Musicians For LeBohneur

In June, 2001, it was just another day with my extended family. We were all at our aunt's house in this small town in West Tennessee swimming and laughing, making memories. I was about 10 years old and one of the oldest of my cousins present. It was time to leave and mom was trying to round up her four kids, put away the food, get ready for the long ride home. I was always an obedient kid, never really disobeyed my parents, but for some reason, I kept sneaking off back into the pool when my mom turned around. I think I jumped back in three times. The third time, I found a pair of goggles under water. When I put them on, I saw something at the bottom of the pool. My curiosity turned into panic when I realized what was down there.

I rushed down and picked up my two year old brother, who was unresponsive. I carried him up to the top and yelled for help. My mom ran over and there helped me pull him out onto land. I remember that moment all too well. As I rose up from the water, I remember yelling, "Help! Help! I need help!" As my mother grabbed him from me, I could hear her praying, "Oh my God, save my child. Save my child." That whole sequence lasted about seven seconds, but it felt like forever, it all happened so fast, yet it felt like slow motion.

My aunt's father had never performed CPR in his life, he just reacted. The doctors said that he probably would not have made it if CPR hadn't been performed. I think back to that picture over and over again. Ambulance rushed into the backyard and took him to the local hospital in this little small town of Somerville, Tennessee. From there, he was flown by helicopter to LeBohneur children's Hospital in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.

My memories from there are blurred. I was told that he was going to be okay after a few days and I no longer worried about it, I was 10, I trusted what my parents told me. Later, I was told that someone took his arm floats off and just lost track in the bustle. He was probably reaching for a toy in the water and fell in. According to the doctors, he was probably submerged in water for just under two minutes. Plain and simple, LeBohneur saved his life.

Fast forward to 2013, Musicians for LeBohneur contacted me about getting involved in the project. At the time, I was looking to get involved with LeBohneur anyways, so this seemed to really fall into place. I donated "Find Love Again" to the project and did a show or two with other artists involved. I also promoted the project on local news stations (CW30 and ABC24) on behalf of MFL. Because of what happened with my brother, I was excited and grateful for the opportunity! I always love the chance to give back and use my music for something bigger. You can purchase the compilation album on iTunes! Please check it out!

"Better Than" comes out in 10 days! Please go get it! You're not gonna wanna miss it!

Here's what's new!

So I've set a date for the record, mastered it, submitted it to iTunes, and sent it off to get copies printed. Now, we wait. Patiently wait... But I'm SO EXCITED!! It's been a lot of fun and so rewarding, but I've had times where I felt like it would never get finished.

As it turns out, when you spend a lot of your life with a musical family, you accumulate a lot of fun toys... and it becomes more of a test to see how many instruments I can throw onto one track. I counted the instruments and there are a little over a dozen different sounds you will hear. Drum programming, bongos, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, piano, pads, B3 organ, Wurlitzer, suitcase piano, mandolin, banjo, ukelele and all of the voices. Some I learned how to play just picking it up and playing the part 100 times to get just good enough to record before I forgot it. The only sound I did not manage to play myself was the steel guitar, played by Nate Powell. Which brings me to my next point..

I want to thank a few people for helping with this album, I would love to say every idea was mine, but that wasn't the case. First, you gotta have songs to record and I want to thank Graham Inman for helping me write "She's Gone" and "Fantasy World." Turns out to be two of my favorite tracks! I want to thank my new friend, Nate Powell, for playing steel guitar on "Fantasy World," "The Way You Love Me," and "Get You Back Again." He really brought those songs to life and I am so glad I got to meet him through all this. I want to thank the amazing Kyndle McMahan for singing with me on "Let's Say Goodbye." Kyndle is the lead singer of The Mason Jar Fireflies, go check them out! My brother, Dawson, did an amazing job with the photography and visual direction of the album, I don't think I could imagine using anyone else. Lastly, Kirk Barkley, Taylor Streitmatter, and Jared Stanfield bring a lot of energy to the songs on stage and have become such close friends and I'm so thankful for them.

In the coming weeks, I hope you will be hearing from me on television, radio, or even a show! October 19th cant's come fast enough! Keep coming back to www.AlexInmanMusic.com for more updates!

For the time being, you can buy my debut album, American Girl, on iTunes now!

Click here to buy "American Girl"


-Alex

~New album news~

Hey y'all,

      I'm really excited about the upcoming weeks, my new album is coming out in October and I couldn't be thrilled with the way it's turned out!  Lot's of recording, re-recording, re-recording AGAIN(!!!), and lots of outside opinions!  All in all, I think I recorded 15 songs for the album and only chose 10, but I think they are 10 of my favorite songs I've ever written.  Of course there are the love/heartbreak songs (what do you expect from a country singer?), but there are songs about living simpler lives, an ode to summer memories, and even stories about doing stupid things for money from a dare.

     Every track has a story behind each song, I would love to tell all of the secrets, but I won't.  Instead, I'll tell you why I called the album "Better Than."  I live by a standard that I'm always going to do better than I did last time, which include being a better musician, singer, friend to my peers, brother to my siblings, son to my parents, student to my school, etc.  I always try to do better, it seems unrealistic because at some point, people hit their peak, and I'm definitely no different.  But I always say to people "We'll get em next time" or "there's always next time," and I usually mean it.      I truly believe that "Better Than" speaks true to the work I put in to this new record.

     My inspiration came from listening to a lot of Hunter Hayes, he's become my favorite artist because to him, writing and composing is indeed an art.  Nowadays, artists focus less on music and more on show, but Hunter Hayes seems to put more time into writing great songs that people can't help but love.  I drew a lot from watching him quickly mature into a star and I hope my music speaks to you the same way his does to me.

     The album comes out in October and I am so ready for everyone to hear the tunes.  God bless you all.

-Alex