‘Apartmentality‘ is the latest single to hit the shelves.. created by Gavin Bowles and backed by the Distractions.
For those who had the chance to listen, Gavin played a set for Sounds On The Couch in a live performance last week.. He has a smooth, yet upbeat vibe to his music and is extremely entertaining to watch.
His sound is described as ‘a mixture of Power Pop, Indie Rock & Rockabilly. Upbeat, high energy rock’ and is appreciated by fans of Elvis Costello, Arctic Monkeys, You Am I.
In this article.. we will take the time to explore the man behind the music.. who is he? where did he come from? and most importantly.. what inspired him to create ‘Apartmentality‘.
Who is Gavin Bowles?
Originating from the Blue Mountains in NSW, Gavin has been playing guitar since he was 7 years old.
His musical career began in his band ‘Picture Perfect’, which he played in for a total of 10 years.
In 2018, Gavin decided to depart the band and begin his journey as a solo artist. His debut EP, ‘King of Nothing‘ was released that same year and was followed by single releases each year to date.
For a period of time, Gavin resided in the inner Victorian suburb of North Melbourne.. The pressure of trying to create his music, whilst not disturbing the neighbours led to him returning to his home of the Blue Mountains, where he had the freedom to develop his music.. This was where ‘Apartmentality‘ was born.
What’s behind the music?
Gavin explains that he has “always maintained that songwriting is the best (and cheapest) form of therapy.. Some of my songs are observations of what’s around me, others are written about my own experiences or struggles with day to day life stuff (work life, financial stress, relationships).
They all mean something to me, whether I’m blowing off a little steam or saying something sincere.”
Overall, Gavin believes that music provides a sense of fun and entertainment.. he always wants to portray this message to his listeners, whether it be when listening to his music, watching a show or a clip.
What does the future hold for Gavin?
In his own words, he is “currently focusing on the album release and the possibility of finally doing some shows with the band again! (My backing band ‘The Distractions’).”
As venues begin to open up.. be sure to catch Gavin at some of his upcoming shows.
Advice for Aspiring Artists
Gavin shares some valuable advice to aspiring artists.. He says “make music or art that you want to make and that excites you. If it’s pop – great! If it’s weird – great! Enjoy it. It’s fun and it’s what you make it.”
Where to find Gavin Bowles
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.