Sam Cowan (12) works as a musician by filling in for bands that need an extra instrument playing guitar, drums, or even keyboard. Cowan has described music as his passion and a career that seems natural to him. He has already created original music and hopes that it will be released sometime in the near future.
Sam Cowen
After being urged by his friends to put out music, senior Sam Cowen released an EP of short, unfinished, random songs that he wrote.
“It was a little more ambient, a little more weirder, kind of like background music,” Cowen said.
Cowen generally does session work where he would fill in for bands when they need a guitar player, or drummer, or keyboardist. In addition to playing instruments, Cowen also produces albums for other bands and musicians. “I’m working on a record at the moment. Kind of getting a little weird in there,” said Cowen. “The record is called ‘Slick Jimmy’ which just started as an excuse for me and some friends of mine to hang out after work over the summer and just mess around.”
For five years, Cowen has found himself filing in and playing with bands and have found music to be a pillar in his life. “[Music] is kind of the only thing that makes sense to me,” and it is one of the only things that keeps Cowen engaged. “It’s nice to always have something to work with.”
Normally, Cowen writes and records music by himself so the idea of a solo career seems natural to him.
“I think the universe exists because of friction, and we exist because of friction and most good and bad things exist because of that. So active collaboration is important and I enjoy it, but honestly, making things alone have been the way that it’s been going for the last however many years.”
“What I’ve been working at in the moment I guess can be something like yacht rock– that smooth rock, too many guitars, too many synthesizers, that kind in cheaser sound of thing– but as long as it’s doing something I think that people can enjoy, dance to, or just relax to, and as long as it’s not sterile and generic, it’s cool by me,” said Cowen.
Cowen finds his own way to spice up all different genres of music. He can find a way to turn something that is somewhat boring or generic and turn it into a journey of sounds and mixes that completely change the original sound. Cowen sticks to those artists who keep their music original and authentic. “The people that stick out like a sore thumb– bringing those people together– that’s what I want to have a hand in doing.”
As long as Cowen is involved and around music, he finds himself at peace and content with life. Ideally, Cowen hopes to work in the music industry after high school. He has a bunch of music that he hopes to make and release in the future, but it is just a matter of time and space for when he plans to record and produce the projects.