While growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Austin Merrill was surrounded by 90s country music and has set forth on a mission to keep that iconic era alive and well in the current environment of the industry today. His debut EP Whiskey and Water, released on April 26, was produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, BlackHawk) and offers his first step in keeping that dream alive.
Currently enlisted with the US Army, we caught up with Austin to talk about his musical journey, his service to our country and his debut EP.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
AM: Sure, my name is Austin Merrill and I was born and raised in the great state of Oregon. I hail from the desert side of the state, from the town of Bend. I originally went to college here in Nashville at Vanderbilt University (shout out to the baseball champs!) and I’ve been back in Nashville for almost two years now pursuing a music career.
CN: How did you discover music?
AM: It didn’t take a whole lot of searching around for me to discover music. Both my parents are avid country music listeners, so I grew up on country radio ever since my car seat days. My earliest favorite song was “Mountain Music” by Alabama.
CN: Which musicians have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
AM: Man, there are so many artists out there that have influenced me that it’s impossible to list them all. I prefer to think of it as an entire era, the era of 90’s country music. Among my favorite artists are Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, and Vince Gill, but pretty much anyone who had a hit in the 90’s has influenced my listening ear. It’s still my favorite music to listen to.
CN: Before we continue, we want to thank you for your service to this great country. You are currently active in the US Army and commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Tennessee Army National Guard.
AM: Thank you for your support, I am currently commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the 230th Sustainment Brigade out of Chattanooga. It’s an honor to serve.
CN: Congratulations on the release of your debut EP Whiskey & Water, which was released in April and produced by none other than Mark Bright. What was it like working with Mark?
AM: Working with Mark was a dream come true. The guy is a legend in this town and he worked wonders on my record. It was an incredible experience getting to combine my artistry and his on every one of these tracks. He produced a lot of the music that I grew up on, and it’s still a bit surreal when I think about it all.
CN: What is the main piece of knowledge that you walked away with from the production of the EP?
AM: When you work with the right people, the final product is often something greater than you could have possibly imagined. It wasn’t just Mark Bright that made this record really stand out, it was everyone involved, from the sound engineer to the session musicians. I worked with quite a few master craftsmen on this project, and when everyone is fully engaged and operating at the top of their game, that’s when the magic happens.
CN: As you grew up on 90’s country, you paid homage to that era on this EP. What does it mean to you to keep the iconic sound of that decade alive and current among today’s varying styles of country music?
AM: Country music has always cast a pretty wide net, and my hope is to play a part in ensuring that the 90’s sound never fades from the genre. It’s the sound many of us grew up on, and it’s a sound I will always feel a special connection with. I really like some of the modern country music that different artists are making, but somebody has to carry the torch of that old-school 90’s sound. That’s what I’m trying to do.
CN: You also wrote each of the 5 songs on the EP. Take us through your songwriting process. Do you draw mostly from personal experiences, or from those around you?
AM: I’ll draw from anything that inspires me. Sometimes it’s a personal experience, sometimes it’s not. I haven’t decided if songwriting is a way of celebrating life or just coping with it haha, but either way I am grateful for the songwriting gift. I find few things to be as satisfying and rewarding.
CN: Could you share the backstory of each track?
AM: These tracks all come from such different scenarios in my life. I wrote the title track, “Whiskey & Water,” right before I shipped off to Fort Jackson, SC for an Army leadership course. One song I wrote on plane, another I wrote while bored on a Friday. I believe this EP really gives the listener a sense of who I am as an artist. I couldn’t be happier with the final product.
CN: This being your debut EP, do you have a favorite song?
AM: My favorite song on the record is called “The Leaver.” I wrote it just before Mark and I had to choose the songs to include on this project, so it barely made the cutoff date. It tells a unique story and the session musicians really came through in a big way on this track. The vibe is incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder of it.
CN: Being an active member of the military while pursuing your dream of being a country music artist, how do you balance the two?
AM: We actually had to move back the EP release date earlier this year to accommodate a mission I was a part of, but usually balancing the two isn’t very difficult. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to pursue a music career while serving the common good. Military service does a man good. It provides perspective, humility, and a fair amount of challenges. Music is about expression; the Army is about discipline. I find that the two create a very nice balance in my life.
CN: Do you have a dream collaboration in mind?
AM: There are a lot of artists I would love to collaborate with in the future. Josh Turner comes to mind, as does Colby Caillat. It would also be pretty awesome to have Keith Urban play guitar on one of my tracks one day. That guy has crazy skills.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
AM: One word? Maybe Enthusiastic. I get pretty fired up about things that I like, and not just country music and songwriting. It can be anything from root beer to frisbee golf. When I find something I like, I go all in. It keeps things fun.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
AM: The first concert I vividly remember was seeing Ronnie Milsap at the Oregon Jamboree. I was just a kid and even though I grew up on country music, somehow I had never heard his music before that show. It was absolutely incredible, and I’ve been a big fan of his ever since.
CN: What are your plans for July 4th?
AM: Well, my girlfriend is a nurse and she has to work on the 4th, so we’ll probably get to catch some fireworks, but that’s about it. Maybe I’ll just turn on some Lee Greenwood and salute the flag haha. Shoutout to all the doctors, nurses, first responders and servicemembers that hold down the fort while the rest of us celebrate!
CN: What’s next on the horizon?
AM: Music videos, tour dates, you name it. I’ve got some exciting stuff coming up, and the best way to stay up to speed is to follow me on Facebook and Instagram at @austinmerrillmusic. Thanks for your time, this was a fun interview. And to all you country music fans out there, go check out my debut EP, Whiskey & Water, available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other digital streaming platforms. Have a happy 4th.
Whiskey & Water is available for purchase and download here.
For more information Austin Merrill, visit his website at www.austinmerrill.net.