Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I grew up in a small town in West Tennessee into a family that loved folk and bluegrass music styles. I think I knew from a very young age that music was going to be an important part of my life, and once I started playing violin I never looked back. Even though violin lessons were based in classical technique and repertoire, however, I had a teacher that was willing to let her students “fiddle” so to speak – and we ended up exploring the worlds of bluegrass, folk, old-time, western, and Celtic music as well. I think I saw a bit of myself and my family in those folk styles, and I have always tried to keep one foot firmly in that world; not only as a musician, but as an artist and lyricist as well. I find myself trying to pay tribute to the music and people that made me who I am.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Bowman”?
A: My primary plan for sharing my music is being true to myself as a storyteller. I find that when I am honestly myself both on stage and in the studio – that is what connects most authentically with people. If they can see a bit of their own story in the song they are listening to, then it just connects in a different way. I’ve been doing lots of interviews and videos as “Bowman” sharing the real-life stories behind the songs – and found that THAT is what people are really connecting with.
My message for someone about to discover my music would be an invitation – I invite you into a space where you can explore who YOU are, where you came from, and musically express things that maybe you didn’t realize you were feeling.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: This is a hard question to answer, since I find inspiration in a LOT of places! But at the moment I would have to say I am listening to a lot of Gregory Alan Isakov, Lord Huron, and The Swell Season. There is a longing and deeper emotion present in their songs that I really resonate with.
Personally, I find that the stories and true-life experiences from people I know are the most inspiring. If there is a deep emotional core, I feel like I tap into that – and it often leads to a new lyrical idea that I build on.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Sunset.”?
A: “Sunset” is a song that is inspired by the way that my grandparents’ house on Sunset Dr in Lexington TN has always been a safe haven for me. No matter what age I am, or what kind of trials I am experiencing in life – Sunset Dr has been a place where I can escape, breathe for a moment, and exist in the knowledge that I am known and loved.
I co-wrote the lyrics with Shari Rowe from the perspective of the house itself – pleading with a jaded and cynical version of myself to ‘remember’ and ‘wake up’ – to travel back to the way things were when I was young, and to walk through its doors once again to find peace. Even though Sunset is an actual place in my own life, the thought is that we all have our own version of that house – that place we long to go for rest and hope.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Nostalgic.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Sunset”?
A: I think it’s always a bit of a challenge to write songs based on real life people or places that mean a lot to you. In the case of “Sunset”, I wanted to be sure that the family members that live in that house are honored and would resonate with the message I’m communicating. Once we found the core message of the song, it really did flow easily for us in the studio!
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: The message of my music is remembrance. Through music I hope that the listener can be taken back to a time and place in their own life worth remembering – or perhaps create a hope and longing for that Home in the future.
My goal as an artist is to create community. Whether that is between me and my audience at a show, my audience and their own family or community through the sharing of songs, or maybe even in a spiritual sense one’s own connection with God. I believe music is capable of creating this community, and is powerful to heal in that way.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Dolly Parton. I can’t easily think of an artist that is more genuine than Dolly. She is someone who has always been a storyteller, and uses her platform to lift others up and bring others together – and this is everything I aspire to.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Keep your vision clear! It’s easy to lose focus if we compare ourselves to others or get distracted by numbers – but if you are keeping your art true to who you are and what your story is – then it will connect with people.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: No matter what people may say to you, or do – you have something important to share with the world. So keep your head up during the difficult times, because in the end every bit of your journey will be worth it.
