Philip Bowen
Philip Bowen is one of the most exciting artists I’ve ever gotten to feature and I’m happy to feature him once again. I’ve been keeping up with everything he has been doing since “Every Season” and I’m happy to see how much he’s extended his audience. His fiddle performances are my favorites, his songs remain honest and beautiful, and his talent is just out of this world.
His new single “Stella” is out now and it is a must listen ! Congrats Philip for this new song. It is definitely my favorite one yet :)
Hi Philip ! How are you? What have you been up to since our first interview?
Hello Virginie! I’m so good! Things have been growing like crazy for me in the music world, which has been great, but also slightly overwhelming. I’ve been performing a ton and trying to stay on top of writing new songs. The most exciting thing, I think, was winning the Tik Tok’s Greatest Talent competition back in June of 2021. It was a huge win for me and an incredible experience overall. I also had my very first 100k+ streaming song on Spotify in, “Happy with Myself.”
What lessons have you learned since the release of "Every Season"?
So many. I think one of the main things I’ve learned is to dive deeper into the way I write my songs. I’ve joined the NSAI (Nashville Songwriter Association International), and it’s been an incredible source of mentorship and growth. I’ve also learned to trust my instincts when it comes to composition. I’ve been fortunate to work with some talented musicians and producers since “Every Season” dropped.
"Stella" is your new single - what's the story behind this song?
I was inspired to write this song by my youngest daughter. The song comes from a place of wanting to give positive and helpful advice to someone while still letting them spread their wings and fly. The song aims to help everyone see the positive and that it will all be alright. The inspiration for “Stella” is lifelong journey a friendship takes across time and across circumstances. Stella has beautiful piano vibes with tons of delicious harmony ☺
Could you describe us the songwriting/production process for this single? Who helped you create it?
I wrote this song on the piano, and most of it came to me fairly quickly. After nailing down the lyrics and format I reached out to one of my favorite producers, fellow musician Jake Fine. I initially met Jake through TikTok and he also produced my last single, “Happy With Myself.” Jake and I have an incredible working relationship and see music in similar ways. This song has some killer harmonies which I had a ton of fun writing and recording. I was so happy with how this turned out. We ended up doing a full studio version, and a more stripped piano only version with an accompanying music video. The song was mastered by Moses Mastering in Nashville.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I felt nostalgic and hopeful all at once. In many ways, Stella is my favorite song that I’ve written to date. I think a ton of people will catch it right in the feels with this one.
What made you want to release "Stella" as a single?
So far, that’s been the best strategy for me. I’ve been focusing on a steady stream of releases, and at least so far, doing it single by single has made the most sense. I also feel like this song is strong enough to stand on its own.
What do you like the most about this song?
I love the message and vibe of this song. I love how you can feel warm and at peace while listening to it. I’m also very proud of the piano part I wrote since that is not an instrument I have a ton of confidence playing.
Why do you make music? What keeps you going?
At the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy, I believe music is what I’m made to do. What keeps me going is the love and support I receive from my supporters. I love hearing how the music is impacting someone in their life situation. Most of all, there’s nothing quite like the energy you receive when performing live. I’m just getting started, and I have so much more to share.
What are your goals for 2022?
I have a goal to write and release 7 songs and collaborate on a few more with different artists. I want to reach as many people as I can. I want 2022 to be my biggest year of music growth yet. I’ve got several trips to Nashville planned, where I hope to play at some venues that I’ve been dreaming of playing!
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