Fans of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse football team may recognize the name Austin Knade. Over the past two seasons, the fourth-year linebacker has played in 25 games and recorded over 70 tackles. However, outside of football, he’s also known by another name: DJ Austo, a local DJ who spends many nights downtown performing at bars and clubs.
Knade hails from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. While he had always loved music growing up and was in choir from third or fourth grade through his junior year of high school, music was something he wasn’t able to focus on early in his time at UWL.
It wasn’t until the spring semester of his freshman year that he got back into music and purchased his first DJ board online.
Knade quickly fell in love with DJing and dedicated himself to it.
The summer after his first year at UWL, he watched hours of YouTube videos every day, learning how to DJ and making it into something he could do as a career. A few months later, Knade had his first gig downtown at The Library Bar. He had a good night, and The Library Bar booked him again the following evening.
“I feel like I’ve [grown] exponentially…what I used to do is record my mixes so I could listen to them back,” said Knade. “I still have those mixes saved on my computer from three years ago, and every once in a while I’ll listen back, and I’m like…‘Was that really me who did that?’”
Knade continued. “It’s also cool to see how much I’ve improved because I know that I can also still improve that same amount. I’ve already improved so much, but I have so much more I can improve on.”
Right now, Knade is working on furthering his creativity with remixing tracks and engaging with the crowd. His largest project is producing his own original house music.
He explained that he’s still learning how to produce his own music and doesn’t have anything he feels is ready to be released, but it’s something he is hoping to get off the ground in the next few months.
“I have a couple inspirations like Bassjackers…John Summit…that’s kind of like the music I’m going to try to get to,” said Knade.
“I kind of get inspiration, but at the same time, house music is so unique to its artists, so it’s hard to really get inspiration from another artist…if you try to copy what they’re doing, you’re going to come out with the same music they’re doing, and that’s not what you’re trying to produce,” he said.
Knade listed 2010’s pop artists such as Jason Derulo, Usher and Rihanna, as well as rappers Polo G, Lil Baby and Drake as musicians he listens to on his own personal time. “[My music taste] definitely has a little bit of an influence on they type of music that I play in the bar, but at the same time I’m always wanting to tailor to the audience,” he said.
One of Knade’s favorite events so far in his DJing career came a few weeks ago in Madison, when he performed for the Alpha Iota of Chi Psi fraternity, better known as The Lodge, at the UW-Madison.
“There was probably 150 people in there…super fun, probably the most fun set I’ve done,” said Knade. “I could play whatever I want, and everybody was loving it, I was on the mic and really comfortable with the crowd control.”
He also mentioned this past Oktoberfest as being one of his favorite memories of DJing. Knade and a team of people, including his current booking manager Nate, helped bring six different Wisconsin-based DJs to La Crosse for a Friday and Saturday event at a friend of a friend’s house.
“I’m all about showcasing other talent…some DJs will be kind of be…stingy in the industry…I’m all about connecting with other DJs and making opportunities,” explained Knade.
While Knade has enjoyed his time as a DJ so far, he acknowledged that he has his fair share of struggles getting his name out there and building a brand for himself.
“Right now, honestly it’s tough…the industry is super saturated…that also makes it difficult because it’s honestly like a who-you-know industry at this point,” said Knade. “Until we get over that hump of not knowing enough people, it’s difficult.”
In terms of his future, Knade wants to make DJing into a career with the goal of being someone who performs shows across the country and at music festivals. For the foreseeable future he envisions himself continuing to play in bars and clubs around the Midwest.
“I would honestly love to [DJ] for the rest of my life,” said Knade. “I just want to take it serious as long as I can.”
You can find DJ Austo at The Library Bar downtown each Thursday and stay up to date with his shows and events by following his Instagram @dj.austo.
