Fresh Find - Austin Burke
- Freshly Brewed Country
- Feb 27, 2017
- 6 min read
We are happy to announce the talented Austin Burke as our latest Fresh Find here at Freshly Brewed Country!
Austin Burke could write the book on being a millennial. Growing up in the 1990's in Phoenix, Arizona, Austin was a huge country music fan and began singing as soon as he could walk. At the tender age of of 3 he sang the national anthem for both the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks and at a chance meeting with his hero Garth Brooks at a Padre's spring training game, his destiny was set. He soon won a coveted spot singing "Friends In Low Places" on the Rosie O'Donell show, not once but twice and when Rosie asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he said a "singing baseball player". Such are the early experiences that dreams are made of.
But like so many Americans his family was hit hard by the great recession of 2008. He had been on course to play baseball in college in Arizona but when his family moved to the west coast to try and make a new start Austin was thrown into a whole new world of eye-popping, fast lane, ethnically diverse San Diego culture. Suddenly surrounded by surfers, hippies and hip-hop music Austin made the most of his new life.
When the culture shock wore off, he continued playing baseball and began combining the country music he was raised on with the new sounds in the air in southern California. But after a year of playing college ball he was side-lined with a rib injury and it was during his recuperation that he realized that his happiest days were those singing country music back in Arizona. So as soon as he was well he made a bee-line for Nashville to do the thing he was always meant to do.
Austin is currently making words rhyme and serving his time waiting on tables (and waiting on the tables to turn.) He's singing at writer's nights and tearing up the honky-tonks, paying his dues and livin' the dream in Tennessee. To quote his grandmother and the title of one of his own songs, Austin says it's his job these days to just "Suit Up Show Up Shut Up And Get The Job Done".
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We know you want to know more about Austin so be sure to check out our interview with him.
FBC: What made you want to get involved in the country music world from the baseball world?
AB: I got injured my first season of college baseball and I found myself alone in my dorm with only my guitar and some recording equipment. It was in that time that I decided to record some songs on my computer. As I recorded these songs I realized how happy music made me. I also was going to baseball practice every day and found myself looking at the clock to see when I could get home to record more music. I was involved with music at a young age so I definitely had it in my blood, but it wasn’t until this time that I realized I wanted to make music a career.
FBC: What do you use for inspiration to write your songs?
AB: I have a never ending list in my phone titled “Song Ideas.” Some are horrible and it’s actually really funny to look back and wonder why I thought they would be a good song, but it takes 100 bad ideas for a good one. I get my inspiration from life and the many turns it takes. Love, heartbreak, happiness, sadness, any emotion. The other day I got some really bad news and all I wanted to do was pick up my guitar and write a song about it. I think the beautiful thing about music is that everyone can relate to a well written song. Everyone is going to experience bad things, I just feel lucky to turn them into something beautiful.
FBC: We have recently heard you on The Highway's #OnTheHorizon. How did you feel the first time you heard your song on the radio?
AB: Hearing my song on the radio for the first time was one of the most surreal moments of my life. It felt like at that moment everything made sense and my dream was coming true. It was validation for me that moving to Nashville was the right decision. I was in Colorado when I heard it on the Highway and it had just snowed, so I ran outside, jumped in the snow, and made a snow angel. Typical. I cried happy tears, I laughed, I danced, I was all over the place. Overall it was one of the best days of my life.
FBC: What is the backstory/inspiration for your song "Sleepin' Around”?
AB: Sleepin’ Around was a song I wrote with Will Rambeaux and Sherrie Austin. We were playing some music that was popular at the time to get inspiration and I just remember being disgusted with the lyrics and how women were being portrayed. I am the older brother to two sisters and I take so much pride in that job. I wanted to write something that they could be proud of and something that showed respect to women. The song has such a provocative title, but such a wholesome message. I love when people judge the song before they hear it because it’s always the complete opposite of what they thought. Sleepin’ Around has been such an incredible song for me and with it being my first single it has a special place in my heart. I really can’t be more grateful for the response on this song and how well it is doing.
FBC: Who is your country music idol and why?
AB: Garth Brooks. I have listened to his music since I was 2 years old. I love everything about Garth and who he is as an artist. I study his performances like a quarterback studies game tape. I try to write songs with lyrics like his. I treat my fans like he treated me when I met him. Everything about Garth is inspiring. I heard a story about how he signed autographs for every single person that wanted one, and he signed autographs for over 24 hours. That is dedication. I know that Garth’s music has gotten me through some of the toughest times, and I hope that my music can help people that need some love. I feel lucky to have met him and I feel even more lucky that he was as nice as I had hoped. My all time dream is to one day share the stage with Garth. I know it will happen.
FBC: If you could perform a duet with anyone who would it be and why?
AB: I think I just answered this question on accident in the last answer I gave but I would also like to do a duet with Bruno Mars. It’s random but his music is so fun and makes you want to dance. I think he’s one of the most talented artists right now and I would love to write a song with him. His drive and work ethic are incredible.
FBC: What are three fun facts about each of you that you want your fans to know?
AB: 1) I love to play basketball. I typically just shoot 3’s and hope the ball goes in but I think of it as good cardio. I wish I played in high school but baseball was my sport. I met Sam Hunt before he was anyone at the gym here in Nashville playing basketball.
2) I have a hypo-allergenic cat. Its an animal I never thought I would have. I was in the hospital 2 times as a kid from cats and so having this cat is a small victory for me. I have really bad asthma and Im severely allergic to cats but this guy, Rockie is his name, has fur like a poodle. He’s a weird looking dude but I never realized how cool cats were. They’re like little lions! haha
3) I love to surf. I used to surf every day when I lived in San Diego but its kind of hard to surf now that I am living in Nashville. I thought I would lose it but I went to Hawaii a couple years ago and got right back up. I want to think its like riding a bike, but I know saying this, next time I go surfing I am going to tumble in a wave all the way to shore.
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