Astronautalis

Once you find out that Astronautalis was born to a Texas train man with a nose crooked from bar fights and a pretty Kentucky girl who ran away from home at 17 to become a photographer, it becomes clear that he didn’t stumble into the life of a drifter, he was born into it. With a poet uncle who lived off horse betting and hitchhiking, grandfathers who were spies, sailors, and test pilots, and over 1,000,000 miles of touring and traveling under his own belt, you have to wonder where the tales in Astronautalis’ music end, and the life of Andy Bothwell begins. Having started in music over 20 years ago as a battle rapper, Bothwell’s roots are planted firmly in hip-hop, as Astronautalis. Since then, his work has taken him far beyond that moniker, and the back alley battle circuit, with musical collaborations ranging from Tegan Quinn (Tegan & Sara) to P.O.S, side projects with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and members of Poliça, and several critically acclaimed, and wildly diverse solo albums produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Explosions In The Sky, Earl Sweatshirt). All while maintaining a relentless touring schedule, over 4 continents, 32 countries, and all 50 states; which has lead to partnerships with companies like Harley Davidson, STA Travel, and Coalatree to work as a writer, photographer, brand ambassador, social media influencer, and on camera host. And somehow, over all these years, and in between nonstop shows, this white boy rapper from Duval County has found himself starting a “church” and taking confession from hundreds of people at the Eaux Claires Music Fest, teaching master classes at universities from here to Nice, France, creating audio installations in German Museums, debuting performance art at the Venice Biennale, and even working as a photographer for “Playboy” (they were pictures of cheeseburgers … long story). Currently settled (for now)in Minneapolis, by way of Seattle, by way of Dallas by way of Jacksonville Beach; Bothwell has spent almost every waking moment of the last 15 years on the road, playing shows, creating art, earning scars, collecting/giving tattoos, taking photos, riding motorcycles, and living up to his proud, storied, and whiskey soaked blood line. And he only had to bribe one cop! (In Romania ... long story.)

As of February 2019