BIOGRAPHY
Trace Austin
Trace Austin Price made his onstage debut at the age of 6, wowing an audience of thousands as he sang the timeless hit “My Girl” alongside his grandfather, Otis Williams – the legendary founder and surviving original member of The Temptations.
With a swell of energy surging from the crowd, Trace felt perfectly at home, declaring this auspicious beginning as his keen motivation toward becoming a professional singer. Now, at just 16, Trace sets out on his own artistic journey, debuting as a rapper/songwriter with a mystical musicality and a clever emotive lyrical flow.
Trace’s musical talent is broadly resonant, ever-evolving, and crossing through genres like Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B, Chill/Downtempo, and Soul balladry. It’s an inclusive and international perspective that conjures the artistry of Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Pharrell, and Tyler the Creator. Trace reads music, plays drums, and is inspired by his grandfather’s rich R&B and Motown heritage. He’s a songwriting artist, and his nimble vocal stylings ease between hip-hop rhyming and smooth melodic singing. Trace favors tracks with ethereal musicality, layers of melodies, countermelodies, and rugged beats. Already he is a fixture around the L.A. music scene, and, live, Trace is a charismatic performer that combines slick showmanship with warm humor.
Where it all began
Born and raised in Canary Wharf, London, Trace travelled the world at a young age, spending time in places such as Greece, Paris, France, Spain, and South America. When Trace was 5, he and his family relocated to the United States, where he currently divides his time between California and London. Having been exposed to many different cultures and countries, Trace has compassion for all humans and feels he can relate to everyone.
Growing up in a family of an immensely strong musical lineage, apart from his grandfather, Trace’s Uncle is Benjamin Wright, Jr., the famed musician, producer, arranger, and songwriter who has worked with Michael and Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Destiny’s Child, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and The Temptations, among many others.
Trace’s connection with his grandfather Otis Williams’ iconic career has been transformative and nurturing to the young teen. Having been born over four decades after The Temptations first skyrocketed to international popularity, Trace didn’t fully grasp how much of an impact Otis had, and still has, on the music industry, and world. That all changed, however, when Trace watched the The Temptations film, an NBC TV miniseries from the late ‘90s based on Otis’ auto-biographical book. Today, Trace’s relationship with his grandfather is very strong, as Trace looks to Otis as a mentor, talking with him daily about their crafts and what is needed to excel in this industry.
When Trace was 12, he came out swinging with his first single, the slow-burn “Days (feat. Love Mansuy),” produced by Love Mansuy and new jack swing-pioneer Teddy Riley (Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat). This track appears on Trace’s recently released six-song debut EP, Canary Wharf. In particular, Trace’s song “Jason,” which has earned over 1 million streams on Soundcloud, boasts stripped raw production that allows for Trace’s fierce flow to shine through. Another Canary Wharf highlight is “MO$H,” featuring an old school hip-hop grind of a groove and an ambient textural overlay. Here, Trace spits like a sharpshooter with rhythmically nimble phrasing contrasted with a sublime melodic flow. Canary Wharf is now available on all digital streaming platforms.
In addition to his growing profile as an artist and producer, Trace’s acting work is also gaining traction. Playing the lead role, he received rave reviews for his emotional portrayal of a deaf and mute young boy in the award-winning short film, Curiosities of The Quiet Boy. Trace has also studied hip-hop dance for many years, implementing his strong skill sets by deeming himself a ‘triple threat’. Additionally, Trace has cultivated his own chic fashion sense with a European flair, further branding himself a true individual in many more ways than one.