Today we’d like to introduce you to Wolfgang Burst.
Hi Wolfgang, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been drawn to creativity, whether it is through music, storytelling, or building something from the ground up. I started my journey as a jazz pianist and composer, performing, teaching, and releasing original music. Music is still at the core of who I am, and I am excited to share that more releases are coming later this year.
Along the way, I realized I wanted to do more than just create art. I wanted to help other artists thrive too. That is what inspired me to co-found The Art Newsletter, a weekly publication that bridges creativity and business. We spotlight emerging artists and creative trends while providing practical tools and insights for building a sustainable career. It started as a small project but has grown into something meaningful, with a growing team and community.
I have taken an untraditional path, from the military to managing facilities to now diving into design and tech, but the common thread has always been curiosity, creativity, and community. Whether it is through music or entrepreneurship, I am here to keep creating and building.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. For a long time, I found myself doing things I did not truly want to do, like serving in the military. While I am grateful for the discipline and experiences it gave me, it often felt like I was on a path that did not align with who I was at my core.
Because of that, there are times when I feel like I am extremely behind others who have been focused on their creative careers from the start. It can be overwhelming, and it has created a real pressure for me to work even harder to catch up and get things moving in the right direction.
At the same time, those experiences pushed me to become more focused and resilient. They made me realize what I truly want, and that clarity has been one of the biggest motivators behind everything I am building now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
azz and the piano are at the root of everything that I do. It may sound cliché, but I believe my life experience sets me apart. It is something I fundamentally believe in — that every individual’s life experience changes who they are as a person and as an artist. It changes how they see and perceive the things around them.
Whether it is my music, my newsletter, or just me as a person, everything I create comes from that place and that concept. I am trying to create something so people can see the world from my point of view, but that is almost impossible. The perception of others changes art. I might write a sad song that feels triumphant to someone else, or a mellow song that feels upbeat to another person.
The most important thing I am striving for is for others to be able to see and experience the things I am working on.
My upcoming album Without, which will be releasing this summer, is a reflection of that. It is about everything I have lived through and how it has shaped the way I create and move through the world.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the nature, the parks, and the active lifestyle here. I love the summers, the swimming holes, and all the amazing food Austin has to offer. Most of all, I love my friends and all the people I have had the chance to meet in this city. Austin has a special energy, and I appreciate that we pride ourselves on being a music city.
One thing that really makes Austin different is how alive it feels. No other city in Texas has the kind of activity Austin does. Even though Austin is only the fifth largest city in the state, it feels like the only one where people actually live around downtown and use the city’s amenities. On a sunny day, you will see thousands of people out and about downtown. You can’t say the same for cities like Houston or San Antonio.
That being said, while I think Austin is a great place to get started in your career, I do not believe it is a place where you can truly make it on a global scale. To many people around the world, Austin is not a name that rings a bell. We have SXSW, but the other 340 days of the year, we are not doing enough to attract and support musicians. It is extremely hard to find a stable job to support yourself here unless you already have years of experience in high-paying fields like tech or law. There are also no major record labels here like there are in Los Angeles, New York City, or Nashville.
I also do not like how car-centric Austin is. It feels like people here are not willing enough to allow changes that would actually help the city. We have Project Connect in the works, but by the time that is finished, I will be almost 40, and it will not have the same impact on my life. Cities like Seattle have been aggressively expanding public transportation, and I wish Austin would take the same approach.
Pricing:
- The Art Newsletter: Free Weekly Suscription
- The Art Newsletter: Paid membership: $5/month for full access to our members-only content (optional).
- Music: Without (upcoming album): Release this summer. Pricing will vary depending on platform (streaming free, downloads TBD).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wolfgangbakariburst.com
- Instagram: wolfgangburst
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangburst/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wolfgangbakariburst
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6aAKqjXufu5sF9LlVFQUAf?si=aHH7TmoPRH2qAy5353pdmg
Image Credits
Shawn Ichikawa, Will Baker
