Meet Lowen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lowen.

Hi Lowen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
The story starts long before I knew the story had actually started — if that makes any sense, haha. Let me think back.

I grew up loving music, for as long as I can remember. I was always making beats on tabletops, jamming in the car with my father through song and improvisation, and dancing to Colombian music with my mom’s side of the family. By elementary school, I was singing traditional Jewish/Israeli songs in my school choir and performing them at various Nursing homes, and by middle school, I was playing drums/percussion, guitar, and bass, and singing in the school’s top 40-esque rock band – eager to book ‘real’ gigs out in the world. I loved music – Broadway, 2000s boyband pop, Eminem circa 2002, the Beatles, James Taylor, John Mayer, Tracy Chapman, and other iconic writers. By high school, I was skipping class to jam in the band room, attempting to record songs in my bedroom, and I had a handful of middle school drum students I’d teach on the weekends. Doing the art, AND figuring out how to sustainably do so – and making it happen…was something I naturally gravitated towards engineering for myself early on.

In college, I worked at a music venue, tending to dress rooms and artist hospitality (aka a “runner”), and would sling cover songs in any and every bar that would have me. Early on, it was my cover gigs that kept a roof over my head and allowed me to hone my skills, and start getting out on the road playing my own original songs. Inspired by so many of the artists who came through the venue I worked at, I eagerly became a road dog singer-songwriter, zoned in on “making it” happen for myself. I wrote, recorded, released, promoted, and toured my own music independently for years. rinse & repeat. As hard as the grind was, and as wonderful as some of the benefits reaped, I burnt out and lost my sense of “why”, and ultimately took a sabbatical — a backpacking trip through the world that would last a year.

From an avocado farm in New Zealand to living and working in a brewery in Bueno Aires, Argentina, to jamming with musicians in the clubs of Hanoi, Vietnam – finding life outside of the hamster wheel of a pursuit I was in – is exactly what gave me inspiration and purpose again. Letting go. I discovered that in order to write about life and stay grounded in a deeper purpose, I had to live life. After that trip, my partner and I moved to Nashville. To honor my new shift in perspective, I started recording and producing my own songs again, this time as Lowen (a nod to my mom’s maiden name and Jewish German Ancestors who’d emigrated to Colombia). I’ve since independently released two EPs, and a single called “Just Fucking Let Me Love You”. I created my publishing company, “Move Yourself Creative”, named after the first song that made me a dollar! It is the umbrella for everything I write, including a vast catalog that’s grown through major sync licensing placements. From usage on networks like NBC, Hulu, Disney+, and Cartoon Network, and in-series commercials for brands like Android, Google, Samsung, LG, & Volkswagon, my work as a producer, writer, and singer, has been heard globally.

To be self-sufficient in this way – at this stage in my career as both an experienced, yet new artist in many ways… allows me to create freely, on my own time, on my own dime. I feel like I am making the work I’ve always known was inside, and doing so with a lens that “letting go” gave me. I’m writing honestly, and tapping into the musicality I’ve been cultivating since I was young. Taking my time, and soaking in every step of the process. Last year, I built my first actual studio (called the Zula) chiseling away at what will be the next Lowen era of songs. Having this sacred space that allows me to really stretch out and flex all of my music muscles feels like I’m honoring the little kid in me, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter as an artist leads.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anything worth doing is never simple. External circumstances, especially early on, like being very broke — weren’t easy. But, leaning in, and making what you can with what you have is a value that I hold on tightly to. Most of my struggles were and are internal.

I had a lot of self-doubts, and strange guilt early on, that somehow a pursuit of a career in the arts was somehow selfish or indulgent. That narrative evolved as I understood that (even if I pursued an alternative career) an existence as an artist in and of itself – as someone who soaks in life and feels a visceral, constant need to express — is hard.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a songwriter, a music producer, and a touring artist. I think when it comes to music production, my experiences playing gigs, being on the road leading, and playing in bands, all help me to harness musical ideas in organic ways. In the studio, I’m very physical and tactile and love to be able to run over to the drums or use what’s around to flesh out an idea. I think because I’m wired to sort of consider how things will be communicated live – it informs my taste and instincts tremendously in that way. I love the malleability of an idea and how finding the magic in it all depends on instinct and choices. It’s total freedom. I think people who’ve listened to my songs, and like them, would say that they prefer to hear them live – which I’d say is a specialty.

I’m most proud of how my (sometimes scary) choices have given me the best gifts of my life. I’m proud to be an artist who gets to experience beautiful family life. I’m proud to have a daughter – and a daughter who sees her mom in pursuit of something she loves.

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m a former Varsity athlete and I CAN BALL.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.earthtolowen.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/earthtolowen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthtolowen/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/earthtolowen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/earthtolowen 

Image Credits
AJ Woomer, Luke Harvey (Mossflower Pictures), and Chase Denton Lowen