bio
Steven Bowers writes songs that are as hooky as they are thoughtful, with a novelist’s grasp of the human condition, and a melody junkie’s thirst for pretty sounds. Born and raised in Newfoundland and living now on Vancouver Island, Bowers has just wrapped production of his fifth full length album, forthcoming in February 2019, produced by Jason Mingo and JUNO award-winning producer Colin Stewart (Dan Mangan, Yukon Blonde, Black Mountain). His 2012 release, Beothuk Words, landed placements on TV shows such as CBC's Heartland (Season 4, Episode 1), and in independent films such as Roaming (2013 Best Feature Film Winner, Canadian Independent Film Festival). His 2008 effort Homing received significant airplay on CBC, specialty and folk radio programs across Canada, and generated nominations for Folk Recording, Songwriter and Producer of the Year from 2008 Music Nova Scotia Awards along with a JUNO Showcase and an East Coast Music Award nomination for Folk Recording of the Year. He lives in Victoria, BC, with his wife and their daughter.
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Elk Island Park was written and recorded over a 4 year span in various bedrooms and studios across Canada, with many parts recorded and e-mailed back and forth over long distance. It features backing vocals from Juno award winning songwriter Meaghan Smith on several songs (most notably on the post-apocalyptic Just You), along with appearances by Bowers long-time collaborators Dave Gunning, Jason Silverberg (Lennings), and Kev Corbett. During the time of production, Steven worked at a youth society on Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton. Several of the songs (Shelter, The Bear) were inspired by this time and recorded at the youth music studio. Title track Elk Island Park was written after a less-than-confident winter walk through the park with his newborn daughter. The final two tracks (Bad Friend, and lead single Future Ghosts) were recorded and produced by Colin Stewart, and feature Vancouver Island musicians Jaya Bremer (vocals/synth), Nick Mintenko (bass), and Andrew Pederson (drums).
