Bryan Cowsert by: Jeff Hightower

Where rock meets country, usually a very special sound is born. Bryan Cowsert has landed right in the middle of this union. With rocking political songs like Uncle Sam, he shifts gears into a white knuckle ride of rock and country mix. The “American Solder” started with drums in the fourth grade and while enlisted continued his music with some of the guys on base. After the military, Bryan joined up with an old cohort and became a member of Dreemwich. And years later, he heard the Nashville lights calling and decided to take on the “Music City”. Bryan say, “I enjoyed the energy and emotional life messages from the music.” Thereafter, he started writing country songs and finding ways to incorporate all his musical experiences into it. And now Bryan is setting precedent in the Black Label Country scene with a smooth groove and a raunchy guitar that is definitely not your father’s country music. HM - What got you into music in the first place? BC - My Mom was very musical-I remember at a very early age. I always had a melody in my mind and I still do today. We had an old electric Wurlitzer piano and I used to bang on it as well as an old acoustic in the corner-I specifically remember grabbing that guitar and just chaotically hammering on it and telling my mom “look I can play!” I was probably about 9. HM - Who were your main influences that help develop the artist you are today? BC - I cut my teeth on Three Dog Night, The Who, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen. Even today, I still enjoy the fact that the music was raw and not over produced-that is how I like it-Kind of Organic so to speak. HM - What is your main goal in the music industry? BC - My main goal is to make people happy with my music. Music is about the emotion in my opinion, not how great you are or how fast you can play. If it leaves you with some sort of feeling than you have probably reached the goal. My goal is to give goose-bumps to people who come to see a show or listen to a tune. HM - What drives you to be the artist you are today? BC - People. People these days are in need of an escape from the everyday pressures of life in general. I f I can make a person feel good in one way or another with my music than I am satisfied. After all, what would the world be like without music? HM - What sets you apart from other artist in the industry today? BC - My material is different. I go for the feeling and live feel-Production is very important but a lot of music today is over-produced to the point that it sounds almost mechanical. I like it to sound like you had a blast recording the music; again it is about the emotion not how perfect you can get it to sound. HM - Of all the things you’ve done and seen, what is the most important lesson you take out of your experiences? BC - From a business standpoint-being aware of your surroundings is the most important lesson that that I have learned. I have been doing this for a long time and have dealt with a lot of industry people and have learned what to do and what not to do. I have also learned that it is a tough business that can eat you up if you are not careful! HM - What is more important to you, the notoriety and accolades or the pride and passion of music? BC - As I said previously, the passion of the music. Music is passion and I am very passionate about the music, not about being noticed. HM - In your own words, define the perfect music/song to you. BC - Catchy guitar riff, strong melody line, a powerful building melodic bridge, strong melodic guitar solo and tight ending. Short, sweet and to the point! I love a “live” feel! HM - Who have you worked with, or are looking forward to working with the most over the course of your career? BC - I have a lot of friends in the industry-some are successful some are just happy clubbing it. These people are my influences and friends as well. I have some close friends that are absolutely incredible players. I would love to work with someone who has the same thoughts and feelings about songwriting and recording as me. I would love to work with someone who has an absolute passion for music and their individual instrument as I do. I have never really looked at it as a hobby.

Click here to visit Bryan Cowsert on myspace

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