Country singer-songwriter Alex Schumacher has come full circle.

It took nearly 15 years of bouncing from band to band – including arena – rock cover outfit Axis and country group Mercy Flirt – and city to city, before Alex Schumacher found his groove as a solo singer-songwriter. It’s been quite liberating.

“I’m able to do what I want to do, without having to deal with trying to make everyone in the band happy,” he says. “I can now make a song sound exactly the way I want it to sound.”

Schumacher’s debut EP, Day By Day, which he describes as “country with a lot of heart,” delivers four polished country tracks including the standout, “Sinking Ship.” It sounds like it came off an early Johnny Cash record.

Schumacher believes one of the keys to effective songwriting is showcasing relatable emotions.

“There also has to be something that influences me – or something I’ve felt directly or indirectly – for me to write a song,” he says.

As Schumacher gets wiser with age and experience, his priorities as a musician have shifted somewhat, and have led him to start shopping for a publisher.

“I don’t necessarily want to be in the spotlight,” he says. “I just want to be able to make music and write songs that last a long time.”

Schumacher sites Shel Silverstein and Kris Kristofferson as two of his primary influences.

“They were just artists who had to say something and get it out there,” he says. “Even if you’re not necessarily the one singing [a song you wrote], it’s important to connect with people in any way you can.”

ALEX SCHUMACHER performs at 9pm Friday, May 9, at The Otter’s Den, 3166 Vista Del Camino, Marina. Free. 883-1227.

HEAR MORE HERE >> www.reverbnation.com/alexschumacher