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.

For more than 20 years, Doug has blended country, folk, rock, and blues into his own brand of roots Americana, releasing four albums and three EPs along the way. His latest release, Delta Blues and Vacuum Tubes, takes one of those longtime influences and puts it front and center. Moving between gritty electric blues, folk blues, and Delta blues, with plenty of slide guitar along the way, it’s a record Doug has wanted to make for years — a chance to lean fully into the blues while bringing the songwriting and storytelling that have always been at the heart of his music.

Doug plays most of the instruments himself, including acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, and Dobro. His music has been featured on more than 170 radio stations nationwide. His debut album, A New Century, was nominated for an Orange County Music Award, while his earlier Nashville project, Hot Foot Delta, earned several award nominations. His 2024 album, Cavalry, continued his roots-Americana journey before Delta Blues and Vacuum Tubes took him deeper into the blues.

When he's not writing, recording, or performing, Doug stays busy as a session guitarist, recording engineer, and producer.