EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Becca Bowen Chats Backstage At CMA Fest

CMA Fest is always a whirlwind of incredible performances and small snatches of time with incredible artists and backstage in the media room here at Music and Tour News we were lucky to grab a few minutes with country artist Becca Bowen to discuss her new music, touring plans and more.

So, you’ve had a full-on CMA Fest schedule, what’s that been like for you?

Yes, I’ve been a busy bee but it’s a lot of fun. I just got off the stage a few minutes ago and the sweetest thing happened and I’ll never forget it. This lady was out there with her baby and she came up to the stage while I’m talking, she asks “Do you mind if I bring my baby on stage this is his first concert ever”. So I ended up holding that baby and singing and I was like this is the sweetest and I’ll never forget that.

So sweet! We saw that you recently released the music video for Son Of A Gun, how was that experience?

That was incredible. I did not expect the response I got for Son Of A Gun because it did go viral and it just changed my career completely. So to be able to put a video out to kind of explain the whole story as well. It was very fun for me.

What was the writing experience like for this track?

Well, I’m sure you have heard of Son Of A Gun and how the song was about an ex-boyfriend who ended up cheating on me. I was singing the National Anthem and I look out into the audience and there he is with another girl. But the crazy experience was that it was a healing process for me. So, he had come along and was like “I want you back” and I was like “No, I can’t do this, I’m done”. And I was walking into a write with my guitarist Sam Woods and of course, I’m so aggravated and so I just started spilling all this stuff out about what I was going through, so we’re laughing about this and we end up writing a song within like an hour and never thought it would be released, ever. I was like “This is just fun, I’m not gonna release this”. But of course, we started singing it in Nashville at writers rounds and it became a fan favourite and my producer was like “We’re gonna have to record this song, everyone wants to hear this song”. I was wondering how the guy I wrote this about is going to feel about it but the crazy thing is, is that we had sung that song for a while and while we were singing that song in Nashville, me and him and our relationship had become a friendship. So, since we were friends I went and told him that I wrote this song about you and everyone in our hometown is gonna know it’s about you so I feel like I need to tell you about it. It was a very Taylor Swift moment haha, I Taylor Swifted him. So of course I tell him, and he’s like “let me listen to the song”. I let him listen and he’s like “oh my gosh, you nailed it. This is exactly what happened”. It’s amazing to me that something great came out of something that could have been just terrible heartbreak But now we both can look back at that at the healing and laughter now. I did Taylor Swift him and he took it like a man, and it gave me my breakthrough moment with that story. So I think a lot of people just related to that, more so than I ever thought. I think it was empowering to women because they’re like “Wow, this girl really stood up to this guy and she let him hold it and then she put it on the radio”. It was a super cool moment for me as an artist cos I really found for the first time my niche as an artist. It was produced exactly the way I wanted it produced, it was me, it was my words and I’ve never been happier in my music career because it’s finally where I want it to be. Like who I am, people know who I am, they know what kind of artist I am and I love that.

So, what’s been your highlight from the release campaign so far?

I think having the video out now so people can just take a look at it and watch it like a story and he ends up being in the video. So I reveal the actual cheater at the end of the video haha. I was like “Why not”. And he was like “Sure, why not, whatever”. He is a cool dude, he’s terrible at relationships but he’s a fun guy for a friendship. He’s a great friend but not boyfriend material for me haha.

Do you currently have any plans to follow on from this release with new music?

I do and I am so excited! July 21, the follow-up song to Son Of A Gun comes out and I will say this was written right after Son Of A Gun. I was in that mindset but it’s about getting over a guy and it’s a fun song it’s very upbeat and talks about how I’m not gonna sit around and whine about it. I’m going out, I’m gonna party, I’m gonna have fun. It’s such a fun follow-up to Son Of A Gun and I’m excited. It’s gonna show a really spunky side and sense of humour. I think people are going to absolutely love it if I’m being honest. I think it’s gonna connect already, we just sang it a few minutes ago, and everybody is already singing the chorus and the words. It’s very catchy and easy to learn the words quickly And you’re not expecting it like it starts out and you think it might be a slow song but then it turns around and you’re like “Wow, she’s going out, she’s gonna party, she’s going downtown”. I had the inspiration because I was like how do all these girls get over a heartbreak and what they do is they go out with their friends and they have a blast and they forget about him for at least a night so that’s what I was thinking about when I wrote it with Sam again. I thought it was great to follow up with this because people want to know what happened after. So this is juicy.

Do you plan on releasing a music video for this one too?

Oh, I probably will. We’re in the middle of a soap opera haha.

And aside from all the music stuff, you’ve recently come off The Outdoor Channel show, what’s that been like?

Yes, I recently won a big show on The Outdoor Channel and what I loved about it was that it had a lot of challenges for the women to do and we were all out there having a great time and ended up making great friends that will last. It was super fun to do that and be out in the woods. It was great and so much fun. I grew up in South Carolina in the country and I would go fishing with my grandpa and we’d spend many a day in the outdoors and I’m actually doing another.

And going back to music, do you plan on touring soon?

Oh yes, but I just can’t announce anything just yet but in the next year, we should be on the road doing some headlining shows. You work hard in this town and I’ve been here for about 4 years and I have a place here but I also go back to South Caroline because that’s where I go to fish and hunt and spend time with family and it’s where I just get some downtime which is very good for my mental health and then I come to Nashville to work. This city is amazing and it was the best of both worlds too because you have your rural areas and you have the city too. Nashville has my heart now.

One last question for you, what’s your message to your UK fans?

If you go and listen to my songs, they’re about being who you are and being happy with who you are. Being unique, not fitting into a mould so even if you feel different or you don’t fit in, you are beautiful, you have a purpose and you have a meaning so you be who you are. Be confident in who you are and know you are loved and know you matter. That would be my message to the UK.

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