Lost Hotel
Six years of touring and refining his music have left the Texas singer-songwriter at a critical juncture. Bowen's professional and personal life are busier than ever. But he's not about to take his foot off the pedal with long-awaited opportunity finally knocking. "I like my life hectic," Bowen said. "When nothing is going on, that's when I become lazy." Bowen is riding a wave of momentum. He co-wrote the first release on Pat Green's Lucky Ones , "Don't Break My Heart Again." In February, he finished a multi-state barnstorming tour with Randy Rogers that put him in front of record crowds. Bowen acknowledged that his next studio effort, targeted for a late summer release, carries long-term ramifications. He's ready to capitalize. "This has to be the record for me at this point in my career," Bowen said. "A lot of people have turned their heads and are standing back looking at me, which is a cool feeling. But at the same time, I can't mess around from this time on. It's a critical point for people that haven't heard me yet." With that in mind, Bowen has shuttled between Austin and Nashville since last summer to work on the yet untitled release. He has teamed up with J.R. Rodriguez, who produced The Blue Light Live , Bowen's last offering. It's been since 2002's Try Not To Listen that Bowen has been in the studio. After completing that album in two weeks, Bowen is enjoying the laid-back, detail-oriented pace at which he's making this album. "It's been really fun and really relaxing compared to what I've done in the past," Bowen said. "For the first time, my songs are sounding the way I want them to sound." Bowen arrived armed with 22 new songs, 18 of which he wrote or co-wrote, that will be pared down for the record. The album is scheduled to be released independently, but Bowen has been enthused by recent label interest. "If somebody wants to tag along and pick us up, then hell yeah," Bowen said. "That's the advantage a lot of us Texas artists have." Bowen's musical influences stretch from A to Z, from Aerosmith to Zepplin. His music has been described as roots rock, guy rock, alt-country, and Texas music. Bowen said he takes great pride in producing music that can't be pigeon-holed. "People can call it whatever they want," Bowen said. "That might hurt me because people want music that can reach a specified demographic. I don't write music for one demographic. I want to be an artist that can play blues, rock, country and honky-tonk live." Bowen's rise to prominence has been marked by dogged determination. He began playing music as a student at Texas Tech in 1998 where he and friend/band member, Matt Miller, started the band West 84. While his popularity has spread beyond the Texas Panhandle, Bowen has worked to maintain the personable approach that helped build his rabid fan base. "It's gotten more difficult to have that personal base with the people that are coming out to shows," Bowen said. "But I know the faces and those people that keep coming out, I think of them more like friends than fans. I may be crazy, but it's hard for me to believe that I have fans that honestly care enough to listen to my music. It shocks me every day." Manager and longtime friend Chad Kudelka said Bowen's loyalty and approachability has kept fans coming back to fill bigger and bigger venues. "He saw that side of other artists that he didn't appreciate and decided that he wasn't going to get that way," Kudelka, said. "He told me, ‘If I ever get out of line, slap some sense into me.'" It doesn't appear that will be necessary. Bowen has put in the work and the miles to reach this point. By the end of 2005, he should know just how far he can go.