BestGigLargeNew York-based electropop artist Austin Coven went from Fred Again to the studio.

Austin Coven: The best gig I’ve ever seen was Fred Again at the Shrine [Expo Hall in Los Angeles in October 2023]. From the moment he stepped onstage, the energy in the room was unlike anything I’d ever felt, with the crowd completely in sync with every beat, lyric, and drop. His ability to connect with people emotionally through his music and lighting was incredible — every song felt like a shared experience, a rare moment we were all living in together.

It was in that concert I realized how powerful music could be in bringing people together, and it sparked my drive to start making my own. Seeing how deeply his music resonated with everyone there made me want to create something that could connect with people in the same way.

My first studio session was two months later.  ❖

Austin Coven’s single “Cherry Bomb Explosives” is out now.