In June, Head of the Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling Dr. Michael Lawson capped his return to music with the release his new album “Tennessee River Shakedown.” The album is an eclectic collection of songs influenced by the rich history of music that’s tied to the Tennessee River region.

Amid a period of transition following his divorce in 2019, Lawson made the decision to return to music after a 20-year hiatus and rebuild his life around it.

“It was exciting and scary,” said Lawson, associate professor of educational research. “There was a lot of rust to knock off, and I needed to find myself as a vocalist again.”

He had previously taken a break from the scene when the alternative rock band he co-fronted in Seattle disbanded in 1995. Before that, Lawson was an early member of a Seattle thrash metal group, which opened several times for another band in the area that included two of the founding members of Pearl Jam.

In 2020, Lawson was inspired to find a space to record some of his music. He reached out to Rodney Hall, owner of the legendary FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, and sent him a demo.

“I figured this may be the best time, because while the studios were open, they weren’t getting the same amount of tourism traffic because of the pandemic,” said the vocalist and songwriter.

Hall liked the demo, and soon, Lawson was recording his songs at FAME studios.

Prior to the pandemic, he became acquainted with the Muscle Shoals area while teaching weekend classes in Florence.

Muscle Shoals, which sits to the left of the Tennessee River, is known as the “Hit Recording Capital of the World” with FAME being the birthplace for the historic “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Established in 1959, it was the very first studio in the region to have a hit record, “You Better Move On” by Arthur Alexander in 1961.

Hanging above one of the studio entrances is a sign that reads, “Through these doors walk the finest Musicians, Songwriters, Artists, and Producers in the World.” For 65 years, artists have traveled to Muscle Shoals to record in FAME’s studio spaces – music legends like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Clarence Carter; groups like Alabama, the Drive-By Truckers, and the Osmonds; current hitmakers like Alicia Keys and Demi Lovato; and many more.

“Every time I’m (in FAME), there is definitely a certain feeling about the place,” Lawson said. “You can feel the vibes of greatness that were created – it’s very humbling to be there.”

He recorded three EPs at FAME over the course of three years. When he began planning for his full-length album in late 2022, he asked Jimbo Hart, former bassist for Jason Isbell and the 400 Units, if he would be interested in producing it. To Lawson’s excitement, Hart said yes.

“It’s great to have someone actively working to identify what is at the core of these songs and how we can enhance those core elements to create something that will resonate with people,” Lawson said of his creative partner.

 “Tennessee River Shakedown,” recorded in 2023, consists of 12 tracks that were recorded in two six-track sessions over the span of a week. The album features also musicians Justin Holder, Brad Kuhn, Jay Burgess, and Grammy award-winner Gary Nichols.

“Making a record is an intense amount of work, but I enjoyed it,” Lawson said. “It was a rare situation where I was using 100% of whatever faculties I have for 8-to-13-hour stretches. But being engaged and going into those states where everything flows – that’s what life is about. It was a hugely fulfilling experience.”

So far, Lawson has played shows in Florence, Ala., and Nashville, Tenn., in support of “Tennessee River Shakedown” with another gig scheduled for New Orleans in August. He plans to do more shows when his work at UA allows and said he feels that teaching in ways complements his music.

“Some people don’t do well multitasking,” he said. “But my experience has been that the more that I am actively engaged with, the better I do in each of those areas. … Anything that gets me active and energized in some sort of creative process will intersect and enhance other aspects of my life, both professional and otherwise.”

Since his record was released in June of this year, Lawson said his monthly Spotify listeners climbed from fewer than 10 listeners in April to nearly 2,000 by July.

“The battle is to get your music heard – and that is the goal,” he said. “It’s very difficult to get that listener engagement. If people like it, that’s great! But they can’t like it or dislike it if they don’t hear it.”

You can stream “Tennessee River Shakedown” as well as Lawson’s EPs on both Spotify and Apple Music. The album is also available to stream on his website at michaellawsonofficial.com where you can also find more information about upcoming shows.