This is W.B. Sims, the Daphne-based musician who writes songs about life, faith and Baldwin County’s cougar problem.

Having picked up a guitar for the first time just five years ago, the people within the local music community and the ability to connect with a crowd is what keeps Sims going, even if his wallet is a little empty by the end of the night.

“I could be losing money on a show, but if that crowd’s good, that’s all that matters to me, and not even good in the sense of numbers,” Sims said. “If there’s 1,000 people there, great, but if there’s 20 people there that are just singing every song and having so much fun and there’s just a real connection, that’s why I do it.”

Sims’s musical beginnings can be traced back to his time as a student at Belmont University in Nashville, known for its comprehensive music programs. Initially studying political science, he eventually got into a program that required doing an artistic endeavor as an honors project. His roommate, who was studying to become a music producer, suggested he “fake being a country singer,” with Sims singing while his roommate produced.

Sims said it was the “easiest honors project ever.” However, the more classes he took, the more he fell in love with music, eventually changing his major to music business. He moved to Baldwin County in 2023 and has played at venues across the county such as the Flora-Bama.

Despite being relatively new to music writing, having only begun writing songs around four years ago, Sims has used his elaborate storytelling abilities when writing and singing.

“I’ll say a phrase, or I’ll hear something, and I’ll go ‘Oh, I like the way that sounds. That’s a song.’ But then also it can be stories or things that actually happen to me,” Sims said.

One night, while performing at Bill-E’s in Fairhope, a woman jumped on stage and bit Sims in the neck. The experience gave birth to the song “The Baldwin County Cougar Problem.” Sims joked that his looks end up attracting women much older than him.

“I kind of noticed wherever I went, I look older than I actually am,” Sims said. “I’m 25, but I look [solidly] in my 30s, so I give people the benefit of the doubt.”

After posting the song to social media, Sims said it got over 300,000 views within a week, and “The Baldwin County Cougar Problem” has become a frequently requested song at gigs. Even at his job in Mobile, he had multiple employees come up to him asking him about the song.

“Of course, it’s not the sentimental song about my granddad that I wrote that blows up but the one about older women going crazy,” Sims joked.

Sims also said he loves seeing the reactions from people who have never heard the song before, saying it makes the whole room die of laughter. Not all of his songs have that comedic, satirical twist to them, as an upcoming song to be released is more serious, but still in the country genre.

“That’s what I love about songs is it connects people,” Sims said. “Whether you’re laughing together, crying together, just having a good time, it’s kind of just a holistic room experience that kind of draws everybody in.”

Sims said since moving down to the coast, the community has accepted him into their local music scene, crediting local bands such as the Wrong Terns in opening up and helping integrate him into the community.

“When I moved down here, I was really unsure about my purpose as a musician, and the people in this area have really given so much more to me as far as kind of reigniting that passion,” Sims said.

Sims is planning to release a new song soon titled “What I Deserve,” a new version of a song he wrote as part of his project back in his college days. His music is available on major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.