What are your names?
Legal Full Name: Austin Daniel Bruns
Stage Name: Austin Daniel
What is your genre of music?
Country, Country/Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m a 19 year old year country singer & songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio. I released my debut single “You’re Beautiful” in 2017 and my debut self-released album ‘Small Town Boy’ in 2019. Since the release of my album, I have moved to Nashville, Tennessee to further pursue my music career. I just released my new single “Say That Again” a couple weeks ago and I’m currently working on a new project with some of Nashville’s best songwriters and producers!
What made you go into music?
I grew up loving music as a kid. When I was younger, my grandpa would blair records of the country greats like Hanks Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Merle Haggard when I was over at his house. I think that I was so drawn to music so early on because of him and constantly hearing all of those amazing artists. I was always known as the annoying kid who would sing in all of the local talent shows. I don’t know. There was just always something about being on stage that I loved so much and constantly wanted to do. I started getting into music legitimately though when I was about 15. That’s when I really picked up the guitar and started writing my own songs.
Are you a signed?
Sadly, no. I’m not signed anywhere yet.
What is the meaning behind ‘Say That Again’?
The song isn’t too serious. It’s practically about being in love and spending a night in with your loved one instead of going out to a bar or a party or a get together or whatever it may be. It’s very intimate and definitely a “young and in love” kind of song.
Describe the track in two words.
Hmmm … probably “in love”. Seems fitting enough!
Who did you work with on the Single?
I wrote it with my buddies Sam Johnson and David Ulayao! I met them here in Nashville. We wrote this song the first time that we all three ever wrote together actually, which I thought was really cool! Austin Shawn produced and engineered it. He’s crazy talented! We’ve been working together a lot lately and I’m really excited about the sound that we’ve been going for! It’s definitely where I think I fit best.
Will we see a music video for the track?
I’ve been asked this a lot! … and the answer remains the same. I’m honestly not sure. With everything going on right now and the state that our world is in, it’s really hard to line everything up just right and get together with a videographer to create a really strong idea and visual. If I see an opportunity along the way, I’ll definitely take it and shoot my shot at a music video, but I just really don’t know right now.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect?
Yes! I’m definitely working on a project right now! I just released an album a little over a year ago, so I probably won’t put another full-length album out just yet. An EP feels like the best option right now because I don’t want to keep my listeners and fans waiting too long. I always love playing new stuff out too and I want to play material people will know at my shows, you know? I’m not sure when I’ll be able to put my project out just yet, but I’ve definitely got some songs finished for it and I still want to write more for it.
Do you have any online shows coming up?
I do have some in the works, but nothing has been set in stone just yet. Be on the lookout on my website and social media pages!
What else can we expect in 2020?
2020 has been a REALLY weird year. Everybody knows that. I don’t really know what’s to come for me for the rest of the year honestly. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back to Nashville to keep writing and hopefully start playing out when it’s safe.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
I actually just released a song called “Saved Me” in February with a Cincinnati based rapper, Kreech. We’ve worked together before on different occasions and he was actually featured on one of my songs “Bad Habits” on my album, so it was really cool to work with him again!
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
I’m always up to collaborate with other artists, songwriters and producers!
Do you play any instruments?
I do play some guitar! I really want to learn more of it though and start digging into the piano
Who are your influences?
This is always such a hard question because I love so many different types of music. I grew up listening to a lot of country, both classic and modern. Obviously I’m a country artist, so I have to give credit to the people who I think really made me fall in love with country music in the first place like Johnny Cash, George Strait, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood. My sound has been shaped by more modern country artists like Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Maren Morris, and Dan + Shay though. I would be lying if I said that I’m not obsessed with 80s rock and 2000s pop too!
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
I find a lot of inspiration in my writing from my everyday life and the people around me. I write a lot about what I’ve been through, what I’m currently going through, experiences that I’ve had, both good and bad. I also write about the things I see and heard that other people are going through
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
This is another question that I get asked a lot and it’s so hard to answer. All honesty, I don’t know where I’ll be a year from now or five years from now or even ten. But as long as I’m making music that matters and music that touches people or helps them get through whatever they’re going through or just escape the world for three/three in a half minutes, then that’s all that matters to me.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I’m a big workout freak! I love to exercise! I’ve been getting into it a lot more lately since I’ve been quarantining, but I really want to make it a permanent thing in my life. I also love to spend time with friends, go to concerts and listen to live music in Nashville, adventure around new places, and take pictures of nature and other people!
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I don’t really recall hearing a specific song that made me want to get more into music. I always knew that I wanted to be apart of music somehow, someway, but I really think that Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ and Maren Morris’ ‘HERO’ are really what made me find a new connection with and love for music. Those two records helped me get through a really hard time in my life and I’ll always remember the impact that they made on me as an artist.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
The best advice that I’ve been given was actually from my mom and it was really simple advice, but it stuck with me. She always tells me, “Whatever is supposed to happen will happen. You can’t change what God has planned for you. You just have to work hard and trust his path.” That’s always spoken deeply to me and it’s stuck with me over the past couple of years.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
I would tell them to just be themselves and know what they want to say in their music. Find their path in the music world and hone in on it. Everybody is unique in their own way, so let that be heard and seen!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I was really touched by this quote that Carrie Underwood said in the movie Soul Surfer almost ten years ago now, but it stuck with me and I always think about it, especially when I’m going through a hard time or I’m questioning a lot of things in my life. She said, “I don’t know why terrible things happen to us sometimes, but I have to believe that something good is going to come out of this.” I find this so true. None of us know why awful things happen to us or other people, but it’s all part of God’s plan. He has a reason for everything and you have to trust that.
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
My actual hometown actually isn’t Cincinnati, that’s just the closest major city to me, but in my actual hometown in a small town in Indiana, there is this little burger joint called Nixie’s and I promise you they have the BEST burgers and Coke I’ve ever had! It’s 100% a must if you’re visiting!
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
Probably to go see my family back at home! I’m used to being away from them since I live in Nashville now, but I obviously still miss them so much. I would want to hug them and just squeeze them!
2/ Who do you see first?
Probably my mom! I always have to come home to her first. There’s just something about her that makes me feel safe and like I’m home.
3/What do you eat first?
Skyline Chili! It’s a Cincinnati thing. Look it up and try it if you’re ever in the area. I promise you won’t regret it!
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Ooo this is hard! Assuming the venue will have their own PA and sound system, we’ll say …
- Guitar
- A good, rested, and strong voice
- Lots of water!!!
- Extra guitar picks
- Batteries for your guitar … we’ve all been there and it sucks!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Of course!
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
