Singer Brent Cowles took a big risk in late 2014 when he split up his Fort Collins-based band You Me & Apollo shortly after the release of the album "Sweet Honey." The group had grown a large following in Colorado and beyond, and had won a national Americana award that year.
However, his music career has not lost any momentum since he left the band he formed as a teenager. Cowles embarked on a solo career and recently signed to the Denver-based Greater Than Collective label.
He also embarked on a recent service trip to Uganda, during which he raised money for health clinics and performed in orphanages and schools. He's prepping his debut release for Greater Than Collective this fall.
Cowles and his band, which features members of Colorado act The Still Tide, stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs and chat with OpenAir's Alisha Sweeney about the decision to leave You Me & Apollo behind, his time in Uganda and his perception of the music scene in Fort Collins.
Stream the interview and watch footage of Cowles performing "Lift Me Up Leave Me Here" above. Read interview highlights and watch video below.
Cowles on his time in Uganda:
"It made me come home with a whole new perspective on life and how I want to lead mine. It was definitely a trip I'll never forget. We played music in orphanages and primary schools and high schools in remote villages. We had kids jumping up and dancing with us. Music really is the universal language."
On how fronting You Me & Apollo informed his solo career:
"I feel like I'm taking everything I learned from being in You Me & Apollo. We had lots of adventures and we learned from all of them. So this is my attempt at applying all of that knowledge and taking the next ladder to see where it leads."
Songs performed:
- "Lift Me Up Leave Me Here"
- "9th & Lafayette"
- "Walking"
- "Cold Times"
"9th & Lafayette"
"Walking"
"Cold Times"
