Singer songwriter Scott Collins knows the value of storytelling. And fans in Austin and beyond are listening to his brand of well-crafted Americana, so much in fact, that the Austin dMayor declared January 31st "Scott Collins Day" in 2019. The artist is also a KUTX favorite, and the tastemaker radio station described his songs as "filled to the brim with poignant emotions, deeply personal storytelling and honest-to-God wisdom," where Austin City Limits Executive Producer Terry Lickona observes that his songs "sound authentic, yet very modern. (They) stay with you, and that's a
good sign." For Collins' latest album, he teamed up yet again with Grammy-nominated producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith (Built To Spill, Dandy Warhols, Jet) to create the well received In The Burgundy EP. The two forged a synergetic partnership and Collins added multi-instrumentalist Einar Pedersen (The Fray, Kelly Clarkson) to create "the dream team” for his eighth career release, In The Burgundy. He reveals that Smith's “rock genius” and Pedersen's focus gave him "the tools to get to the next level. There was a lot of evolution on this recording." One example of that growth and depth in songwriting is the track “Be Alright," written a decade ago and brought to life with a fun americana and classic rock feel. “In The Burgundy" is based on a true story and trip to Los Angeles climaxing at a local dive bar called The Burgundy Room. The EP's polished and rich production showcases Collin's lyrics and dedication to in-depth songwriting. When he isn't performing, Collins was the man behind Chicken Run Studios, which he founded in 2015 and was designed by Oscar and Grammy-winning engineer and producer Chet Himes (Christopher Cross, Carole king, Marcia Ball). Now after a full circle the studio is home to The Bubble Recording, friend and producer Chris “Frenchie” Smith. The tireless artist also teaches and mentors children in the foster care system through Kids In A New Groove, in addition to volunteering with Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and the SIMS Foundation, which provides behavioral and mental health services for musicians and others in the industry. “I personally feel I lived my dream the first show l ever played,” Collins explains. “I felt it on stage. In that moment I told myself 'now it's only about hard work and paying it forward. |