The tight, muggy clubhouse smelled like sweat. Dozens of teenagers are dancing, jumping up and down, and screamings song lyrics, still dressed in their suits and dresses from the homecoming dance. It’s all eyes on Austin Newton, also known as Newt the Kid, as he raps his heart out for his peers at his first-ever concert.

Newton released his debut album on April 10th, 2021, but he got his start in music long before that. He acquired an eye for the limelight from quite a young age according to his mother, Avery Newton.

“I remember Austin first making a YouTube channel in grade school and posting videos of himself singing. At first, I thought it was just a bored kid thinking he could become a YouTube star like Justin Bieber,”  Avery said.

This would be the first step that Newton took to further advance his music. The next step came in sixth grade when he joined the Columbia Intermediate School choir. 

“His music teacher at Columbia encouraged him to try out for the Cincinnati Boys Choir, but he chose to stick with sports instead. He took guitar lessons at one point too, but ultimately music took a backseat to his sports commitment,” Avery said.

After leaving the choir to focus on sports, It would be a little bit before Newton got back into the swing of things. He released his first rap song on August 26, 2018, in eighth grade. 

“The artist that influenced me to start making music is x (rapper xxxtentacion). I listened to his music and thought, ‘wow I can actually do this myself.’ Kanye, J. Cole, are my first big music influences in general. They are the pinnacle to me. Juice WRLD is another big inspiration lyrically, you can definitely see the influence his first album had on me,” Newton said.

With his influences in line, it was time to start rapping.

“I did get clowned in the beginning, but as I started getting better and more people around me started to realize I’m actually taking it seriously, I started to get a little more support,” Newton said.

That support can be seen all around the high school with students actively promoting, watching,  and boosting his career.

“I think he’s been upping the ante this year. His quality and overall production has definitely increased. I really like his music. I think Austin could even be a songwriter, his lyrics are better than most mainstream rappers right now, to me,” senior Greg Engelhard said.

Newton’s collaborators also regard him highly. Noah Bowman recalls making  Newton’s first music video fondly, seeing something special in him.

“At the time, I was doing my own thing making YouTube videos, and I knew that doing that was also a grind, so I had a lot of respect for what he was doing. I always wanted to have some part in his process and that was the first opportunity I got, so I ran with it, and looking back the camera work was not great and the editing could’ve been better, to say the least, but just being able to work with him was a pleasure,” Bowman said.

Now that Newton has the wheels turning, it’s time for him to take his next big step in music. Newton has decided to attend Ohio University for his music production program in the fall, and he is excited to finally double down on his dream. 

“For years, it was always in this order: school basketball then music. As time has gone on, school and basketball has shifted behind music, and now that I’m going to college for music production school and music are becoming one.” Newton said.

The course content isn’t the only benefit Newton hopes to reap from college.

“I’m going to make a lot of connections instantly. I hope I can meet some good people that are really passionate about music. It’s all about timing and if I meet the right people then I’m good,” Newton said.

Less than 2% of college students are studying music for a career, so it can be daunting for some. Newton, however, says that he has no fears at all. He attributes this to his dedication and hard work towards his craft.

“Austin’s ambition is so much bigger than most 18-year-olds. He has always been hardworking in school and sports so I am not surprised at all that it has carried into his music. He writes all of his own music and pays for all of his equipment on his own. He has been determined to make his dream become a reality,” Avery said.

Newton said that he worked at Skyline Chilli and did landscaping, instacart, house-sitting, and dog sitting just to buy his first-ever home studio. At OU, he’s excited to have to worry about that less.

“The process of recording my first album with equipment that wasn’t really good was insanely frustrating. Another reason I’m excited to go to OU is I can take these big ideas I have and actually do them because I’ll have the equipment,“ Newton said.

Newton has dreamed up big goals for when he can get his hands on this equipment. He plans to experiment with his voice, try different production styles, and learn new instruments to build his career until his big break. 

“There’s tons of things that could happen in the next few years. Something I’ve always thought about is how Kanye didn’t drop his first real studio album until he was 27. He was working in the industry for years, making connections. I hope to not have to wait until I’m 27 to release my first studio album, but if it comes to that I am 100% willing to just work my way until I get that big opportunity,” Newton said.