Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Gower.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bill. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Bill Gower. I’ve been a musician & primarily a bass player/songwriter for nearly 30 years. I became fascinated with music at an early age and it’s been a part of me ever since. Hearing bands like The Police, Rolling Stones & similar artists on the radio at the time got my ear going & I knew I wanted to be a musician. Over the years my style of music has been influenced by speed metal, funk, punk, rock, country and anything good in between. Playing in local garage bands with friends growing up gave me the foundation to really get involved in writing & performing music live.
Stepping into better bands in the Los Angeles music scene & continuing to evolve leads me to the next level. That’s when I joined the alternative rock band, Boy Hits Car, almost 15 years ago. It all started with an audition for the Bass guitar position on an upcoming US tour in June 2006. Boy Hits Car had gained some good traction & success through their self-titled 2001 release on Wind-up records (Sony). I was familiar with the band and always liked their sound and high energy showmanship. Coming from a few local LA Alternative rock & Funk influenced bands (Agrokulcher, Voze, Flowbis & Mr. Bill) around town that mainly played the local circuit by the beach & Hollywood with some occasional out of state dates.
Music was always a huge part of who I was and writing songs/performing was where I wanted to be. The audition with Boy Hits Car was a step up the ladder into the professional side of things as we continued to tour the US & Europe while writing for the next albums. We’ve recently landed a deal with Cleopatra Records for an upcoming LIVE album release due in late summer 2020. This album will contain songs from previously released albums, as well as a couple cover tunes. In the meantime, we’re working on our 6th studio album which will be out sometime after the LIVE release. We plan to tour in support of the new albums this Spring-Summer 2020 to keep the momentum going into the future.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are always some ups & downs in the music world. From trying to secure a good label to release your work or going the independent route, to finding a solid booking agent/manager or planning tour dates and the obstacles/organizing that comes with them. Overall, it’s been a fulfilling journey so far and like most industries, it takes hard work and good timing to reach success. Being able to stay inspired, relevant & on track are key factors.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
Boy Hits Car is an alternative heavy rock band that formed in 1993 with the idea to write melodic-heavy music that would translate well into a high energy live show. The brand of music has been dubbed “LoveCore” connecting people around the world in a positive way through the heavy, uplifting tones and messages found in the BHC sound. My role in the band is bass guitar & co-songwriter.
I also work the social media aspects. We, as a unit, take pride in maintaining the unique sound that the band formed many years ago while injecting new ideas to keep evolving. When on the road touring we are very DIY. We cover all the tasks & work involved ourselves. It can be a bit grueling but it feels good at the end of the day. From show to show we bring the same high energy every time & make it a point to spend time with the fans that are the main reason, we can keep writing music & performing live.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles, in general, is a great city with lots of options & opportunities for the aspiring musician. Being home base to a lot of well-known record labels & producers gives LA high value in the music world. There is a lot of hard work involved & some luck with timing and such. Sometimes not being the current trend can be a setback for a band or artist but there’s usually a niche somewhere. Once again, hard work, perseverance & being passionate about your art will usually point you in the right direction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boyhitscarrocks.wixsite.com/boyhitscar
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/boyhitscarofficial
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovecorealliance
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/boyhitscarrocks
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