Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Austin Mahone

Austin Mahone rose to stardom by posting music videos on YouTube almost ten years ago. Since then, he and his music have been everywhere. From commercials to releasing many catchy singles, Austin Mahone has also won MTV’s Artists to Watch Award and opened for Taylor Swift’s Red Tour. Needless to say, he’s been busy.

He’s (finally!) releasing his debut album, and we caught up with him before he performed at the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day.

PC: It’s been a little while since you’ve released any music so what made you pick “Why Don’t We” as your new single?
Austin: “Why Don’t We”, to me, is one of those fun, throwback type of feels that is going to get the crowd moving even if you didn’t grow in that era. The parents are going to be rocking to it, and the kids are going to be rocking to it. It’s just a great song written by Charlie Puth, and I thought it was just the perfect record to come out of the gates with.

PC: What inspired your other single, “Dancing with Nobody”? 
Austin: That one was inspired by a lot of BeeGees and Earth Wind and Fire. I wanted to come with something that was more uptempo and fun energy so when I’m on stage performing it, you can’t help but dance to it.

PC: Since you’ve been in the industry for a while, is there one moment over your career that stands out to you?
Austin: Honestly, probably the first time I was here [at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day] in 2013. It was one of my first big performances and that will always be something that is stuck in my mind.

PC: Coming back now, how does that feel?
Austin: It feels really great. Last time they had the stage up in the stands and this is the first year that they’re letting the performances on the court. It’s going to be really cool.

PC: For your debut album, you had over 200 songs. How do you whittle that down?
Austin: It’s tough; it’s very tough. I kind of make notes over time as I’m making the music. I get different opinions from different people and I have an idea of what people like the most. When the time comes I’m going to pick my favorites out. I have to re-listen because I made so many, but it’s going to be a good process.

PC: From the first time you were here in 2013 to now, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Austin: I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned is to just have fun while you perform. I feel like, being so young, it can be so overwhelming to be in front of such a large audience in such a legendary place like this. The whole world’s watching, and sometimes you get a little nervous. But now I just go out there, have fun, and share my music with people.

Photo Credit: Kevin Jan/Pop Culturalist.com