He started his music career in an Americana/indie folk rock duo called Sons of Fathers, before turning solo.

[9][10] Cauthen got his start playing in an Americana/indie folk rock band singer-songwriter duo with musician David Beck.

Cauthen met Beck, whose father was Bill Whitbeck, long-time Robert Earl Keen bass player, in San Marcos, Texas in 2009.

Burning Days featured Regan Schmidt on lap steel/electric guitar, Dees Stribling on drums, Bryan Mammel on keyboards/accordion, Tony Browne on guitar/mandolin.

[8] The song, "As Young As You'll Ever Be" is about the death of Cauthen's friend, the San Marcos, Texas-based singer-songwriter Victor Holk.

[18] That song, "Everybody Walking This Land", was used in the end credits to the season 2 opener of the Starz network TV show, American Gods.

At one point Cauthen considered calling the record Holy Ghost Fire after that track on the album, but eventually settled on Room 41.

[6] Room 41 was the culmination of a dark period in Cauthen's life, prompted by the end of a long-term relationship in Wichita Falls, Texas.

The song was co-written by Cauthen, Beau Bedford (Texas Gentlemen), Jason Burt (Medicine Man Revival) and singer-songwriter Ward Davis.

[27] Cauthen and Jinks have recorded two covers together, Chris Cornell's "Black Hole Sun", which they cut at Echo Lab studios,[28] and the Waylon Jennings song, "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)".

[29] Cauthen has also toured with and sang with Margo Price,[30] and has worked closely with the Texas Gentlemen, among a local community of other musicians.