Every so often, a song will arrive with lyrics that make you do a double take – perhaps blush a little – and wonder if you heard correctly. Austin Burke‘s latest single “Wet Dream” is just that song. In the same vein as Craig Campbell’s “Fish,” the Phoenix native’s track details what seems to be a very passionate dream, that just happened to include a rod, some bait, a lake and an unsuspecting bass. The cleverly written tune that raises some eyebrows before the laughs flow took off faster than a fishing boat chasing the catch of the day, raking up millions of views on TikTok, resulting in the song’s release as a single on July 30th.
We recently caught up with Austin to talk about his songwriting process, the hit tongue-in-cheek single and what’s ahead.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
AB: Nice to meet y’all. I am from Arizona but have lived in Nashville for 8 years. I am 28 years old and have a beautiful wife named Lexy, who I have known since I was 18 but married one year ago.
CN: Prior to your musical path, you were an avid baseball player. What position did you play?
AB: I was a left-handed pitcher. I’m a huge fan of baseball and watch it almost every day. I am a big fan of the Diamondbacks.
CN: Now a lot of artists start their pursuit of a music career young, but you were singing the national anthem for the Diamondbacks and the Suns at the age of three! What were those experiences like for such a young child? How did it affect your self-confidence?
AB: They were really good for my confidence. I tell people all the time that I had to learn backward how to perform. I started off playing for stadiums and arenas and then when I moved to Nashville I would sometimes perform for 1 person in the crowd. The stage is where I am most comfortable and I would definitely say those early experiences have helped me not get nervous for some of the big shows I have played.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
AB: Thomas Rhett has been a huge influence personally and musically. Being signed to his publishing company Home Team has been a dream come true. Being a country artist is cool, but being a man of God and the best husband you can be is even cooler. He has taught me that.
CN: Can you take us through your songwriting process? Where do you pull your ideas from?
AB: Songwriting is something I take a lot of pride in. The main reason I wanted to sing country music is because of the lyrics and the way those lyrics make you feel. Seeing someone cry, laugh, smile or just tap their foot to one of my songs is the biggest compliment in the world.
CN: Did you find yourself writing more during the pandemic?
AB: I definitely wrote a lot more than normal but I will say I am not a fan of the Zoom writes we had to become accustomed to. You lost the vibe in the room and a lot of the songs ended up just being “okay.” I love that I get to be back in the room with my co-writers and that the energy in writes is back.
CN: With over 20 million views across social media, did you expect your single “Wet Dream” to take off like it did?
AB: I definitely did not expect that. I wrote Wet Dream as a joke and what it has done is truly unbelievable.
CN: Any plans for a music video?
AB: Yes! The music video is finally out. My wife Lexy filmed, directed and edited the music video. We filmed it on a $200 budget and most of that money went for beer. I’m super proud of how the video came out.
Watch the video for “Wet Dream” below:
CN: You were recently featured on Leah Marie Mason’s single “Far Boy.” What was it like recording the track with Leah?
AB: It was really cool to have my first feature on a song. I was a huge fan of the song and so was my wife before I was even asked to be on the song. Leah and her team were a dream to work with and I think she has a big future ahead of her. I look forward to doing more features with other artists. It’s always fun to collab and work together.
CN: Over the past few years, you have had the opportunity to open for artists like Vince Gill and Dierks Bentley. As things begin to open up, have you been able to get back out playing live music?
AB: I had my first show in 20 months last week in Las Vegas. I missed being on the road so much. I haven’t been able to tour as much as I have wanted but I know that 2022 will be full of touring and finally meeting the fans that changed my life over the last year.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
AB: I would love to collaborate with Drake for rap, Garth Brooks for country, Red Hot Chili Peppers for rock, and Justin Bieber for pop. I know you asked for one but I just couldn’t do that! Haha!
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
AB: My first concert was *NSYNC. I will never forget it. Watching them on stage when I was about 5 years old is when I knew I wanted to do that when I was older.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
AB: Underdog. I moved to town with $650 and that was for the first month’s rent. I’m still an independent artist and I have been passed on multiple times. I will fight for my music and prove myself over and over as long as I get to continue doing what I love.
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
AB: I have a new song coming out on October 22 called “Changed Everything.” It is my favorite song I’ve ever recorded and I can’t wait for it to come out.
For more information on Austin Burke, visit his website www.austinburkemusic.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.