Timothy Bowden

Photo By: Shanice Lewis

My blog is dedicated to performers and artists many of who want to start off careers in the music industry. They're performing in subways and on sidewalks to hopefully grab the attention of some music executive or earn enough money to start an album but, I wanted to take a look at someone who formerly performed in train stations and see where they've gone. I'm often curious myself as to what these subway performers do when they don't reach stardom or they don't get to where they want. I was able to catch up with one artist who was extremely grateful that he took that chance in performing in the subway.
 Timothy Bowden is a Queens rapper who has his first performance at 34th St. Penn Station to thank for such a huge growth in his music career. Bowden first started performing in subways back in 2011 and from the positive feedback he was able to release several mix-tapes his first being Time Is Money (TIM) released on popular rap site DatPiff. From that first performance Bowden has done so many performances on channels like BCAT and for companies such as Time Warner. He has even landed himself a manager and labeled himself as an independent artist. Growing up in church and playing the drums, music has always been a part of him but, he eventually wants to venture out and try his hand at other interests.

S: When was the first time you started performing in the subway?

                        TB: That was when I was molding myself to learn the streets because, that’s what artists have to do to be one with the fans and that was back in 2011.

S: And how was that first experience?

           TB:  Nervous. Nervous and at the same time you don’t know the reaction of a fan because, the song that I was doing was called “Throw Ya Hands and Take 2 Steps” and I was actually worried about someone really doing the dance. You know it’s busy people are going to work or just lolly-gagging so, it was kind of a mixed feeling. It’s amazing how I did get a lot of people’s attention.

S: Why’d you choose the train station as a place to start performing?

TB: The train station is good place to perform any type of song because, you have a different audience. You have all types of cultures coming through. You get a lot of good reactions and some bad like, “I didn’t like that song because, it had a lot of cursing or I really like the message." You get all types of responses.

S: So, at what age did you start performing in general? When did you realize that I  want to be a rapper, this is what I want to do?

           TB: To be honest with you, I first performed when I was eleven but, I didn’t really look at it as performing, I was just in front of people rapping. [laughs] But, to seriously say when I was really performing I would say I was about 23/24 and I had a chance to do a café karaoke contest which you had to pay for because, it was a prized winner. I came in second place; I remember that like it was yesterday.

S: Who are your influences, who inspired you to start in music?

           TB: My first influence to this day is my grandmother Vernell Bowden ‘cause she started her own corporation, her own studio company and she helped start SWV which is a girl group that is still well known today. When I go to her house she has plaques all over and, it inspires me and lets me know that there’s better tomorrows and you might not see your blessings now but, down the road you will. Also, my father plays the piano and my uncles are DJ’s but, my grandmother really supports me by buying my music and giving me feedback on it.

S: What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you while performing?

           TB: I met 50 Cent and I got to talk to him. I have a song called “Queens” after hearing it he really gave me some encouraging words. You know, he’s a busy man and for him just to take the time out to talk to me a little bit made me feel really good.

S: Would you say that your confidence has boosted since that first time you performed in the subway?

           TB: Definitely, it’s been an inspiration from going to subway performances to literally being paid to perform. It’s allowed me to do so many things and go so many places. Those people that you see performing their talents in the train station it’s a blessing because, it takes a lot of heart, time and it takes patience.  You’re going to have a lot of haters – I don’t really want to call them haters, just people that don’t see your vision.

S: Has there ever been a time where you wanted to just quit and give up?

           TB: I think when I didn’t see the money that I put out come back in, that was the only time.

S: Where do you want to go with your talents?

           TB: Well, I just dropped another album and I’m waiting on feedback from that but, probably by 2018 I’ll be done with music. I really want to get into film because I've enjoyed doing my own videos so, I’m building a reputation to let people know that I’ve done music before.

S: So even if you haven’t gotten where you wanted to be as a musician you’re still going to quit in 2018?

           TB: I’ve truly gotten where I needed to be but, as far as being signed to a major label, I really didn’t want that, I wanted to be independent. It’s the best way because, you get more done that way. I know that I put in enough time to say that I’ve done music. I don't want to say I'm giving up I'm just moving on to new things. Music never stops though, artists just take breaks.

Check out Timothy's Soundcloud: TimgotBars

Jowzay

Meet Jowzay, a singer-songwriter from Africa who has made his way to New York City in hopes of becoming a famous musician. I met him at the Fulton St subway station performing his rendition of Drake's "Hold On We're Going Home." Jowzay's guitar and singing skills allows him to perform wherever there's an audience. He can be found in New York City subways, open mic nights and private events.

Check out his Youtube page where you can find more of his covers to artist like Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars and Daft Punk!

Blog It!

I found a few blogs that have a similar idea to mine they're not exactly what i want my blog to be like but, I was able to get a feel of the direction I want my blog to be like.

• The first is a Tumblr blog which I really love. I have a Tumblr account myself, I think they are they greatest thing ever. This blog provides pictures and videos of street performers from New York to New Zealand and all the way up north to Canada. I love the diversity about it. I'm only centering my blog around NYC but, when I'm able to travel I would love to add performers from other cities and countries as well.
• Concrete Beat was another blog I came across, it's pretty outdated but, my favorite thing about it was the little biography it gave with each artist. That's something I definitely want to do with my blog. After all the whole point of the blog is to let people know what talent is out there. I think its important to give these performers some recognition.
• This last blog was pretty different from the others, it offered tips from veteran street performers on how to up your performance skills and really capture audiences. This may be something I may want to incorporate in my blog too. I think it would be cool to get a tip from each performer and construct a list of my own for upcoming street performers.