BOTW: Coy Bowles & The Fellowship

Hometown: Thomaston, Ga.
Fun Fact: Blue Note artist Oliver Wood performs on “Goodbye Lullaby.”
Why They Are Worth Watching: Clever horn arrangements add a fun party vibe to the band’s album and live performances.
For Fans of: The Allman Brothers, Elton John, Joe Cocker, and Stevie Ray Vaughn

Selecting a singular genre to classify Coy Bowles & The Fellowship’s debut album is not an easy task. Into the Distance is a hybrid of southern rock and jazz-infused soul. Bowles' leading vocals are reminiscent of vocalists such as Michael McDonald, Joe Cocker and Van Morrison, albeit with a more youthful clarity. “I try to cross as many genres as possible with the same attitude,” Bowles says. “I want every song to be very clear.”

Into the Distance displays a chameleonic musical quality, while espousing motivational lyrical themes such as conquering one’s own desires and never settling for the norm. “I’ve Been Waiting” is an anthem for seizing opportunities and dreams wherein a jovial horn section, diversified percussion and a traveling calypso rhythm support Bowles’ voice and lyrics. "Find the thing you just can’t quit/ go ahead now make a go of it,” he sings, but fulfilling dreams is not only thematic in Bowles’ songs; it is a part of his life as well.

“Life is short, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t live it to the fullest expression of yourself,” Bowles says. “[Playing] music has a lot to due with the fact that you have to get out there and strive for everything that you do, because you could just as easily sit in middle Georgia and let the whole world pass you over.”

Bowles grew up in Thomaston, Ga., a small town where he constantly struggled to keep occupied despite a laid-back country lifestyle. Music became an escape for Bowles and his friends. At age 11, Bowles taught himself to play guitar, and by 13 he formed his first band and was performing and writing his own songs.

While attending Georgia State University, Bowles played in his first jazz band, where his love for blues and jazz intensified. GSU also proved to be the initial foundation for The Fellowship, the live performances of which now include a steady line-up of players. Although founded as a jam band between Bowles and friends, The Fellowship has grown to embody the friendliness and accessibility of its frontman's music.

“The Fellowship is not just a band, but a connection with the people,” Bowles says.