the Founder: Austin John Winkler To Embark on Summer Tour
AUSTIN JOHN WINKLER
— FORMER FRONTMAN OF HINDER —
TO EMBARK ON THE “SUMMER 2025” TOUR
CO-HEADLINING WITH ARANDA
KICKING OFF JULY 24
IN SUPPORT OF SIX-TRACK SOLO EP WALKING DED
— RELEASED UNDER HIS NEW MUSICAL PROJECT — THE FOUNDER OUT NOW
NASHVILLE, TN (May 28, 2025) — Austin John Winkler, the multi-platinum selling rockstar and former frontman of Hinder, has returned with a bold new chapter: the Founder. More than just a name, the Founder symbolizes Austin’s complete artistic rebirth. With this new musical entity, Austin has hit the reset button, taking full control of the creative process and allowing the music to exist within a collective identity rather than a single persona.
Kicking off Thursday, July 24, the “Summer 2025” Tour marks a major milestone for Austin John Winkler, celebrating both his debut solo EP Walking Ded (released March 14) and a new chapter in his career as a solo artist. The nine-date East Coast run will showcase Austin’s signature rock ‘n’ roll sound, co-headlining alongside Oklahoma City’s Aranda, with support from special guest A.D.A.M. Music Project.
“This tour is about reconnecting with fans in a raw, honest way,” Austin shares. “I’m proud of the music we’re bringing out, and sharing the stage with Aranda just takes the energy to another level. It’s gonna be loud, it’s gonna be real, and it’s exactly what rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to feel like.”
TICKETS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE “SUMMER 2025” TOUR HERE.
Launching the Founder as an artistic sanctuary, this endeavor becomes a full-circle home for his music, allowing him to finally shape the sound he’s always envisioned. No stranger to telling stories of his life through music, Austin brings it all to this project — from climbing out of the depths of addiction to confronting heartbreak soaked in pain and regret, and the quiet grief that follows when you’ve hit rock bottom. With emotionally charged vocals that have echoed through countless stages, he’s shared anthems of life, love, and loss. Having experienced the dazzling highs of fame and the devastating lows of substance abuse, he faced his demons head-on and emerged with a powerful story to tell.
Walking Ded is a testament to Austin’s hunger for raw, authentic rock ‘n’ roll. Swapping self-destructive habits for the clarity of creation, the Founder channels his energy into his guitar, delivering a message of resilience and reinvention for both longtime fans and new listeners alike.
STREAM WALKING DED HERE.
The EP’s title track, “Walking Ded,” kicks off the record with a defiant snarl and swagger. “It’s got a little bit of everything in there… rock riffs and great melodies. Sex, drugs, booze, and love. What else is there?” Austin says. A gritty nod to old-school rock and roll, the track rolls forward on a steady groove as Austin lays bare the scars of a chaotic past — chasing highs just to survive the day. “I’m still here after living exactly how MTV told me to and I barely survived it,” he confesses. “The one thing I’m still able to do is write music, and I’m still leaning on my guitar after 25 years.”
Closing the EP, “the Fall” lands like a gut punch wrapped in velvet. A haunting rock ballad where snarling guitars collide with sweeping strings, it finds Austin’s voice rising through the wreckage — gravel-edged and soul-bared, carrying every ounce of sorrow and resolve the journey demanded.
WATCH “THE FALL” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:
That hard-won clarity threads through the lead single “Sometimes,” where infectious hooks mask the slow burn of a love gone toxic. The music video flips the heartache on its head with a wry twist — Austin being stalked by an absurdly oversized heart costume, making the pain just funny enough to keep you from crumbling.
WATCH THE “SOMETIMES” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:
WALKING DED TRACKLISTING:
“Paradise”
“Walking Ded”
“Sometimes”
“B.T.S.D. (Call It What You Want)”
“Fake”
“the Fall”
After years of fighting his way out of addiction, Austin has begun to lean on music as a way of coping again. “For me to create music again like this EP means everything to me. The fact that I’m still able to is crazy to me because I fell out of love with music for so long,” Austin reveals. “The fact that I can write anything that people are crazy about or relate to is beyond fulfilling for my artistic side.” These days, the connection he once sought through destructive habits is found in the bond he shares with listeners — in the simple, powerful reminder that no one’s alone in their struggle.
Above: ‘Walking Ded’ EP Artwork
With the Founder, Austin is proving that it is never too late to come back to life. He shares: “I thank the drugs and alcohol I’ve used. I know it was maybe killing me at the time, but it kept me around long enough to realize I didn’t want to leave this place just yet.” For Austin, every low point had a purpose — leading him to this moment, this music. “I feel like I went through all the hell I went through so I could write this body of work. Up until it was finished, I questioned why I was still here, as some do in their darkest hours. I believe it was for people who need to hear these songs.”
THE FOUNDER ONLINE:
AUSTIN JOHN WINKLER ONLINE:
Photo Credit: Tim Katz
