We sat down with Austin Burke to discuss his musical beginnings, his journey to Nashville, and how his cowriters and he created his viral TikTok song, “Wet Dream.”
How did you first get involved in music?
I grew up singing at a young age. I learned the National Anthem at the age of 2 and sang all over the country. I moved to Nashville when I was 19 and never looked back. I’ve been here in Nashville for 8 years now.
Why is creating music important to you?
I think music is healing. I started writing songs when I was a freshman in high school. I was bullied pretty bad and songwriting was my way of dealing with it. I write songs for me, to get out whatever I’m trying to say at that moment. When other people connect with it, it’s just the best feeling in the world.
How would you describe your musical style?
I would say I am West Coast Country. I am proud to be from Arizona and I am proud to be from the West Coast. We listen to country music just as much as anyone else and I’m proud to represent that.
Who are some of your musical influences?
My hero is Garth Brooks but I love a lot of different types of music. I love Drake, Justin Bieber, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Eagles, Thomas Rhett – the list goes on. I think it’s important to be inspired by others but to always be you. That’s what I’m learning to do.
Tell me about your single, “Wet Dream.”
I wrote it with my buddies Zack Dyer and Joe Fox. We were writing a love song when Joe randomly said we should write a fishing song called Wet Dream. We wrote it in about 30 minutes and the rest is history.
What inspired you to release this single?
I put it on TikTok and Instagram and it accumulated 30 million streams in a week. My manager called me the second day it was up and said you may want to consider putting this song out. We recorded it that next Wednesday (5 days later) and released it the week after. A total of 14 days between the day it was written and released.
How do you hope your fans feel when listening to your music?
I just want them to feel something. If they want to cry, I hope they cry if they want to laugh, I hope they laugh, if they want to tell the person they’re with they love them or to get lost, I hope they do that. I just want them to get lost for a minute in my music.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the country music community?
I want to thank you for taking the time to ask me some questions. I look forward to meeting all the fans that changed my life over the last year. It’s been a crazy couple of years but we’re going to get through it together.
Connect with Austin Burke
For more information on Austin Burke, visit his website: https://www.austinburkemusic.com/