Sam Austins continues to reel from heartache with his latest single, “A baby girl named Heaven,” from his forthcoming The Woods EP, out later this year.
“A baby girl named Heaven” begins with a skittering beat, integrating house and jerk with reverb-heavy falsettos. Through it all, Austins sinks into the rush of reuniting with a former love, singing, “It’s been a while since I’ve felt your touch/It’s been a while since I’ve been in the cut/It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone.”
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Hailing from Detroit, Austins wears his influences and love for his city on sleeve. 2021’s HOMELESS STAR mixtape chronicled reckless days of survival, sleeping in cars and searching for belonging as he pursued his dream of becoming a working musician. Meanwhile, his 2023 BOY TOY EP fired off countless styles, reflecting larger-than-life personas and blog-era discovery. His latest singles, however, make it clear that he’s moving closer to his roots, tapping into the history of Detroit’s vibrant dance scene. In February, Austins released the ghettotech-indebted “Smoke break,” a strain of electronic music that originated in the city. Then there are the ripples of last year’s “Seasons,” a techno-inspired anthem penned during the aftermath of an “intensely debilitating breakup” that’s since garnered over a million streams.
Later this month, Austins will return to the road to join Magdalena Bay on their North American tour. He’ll also appear at several festivals throughout the spring and summer, including Boston Calling, Capitol Hill Block Party, Lollapalooza, and others. See the full itinerary here.
Listen to “A baby girl named Heaven” below.