My Story

What's Up Universe?!? My name's Austin, and I'd love to tell you a little about me, my story, and what I'm trying to do!

I grew up in snowy Upstate New York, and music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom started teaching me the alphabet while I sat on her lap at the keyboard as a toddler, marking the keys with masking tape and a Sharpie. She also used to write songs for me, and eventually ended up turning that into a business. I grew up performing those songs with her from the time I was 4 years old in our family band, Mama Pajama's Playhouse, under my stage name ~ "Rockin' Raabe."

If there was something musical I could do, I was doing it. Choir, vocal jazz, orchestra (double bass), gigging, songwriting, musicals, you name it. I was always drawn to music, and I knew that I was going to make my life about it when I grew up.

And that's just what I did! I moved to Nashville after high school so I could attend Belmont University and study music in more depth (and to get away from the snow). While I was a student, I found my voice, dove deeper into my love of music, theory, songwriting, and composition, sang and directed multiple ensembles, played some insane house shows, and even got to record my own music in a few studios. Those have been some of the best memories of my life.

Since graduating, I've gone back to my roots and teach young children and families music through Tenn Little Birds, a local studio here in Nashville, and also teach privately. I'm actively involved in my church choir and am beginning the journey of bringing my own music to the world, which is both exciting and a little crazy!

My music is all about positivity and hope throughout the storms of life. I believe that positivity won't end the storm, but it does provide an umbrella to navigate it. I try to use my music to bring people together, to make something authentic and beautiful in a world that can sometimes leave me feeling scared or alone. Because that's really what it's all about: finding the joy and bringing people together to make something special.

So that's me. I'm still a kid at heart who loves music and wants to use it to help bring people together and make this world a happier place. I appreciate you reading a bit about me, and I hope to see you along the way as this exciting journey unfolds!

Stay Rockin' :-)