The first time you hear Austin Bohannon's new single, Radio, the immediate question that comes to mind is who the song is written about.
The Russellville native's first radio release, Radio, tells the story of a young artist whose former girlfriend never believed he could make it in the music business. And after they break up, she hears his hit song one day when she's in the car with her new guy.
“I bet you're gonna turn it down low,
Wishing you were out on the road
Hoping that he don't know that
That's me on your radio.
You never thought I'd make it this far
Back when I was playing at bars
I've got my own show and you can't go
You're hearing me from the radio.”
So, Austin, who were you thinking about when you wrote this song?
Of course, Bohannon declined to throw a name out there, but he did explain some of the back story to his first radio release.
“I was seeing a girl who didn't think I could do the music thing. Finally I said I'm going to chase my dreams and that's what the song is about,” Bohannon said. “More than just her, though, a lot of people said 'you idiot, what are you doing?' My brain is wired when you tell me I can't do something, I'm going to do it.”
That same mentality and determination served as a springboard for Bohannon's collegiate baseball career.
After he graduated from Russellville High School in 2016, where his team won back-to-back state championships his junior and senior years, Bohannon enrolled at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, where he spent two years as a pitcher for the Buccaneers.
Bohannon joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham baseball program in 2019, when he appeared in 15 games for the Blazers. His career at UAB ended after his 2021 senior season, and as he contemplated a career path, Bohannon couldn't keep music out of his head.
“I sang in (Russellville) middle school and was on the show choir and loved it,” Bohannon said “I did several plays but my brother (Wesley) and my cousin (Duncan McDowell) made fun of me and picked on me so I quit and just did sports.
When I went to college, I learned how to play the guitar at Shelton State. I'm not sure which came more naturally, singing or songwriting, but probably songwriting. I remember the first time I sang in front of people and they liked it. That lit a fire under me and I found something I really like doing,” he added.
Bohannon hosted a Single Release Party November 11th at the Boiler Room in Florence.
If you've seen an Austin Bohannon show, (and there are plenty of opportunities as Bohannon plays multiple shows each week) you quickly realize it's going to be a high-energy performance mixed with lots of genuine interaction with the audience.
“In Florence, there are talented musicians everywhere every night,” Bohannon said. “But one thing a lot of people lack is the entertainment and interaction with the audience. It makes you feel like you're part of the music rather than just sitting there and listening. I think that entertainment aspect is what makes me different from a lot of guys.”
Bohannon posts his upcoming shows on his Facebook page, and his website, www.bohannonmusic.com.
He's been performing for just over one year, but he sings and engages the audience like a veteran artist, something he attributes to two friends and fellow musicians, Joseph Baldwin and Gary Nichols.
“I learned a lot playing with Joseph. When I first started playing with him I learned how to interact with a crowd. And Gary is a great entertainer. They have decades of experience I can get and I kind of soak that in to what I do,” Bohannon said.
Radio was released last month and has received a great response from radio stations, including Russellville's own WGOL-FM 100.7, which debuted the song in November.
Bohannon is working on several more singles, having already recorded the vocals at the Nutt House Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals. The bass tracks are done, and they are currently getting mixed in a Minnesota studio. Bohannon said he may release the four new songs as singles, or an EP, something he hasn't yet decided.
And Bohannon's music has caught the eye of some extraordinary Nashville and Shoals area talent, several of whom are featured on the new songs.
Gary Baker produced the songs, and Jeff King (electric guitar), Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar), Greg Morrow (drums), Jason Webb (keyboard) and Mark Hill (bass) all form an all-star lineup working with Bohannon.
That's a long way from Bohannon's first public performance, just over 14 months ago, at Swamper's in Florence.
Radio is available for download through Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify and Deezer.
Bohannon's website also teases another new project for the young artist, a limited podcast series called Muscle Shoals Deep Dives, which will see Bohannon traveling to Shoals area studios to interview world-renowned songwriters, producers and session players.
Bohannon's young career moved at warp speed over the past year, but he's grounded enough to understand the music business doesn't always work that fast.
“I'm really just going with the wind,” Bohannon said. “If there comes a time to take this to the next level, I'm waiting on the right move. I'm not just going to pack up and go to Nashville. But if something arises and I need to move, I can do it. There's nothing holding me back,” the 25-year-old added.
And even though he's a new musician, Bohannon relies on his lifetime of experience on the baseball field to help his musical career.
“I'll say this about baseball—being on the mound was cool. All eyes are on you every pitch. You're, in a sense, entertaining,” Bohannon said. “And that kind of prepared me for music in a way.
There are no pre-game jitters or nervousness but you realize here comes the moment. In that moment, you either show up or you don't. Pitching in some big games kind of prepared me for when I play bigger gigs,” he added.
Bohannon's largest audience to date came in his hometown, as he took the stage at the City of Russellville's 2022 Jam on Sloss Lake.
“I wasn't nervous at all playing in front of that big crowd in Russellville. It was a home game, and a home crowd,” Bohannon said.
And if his career rises to the next level, Bohannon won't ever forget his musical roots started right here in Northwest Alabama.
“If it takes off, and I truly believe it will, I'll still come back home. Look at Gary Nichols, Jason Isbell, Chris Tompkins, John Paul White and Iguana Party. You see them playing at Swampers and having fun,” Bohannon said.
“They come back to their roots when they come back to town and that's awesome. These guys have done it all and they still look forward to coming back home and reliving what they used to do,” he added.
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