wilkens, to develop an 80s-inspired country pop track that captures the feeling of being at a sexy desert dance party. We tried a few different bass lines, instrumentation, and even tempo before we finally found our footing and settled on a vibe that felt right for the song. I’m very excited about where we landed.
Are there any future plans or projects related to "Tame Me?" that you're excited about?
There are! “Tame Me?” is the first single from my upcoming EP “Saturn Attacks” which is coming out in the spring of 2024. The EP tells the story of a fairly chaotic late-20s Saturn Return through a series of uptempo retro pop songs and slower country ballads, influenced by iconic artists like Bruce Springsteen and Phil Collins. I’ll be releasing more singles in the coming months and I’m excited for people to see how all of the pieces fit together into one cohesive project.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
I’d sure love to. I’m a gay boy singer-songwriter currently based in Los Angeles, California. I grew up in a religious Southern community in Florida, so my music is both filled with trauma and inspired by classic folk and country songwriters. I think it’s very exciting to blend the genres of folk and pop together and see what concoctions you can come up with, so I’ve always looked up to artists like Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift. I think there’s something inherently subversive about making country and folk music that tells queer stories, since it’s a genre with a fanbase that hasn’t always looked fondly on sexual minorities.
