“I’ve just been writing as long as I can remember,” Violet Bowdle ‘22 said, reminiscing on her experience as a singer-songwriter.

You’ll seldom encounter Bowdle in her free time without a ukulele or guitar in hand.

“It’s one of those things that I was always inclined to do.”

Following graduation this upcoming May, a transition to the Midwest’s largest metropolitan area will foster Violet’s future success in music.

“I’m planning on moving to Chicago and taking a gap year before applying to colleges just to get my foot in the ground there and introduce myself to the music scene,” Bowdle said.

An amalgamation of cultures and countless aspiring artists, along with the energetic urban atmosphere provides ample opportunities for inspiration to arise.

“I realized [music] is the one career path that I can see myself thriving in… I figure I should at least give it a shot with everything I have before I settle for a different job,” Bowdle said. “I’m planning on taking a job at some kind of concert venue or volunteering at various festivals to interact with other artists, do tons of small gigs and concerts, and join different classes and clubs around the city about the arts.”

Bowdle has been a singer-songwriter for a significant portion of her life.

“The first song I can remember showing anyone else was a song about zoo animals I sang on Thanksgiving when I was eight,” she said.

She also participated in the band at East Grand Rapids High School until her junior year, which introduced her to a plethora of potential instrument sounds.

“I would say that playing in band did get me more interested in doing more with instruments which is why I picked up the ukulele again and taught myself to play.”

With the creative talent to draw inspiration from anything around her, Bowdle will thrive in the diverse environment of the Windy City.

Yet, the influence of other artists have been critical to her personal development and her personal sound.

“I really look up to Billie Eilish, because she’s such a huge pop star right now yet her music is still unique. I love her story- how she would write songs with her brother. It reminds me of myself.”

In her younger years, Bowdle was surrounded by the bass tones of rock and alternative music.

Radiohead, Green Day, and Nirvana are amongst the top artists of her younger years.
Today Cavetown and Rex Orange County better represent her style.

“I definitely have a much more indie sound than what I grew up listening to, but I’m moving more towards alternative rock,” Bowdle said.

“I’m still finding my own style of course, and I don’t always just want to be an indie girl with a ukulele, but my music is going in the direction of those artists.”

Somewhat of a contrast to modern pop’s techno trend, Bowdle would describe her tunes differently.

“I’d say my songwriting style is 1970’s ‘dad rock’ lyrics and chords meets 2020s alternative indie,” Bowdle said.

She adores “how 70s music is like poetry put to music and doesn’t sacrifice lyrics for a really produced sound.”

She aims to replicate this in her own works.

Keep an eye out in the next few years for Violet Bowdle.

She’ll be in flashing lights on the marquees of America.

Until then, Bowdle continues to post videos singing her original songs on Instagram.