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Louie Austen

"Art must be a matter of life and death otherwise it’s not art" is the sincere conviction of Louie. And so is "I will never retire, I will probably die on stage but I do not give a f**k!" One thing the Viennese Electro-crooner does not go for is doing things by half. Whatever he does is done with his fullest commitment and often regardless of the consequences. Admittedly, this reckless attitude has gotten him into serious trouble time and again. And yet it also made him what he is today: a man who finds himself an upcoming and sought-after artist whose career has not yet reached its climax.

There is a lot going on in the life of Louie Austen: Touring all around the globe, the recordings of 2 EPs just a few months after he had released his latest album Iguana on internationally renowned klein records. Having a singer part in a new adaption of the Nestroy play Höllenangst at the Viennese Burgtheater, regularly swooning and crooning at the Marriott hotel in Vienna and collaborations - like only now with the cool cats of Senor Coconut whom Louie recorded a cover of `Dreams (Are My Reality)` - the classic from the La Boum movie soundtrack. In 2007 Louie founded his own label LA Music - a division of klein records - where he will release his future records on and beware he is already working on a new album, to be released next year.

Time for a flashback. In 1999, the bustling Viennese Electro scene gives birth to a new and surprising idea. A Viennese electronic producer contrasts his experimental electronic tracks with the velvety voice of Louie Austen. He had run into the classic jazz crooner in a studio and immediately proposed a collaboration.

Austen, then 53 years old, had already led an eventful life in various parts of the world and could look back on an equally eventful performing career. After immigrating to South Africa and Australia he had performed in clubs and on stages in New York, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas during the 70s. After his return to Vienna, the crooner entertained the guests at the Klimt-Bar of the Vienna Hilton before he took over the entire entertainment for the Marriott Hotel. A safe job and well paid, too. Additionally, Austen wrote and produced shows like Viva Las Vegas or American Superstars, played parts in several movies and toured both Europe and the USA with show programmes.

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"Sounds like Dean Martin kidnapped Giorgio Moroder and got very drunk with him in the studio before running away with his wife." --OWTL

"Louie Austen could brag about having the most contrasting musical career of all - he has a voice and lounge panache that could give even Sinatra a run for his limo" --CLASH

"Lounge wizard Louie Austen resembles nothing less than your devilishly dashing bachelor uncle. His English is straight out of a Sinatra comedy and his conversation is littered with `50s showbiz expressions." --DAZED & CONFUSED

"Hail the birth of Croonwave! Enjoyed best with a great deal of alcohol, a mirror ball, many (drunk) friends, and ladies

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