Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Manuel.
Hi Austin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I wrote a song called “Mockingbird” instead of a book report on To Kill A Mockingbird freshman year of high school. My teacher gave me an A and made me play it for the entire freshman class. I knew then that I’d write songs for the rest of my life. I grew up in Nashville and was there through most of my twenties. In 2017, I was invited on a west coast tour supporting my album, Up the Ridge, and opening for my friends in the band Birdtalker. My dad was sick with cancer, though, and as the tour approached I considered canceling the dates so I could be with him. The day before I was set to leave, I asked him.
“Should I not go?”
He asked, “Why wouldn’t you go?”
I told him, “So I can be with you.”
He said, “Oh, well then you should go. And come back when you need to.”
I left and two days later he died. I was about to go on stage in Denver.
It felt like he sent me on my way and affirmed what I was doing. I flew back and forth on that tour to plan and then to attend the funeral. But when the tour ended, it felt like I couldn’t go back to Nashville. He had sent me off and told me to come back when I needed to. Going back to Nashville felt like a dead end. I was supposed to keep going. So I didn’t go back, except to get my belongings. I kept going. I moved to Los Angeles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? I mean, no. Haha.
I was telling my mom on the phone today that I felt like the pandemic derailed and obliterated my music career. I barely feel like an artist right now. I didn’t play a show for a year and a half, whatever momentum I had before seems to have vanished, and now who knows what’s up in this town with ever getting back to feeling good about being inside with strangers again.
I have a lot to be thankful for, though. I enjoyed how LA welcomed me. It’s a weird place and I was going through a weird time – so it met me where I was. Also, I think they assumed I was a country singer because I came from Nashville so I fell into an Americana scene here and began playing a lot of shows. The music I’ve made since being here has received some love. I can’t really complain. The struggles I have had are mostly self-induced.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write songs and sing them and make records. I am most proud of any song of mine someone sings back to me or that I catch them singing. The other day I walked into a coffee shop in Burbank and the barista, a friend of some friends long ago, came out and recognized me and bought my coffee and sang to me a song of mine as I walked out the door. Kind. Proud moment.
This weekend I was most proud of playing two of my original songs down the aisle at a friend’s wedding.
I only write hits.
What makes you happy?
The sunshine. Each new morning. Swimming in a river. Swimming in the ocean. Floating on the waves listening to my breath. Cold water. Being in nature underneath green leaves that remind me of Tennessee. Good wine with good friends. Good friends. Hearing someone getting lost in their own story while they tell it to me. Stories. Soft touches from my woman. The food she cooks and we share together. The sunset. A good day’s work that deserves a cold beer. Going to bed exhausted after working on music that I think is great. Having friends who will go to that point of exhaustion with me. Time with my family. Taking a walk. A kind word. Connection. My brother told me happiness comes from gratitude.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.austinmanuel.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/austinmanuel
- Facebook: facebook.com/austinmanuelmusic
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/austinmanuel
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ih9NQR8CkKRwxfN9yXozi?si=sowlN19hQzm9-i6YZGcwBQ&dl_branch=1
Image Credits:
Photos taken by me or with “my” camera by friends.
