A Sofar alumni that keeps gracing us with his quick-and-powerful verses– meet Ausar. The Chicagoan (from the South Side and South Suburbs, to be precise) has been part of Sofars in cities all over– Los Angeles, Austin, St. Louis, and of course his hometown. But his recent Listening Room performance was a particularly moving one. Check it out below, and read on for what Ausar’s working on, what influences him, and the next Sofar city he has in mind.
What’s your go-to album at the moment?
H.E.R.’s self-titled album. But, it’s been weird because I’ve been listening to four songs on repeat. The album has really been in the back of [my] mind.
Can you describe your music style in six words?
Soulful, intentional, diverse, raw, honest, and heart-felt.
Name an accomplishment you are most proud of.
Taking a leap of faith and getting into music full time. It’s been scary but so rewarding. Outside of music, getting my degree; that was a long-time coming.
What are you working on right now?
My album, David. It’s my sole focus right now.
Are there any specific albums or artists that have had a big influence on your music career and style?
To Pimp a Butterfly [ by] Kendrick Lamar, Malibu [by] Anderson .Paak, Andre 3000, Be [by] Common, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill [by] Lauryn Hill. All these albums that had tons of soul to them. All of these have had a huge impact on my musical preferences.
Dream collaboration and why?
I think I would probably cry if I got a feature from Andre 3000 or Lauryn Hill, because those two have been really influential in terms of how I approach my music.
If you could play a Sofar show anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you want it to be?
New York was super, super cool. But, if I had to think about where I might go—LONDON.
Who are three rising artists you’re excited about right now?
