I'm America's next top hitmaker because my most often received compliment is “you sound like yourself.”
Thank you for generously supporting Ian Bowers in this year's competition. Your participation allows us to empower Global Citizen in their mission to eradicate extreme poverty and create a world where everyone has an equal chance to thrive.
Who or what is your musical inspiration?
The vast expanses of my childhood in New Mexico and southern Colorado, which lend to my songs undercurrents of, on one hand, restfulness and meditation, and, on the other, restlessness and longing. As I spend more time in the urban environment, the natural world has become less literal in my music and instead more metaphorical, representing experiences of regret, reconciliation, and uncertainty. My heroes are Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Fleet Foxes, Jason Isbell, Ernst Reijseger, and Feist.
How would performing at the Global Citizen Festival impact your career?
I have a stage-tested 1-hr set and dozens more songs in addition. I believe my catalog and live act are ready to meet with a wider audience. I have played mostly independent and modestly sized local venues so far. I mention this mostly to say that this opportunity would not be coming too soon for me. At 29, I believe I have a balance of exuberance and wisdom that make me ready to make the most of this chance to perform at the Global Citizen Festival.
What would you do with $50,000?
I would, as literally as it can be meant, buy time. I would leave my current full-time position and spend 9 months continuing to improve my craft as a guitarist and vocalist, writing more songs, and playing more shows, both solo and with my band. I would make a month-long trip to Nashville (a natural setting for the style of music I play) and perform as often as possible. If my efforts did not organically realize the opportunity to record a song professionally, I would pay to record my best song
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You decide who will appear in Rolling Stone, win $50,000, and perform at the Global Citizen Festival in NYC.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like America’s Next Top Hitmaker, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
