Hear Celebrity Radio’s Exclusive Blake 2014 Album In Harmony Tour Stephen Bowman Interview…….
Blake and Alex Belfield first met over 8 years ago when the group formed and quickly hit the charts.
Mixing eclectic classical and pop songs with rich harmony vocals, harmony singers Blake launched their first album in 2007, just 6 months after reuniting as friends on Facebook. The debut album went straight to number One in the UK Classical Album Chart and into the Top Twenty Pop Chart.
The public embraced their debut album immediately, with over 100,000 copies being sold in just three weeks and earning the group their first Gold Disc.
During this success their upbeat version of ‘Swing Low’ was chosen as the Official Anthem of England Rugby for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Later on the sporting theme continued as they performed a rousing rendition of their 1492 Conquest of Paradise during the opening ceremony at Wimbledon.
The group have gone on to perform regularly at Wembley Stadium for major national and international football matches, and at other famous stadiums around the globe.
In November 2014 Blake release their brand new album ‘In Harmony’.
The boys continue to tour the world. You can find out full tour dates @ www.blakeofficial.com
Enjoy an Exclusive interview from November 2014 with Stephen Bowman…..
Checkout 3 other interviews with the boys and Alex by searching ‘Blake’ in the top right hand corner.
Stephen was born in the picturesque spa city of Bath, to a German rock-guitar-playing father and a British opera-singing mother. Surrounded by classical, rock and pop music from a young age (at 5 years old he told his parents that he wanted to be Michael Jackson) he didn’t realise he actually had a singing voice till his mid teens.
Initially picked out of a school assembly at age 14 for singing ‘too loudly’, the head of music went on to urge Stephen to spend his school days studying classical voice and academic music, and the evenings writing and singing with local indie bands.
In 1997 Stephen was urged to audition for the prestigious London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, a seemingly impossible aim as he still couldn’t read music.
However, against all odds, Stephen was one of just 9 male singers to be granted a place to study singing at the world famous college, from over 4500 applicants. He also took the record for youngest male to ever get a place.
Leaving Guildhall in 2000, Stephen auditioned for and started to record with a group called ‘Lion Heart’ on the Sony Classical record label.
The group comprised of 5 classical singers, aged 21 to 28, singing well known arias in harmony. Sadly the group weren’t released, but Stephen enjoyed the experience greatly, hoping to revive the idea in the future at some time.
In 2004 Stephen began writing his first album of songs, recorded with his voice and local bands, at studios near Bath.
The album ‘Bamboo Haze’ featured 12 songs and received great feedback from independent record labels, hinting that although now working a ‘nine to five’ Stephen should stick with his first love of music.
After nearly a decade of trying to get into the music industry, with many knock backs, it seemed that finally Stephen’s dream was coming true.
In April 2007, after just one rehearsal with Guildhall college mate Oliver Baines and new friends, Stephen signed as a member of Blake, to Universal Records in London. The Blake journey had started.
Stephen continues to write music for himself and others. The 2010 single ‘Unsung Hero’ on Blake’s 3rd studio album ‘Together’ was written by Stephen and legendary US song writer Denise Rich (writer of top ten US hit “Frankie”)
In Stephen’s spare time he is a very keen motorbiker, skier and traveller. He writes and speaks for biking organisations, backed by Honda Motorbikes, encouraging new people to take up two wheels.
Interview recorded 12th November 2014 by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio.
