7up w/ Tim Bowman Jr.
The Gospel Guru chats with new artist Tim Bowman Jr. We were first introduced to Tim in ’06 when he made a guest appearance on his aunt, Vickie Winans’ song “Shake Yourself Loose (Dance Mix).” We were all impressed with Tim’s melodic scatting ability. We heard him again in ’09 on Winans’ hit song “How I Got Over.”
After years of sitting back and studying the best in the business, Tim Bowman Jr. is ready to carve his own niche in the Gospel Music industry. Tim is now gearing up for the release of his debut album, slated for Spring 2012. So sit back, relax and get a bit of 7up w/Tim Bowman Jr.
1. Describe Tim Bowman in 3 words. Saved, motivated, and integral.
2. Why do you feel that you are necessary for the gospel music industry? I think it’s a huge gap between the older gospel community and the younger gospel community, and I feel like I can bring something to the table to bridge that gap with my music.
3. What can we expect from your album and where did your inspiration come from? You can expect a mix of young r&b beats and hip hop beats, I got a little alternative in there. I got a little, well I wouldn’t say traditional but more of a group style choir kind of thing going on. Just a mix of everything. I know a lot of people say there album has some of everything, but my album really does. Most of all I hope it blesses everyone from a ministry standpoint. I want it to minister to everyone who hears it.
4. Vickie Winans has been deemed as the hardest working woman in gospel music. Being that she’s your aunt, tell us how she has inspired you as an artist and your work ethic? Oh, that’s huge. I’ve been traveling with her since I was 14 years old. I got the chance to see her at work. She’s taught me to never stop, and to always perfect your craft. You never have to do anything because the bible says your gifts will make room for you. Ministry is always forefront and foremost, but a lot of people forget what you have to do to prepare your ministry. Never stop always spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. She’s been doing this for 25 years and hasn’t stopped. I hope to follow in her footsteps.
5. As a new artist, explain how hard it is for one to break into the gospel music industry. It’s VERY hard. Number one a lot of people think it’s more so about the music. The music is about 20 or 30 percent of it. It’s all about keeping God first. Number two grinding, grinding, grinding don’t just put it out there and think its gonna do what its gonna do. You have to get out there and promote yourself, get out there and work. Sooner or later you will break.
6. What is your perspective on becoming a successful gospel artist? Well number one successfully and effectively ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can minister and then not be effective because you’re not relating and nobody’s receiving the message. To effectively minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, I will say is first and foremost. Then you can get into the natural things like cd sales and all that good stuff, but I think that has to do with success too. As a gospel artist I would say effectively ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ.
7. What features can we look forward to on the album? What artists would you like to collaborate with in the future? Wow. Well, my single “He Will’ has my aunt, Ms. Vickie Winans on it. Dorinda Clark Cole and I have a song on my record we did called “Sunday morning” which was a great honor for me. A lot of people talk about that jazzy style I have and I get a lot of that from Dorinda. She’s the scatting queen. Hahaha. Pastor Marvin Winans produced a song with me, he did a medley on my cd of old hymns that we did just with a piano, and he arranged and produced it. That’s what you can expect on this first cd. In the future I would definitely want to do a song with Mary Mary and I would say Pastor Rance Allen.
WELL THERE YOU HAVE IT! Thanks Tim for our first 7UP. You just made The Gospel Guru history! LOL
CHECK OUT TIM’S WEBSITE: www.TimBowmanJr.com
ALSO PURCHASE HIS SINGLE ON: ITUNES
