Meet Steven Bowman | Songwriter/Artist & Violinist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steven Bowman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steven, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up as the oldest of four children in a southern Christian family in the small town of Atoka, TN. Located about an hour north of Memphis, we were close enough to civilization to be able to access the comforts of city life from time to time- yet we were far enough away that we were definitely in rural Tennessee. Our parents were devout Christians, and raised us with good southern morals and direction to serve God and love others.

While I knew from a fairly young age that I was going to go into the arts for a career, I found my passion for ministry to be a fairly complicated and confusing affair. For a season I went to seminary and even served as a pastor – yet ultimately found that my music itself WAS the ministry that I was called to.

I do believe that the groundwork of faith upon which my life was built has heavily affected the way I view my art. I’ve come to realize that any song and any note played on my violin has the ability to minister to those who hear it – and that is the core hope I hold onto in my craft.

Maybe I no longer work in a church – but I DO know that there is a power and a beauty to the shared experience of music. This is what I love about my profession.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a violinist/string arranger that also happens to be a songwriter and artist. My path has taken some wild turns over the years, but my love of violin and fiddle music has always been a constant during the journey. I’ve always seen my music as a ministry of sorts – my goal is to help people connect to God and to each other through the music I write, the music I play, and the community that those things create.

My undergrad degree is in violin performance, but at the end of the day it’s the relationships that I have made throughout the years that have brought me to where I am.

For a time I struggled with my calling – knowing that I was meant to give light and hope into the world through what I did. I went to seminary and spent several intense years in ministry as a music and discipleship pastor. I ultimately decided to pivot back to music after a few traumatic experiences in churches, but see the way that I grew as an artist through those years. It’s been a challenge to navigate the world of music and ministry simultaneously – learning how to overcome abuse and adversity, and how to keep moving when the going gets tough. These are things that ultimately inspire and affect the songs that I write, and the way in which I operate in Nashville as an artist today.

I want people to know that music is for everyone, and that the most important thing about a song or a string part is connection. It’s not about the numbers, or the stage – my goal is to create a connection between humans through the music I create.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nashville contains a plethora of smaller “hidden” gems, and these are the places I like to visit. Nothing against Broadway, but I like to showcase local joints and smaller independent businesses.

For breakfast we will go somewhere like Fido or Stay Golden, enjoying some elevated diner food and good coffee.
And speaking of coffee – we will HAVE to hit up Crema or 8th & Roast for an afternoon latte.

We will hit up Grimey’s records and Anaconda Vintage, and walk around Shelby Park if the weather is right.

Nightlife is exciting here in town, and there is always something fun going on. We will check out some live music at Dee’s Lounge in Madison, and if we are feeling like some nice cocktails hit up Patterson House, Red Phone Booth, or Americano Lounge.

Broadway is popular with tourists, but I prefer going places where I can have conversations and enjoy the artistic and authentic vibes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to my dear friend Laura Crawford. She is a passionate and visionary entrepreneur who spoke truth into my life and offered encouragement and hope when I had almost given up my calling of music. She saw that I had a passion and a God-given talent, and gave me the words I needed to hear and the job opportunities I needed to be able to pivot and enter back into this beautiful artistic world.

We all need that friend in our life – someone willing to remind us of who we are and what we are called to do.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenabowman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BowmanMusicTN

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/50LkNAJl2hB6gqnzSvK18y?si=v_qkz140T2i7V9gA3sMi9g
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stevenbowmanmusic?_t=8iqZus3vqXr&_r=1

Image Credits
Photographers: Ashley Davis w/ Ranger Visual Media Jeff Gustafson Chelsea Smith w/ Urban Bay Photography