dougschmude.net - Bio

Doug Schmude (rhymes with moody) writes songs that sound like the open road feels — honest, weathered, and full of stories. A string of license plates from Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Colorado, Arizona, and California hangs above the guitars in his studio — a fitting symbol for a life spent chasing songs across the map.

Born in Baton Rouge and raised in Oklahoma and Texas, Doug cut his teeth as a songwriter in Boulder, Colorado in the late '90s before heading to Nashville to hone his craft. Now based in Southern California, his music carries souvenirs from every stop along the way.

Blending country, folk, rock, and blues into a modern roots Americana sound, Doug's songs are filled with vividly drawn characters and sharply observed moments. His seventh album, Cavalry (2024), continues the tradition — soulful, gritty, and grounded in real life.

Doug plays most of the instruments himself — acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, and Dobro — and his work has been featured on over 170 radio stations nationwide. His debut album, A New Century, was nominated for an Orange County Music Award, and his earlier Nashville project, Hot Foot Delta, earned several award nominations. When he's not writing, recording or performing, Doug stays busy as a session guitarist, recording engineer, and producer.