When Philip Bowen first picked up a fiddle at four years old, who could have guessed that he would eventually become a breakout star on social media – without ever releasing an album? Just ask his 320,000 Instagram followers about falling in love with Bowen’s duets and sing-a-longs. Not to mention he is a literal TikTok sensation. Bowen’s masterful fiddle skills have earned him over 8 million likes and 1 million followers on the platform alone. Bowen also recently appeared on America’s Got Talent.
After completing his MBA at the University of Tampa, Bowen was encouraged by a friend to create a TikTok account to showcase his fiddle covers and original songs. The rest, as they say, is history. With his infectious positivity and musical talent, Bowen caught the attention of artists like Brandon Davis, Noah Kahan, Spinmont, Styles Haury, Jenna Paulette, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, and many others, earning him over 100 credits as a session fiddle player. His debut solo album Old Kanawha came out this past summer. Now that the dust has settled, Bowen told us more about the album and how he approaches his work as a touring singer-songwriter.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
I love this question. So I typically start off with a general idea or idea for a hook, and then I just start playing chords and singing gibberish melodies till I find a structure I like. Once I do that, I build and edit around the lyrics that come out. Like a lot of songwriters, the second verse is sometimes the hardest part for me. I’ve had a few songs that come to me quickly, but for most of them, it takes a little while to get them how I want them.
How do you manage having a good time at shows but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
This has been a real journey for me and something I really had to make an effort to stay on top of. In this business, there’s always tons of great hospitality, and it’s usually presented in large quantities and late at night! I find that doing some type of physical exercise as a habit in the morning hours really helps me focus mentally, but also make sure I’m taking care of my health. My favorite lately is a 3-5 mile walk. Most of the time, I don’t even listen to anything on these walks; I just kind of meditate and calm my mind. I now always research a park or walking trail nearby, and that’s something I look forward to exploring in each city. I love to get out and move around the city. My first two searches are typically “best walking trails” and “Best sushi.”
Does your album have an overarching theme?
Old Kanawha is about home, but for me, that had to mean not just the nostalgic and good elements of home but also the heartache, struggles, and problems that are alive and well in Appalachia. That’s why you have some feel-good tunes like “Trees Grow High” and “Sweet, Honey” but also some very dark tunes like “Vampire in Appalachia” and “A Murder” – I have a huge passion for seeing Appalachia rise up and above problems like the extraction economy and opioid epidemic that is ravaging our land and people. I want people to listen to this album and find joy and their home, and also a motivation to be kind and help those around us who need it the most.
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
Oh yes! I would love to play one of my songs in the circle at the Opry. My biggest bucket list item is a full band show at Red Rocks. I love nature and sing about it a ton. I can’t even begin to imagine how special it would be to play at RR
Where are some places you’ve found joy within the country/Americana world?
I have found so much joy in how music brings people together and can unite us. My great-grandparents immigrated from Lebanon to the USA through Ellis Island, and they made so many sacrifices so that we could have a better life and opportunity. There’s a large Lebanese community in the Charleston area of WV, and it’s been so fun to see this type of music grow throughout the community. I have made such wonderful friends in the artist community, and I think we are all inspired by the love of good storytelling that goes so far beyond the typical pop country that you might hear on the radio. Mon Rovia is a good friend of mine, and he’s a great example of this new wave. He’s an incredibly talented folk artist from Appalachia.
Philip Bowen — Official, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp, Spotify