At only seventeen, guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader Grace Bowers has all the makings of a star. Her captivating guitar-playing transcends her age, bringing a soulful yet electric tone to the six-minute track “Wine On Venus.” Released this week, the single marks the announcement of her debut album, Wine On Venus.
Bowers is joined on the album by her band, The Hodge Podge, made up of Joshua Blaylock on keys, Brandon Combs on drums, Esther Okai-Tetteh on vocals, Prince Parker on guitar, and Eric Fortaleza on bass. Produced by John Osborne, Wine On Venus captures the band’s live energy across nine soul-and-funk-filled tracks. Where others would choose to express emotions through lyrics, Bowers shares it all through her skillful riffs and passionate playing.
Based out of Nashville, Bowers gained recognition during the pandemic, when she started sharing videos of herself playing the guitar. Her talent has since grabbed the attention of many artists, including Dolly Parton, and fellow songwriters Maggie Rose and Lucie Silvas.
“I’m so excited to share my first album with the world in August! It’s been a long time coming, and I’m proud of what was created with the incredible Hodge Podge and John Osborne producing,” shares Bowers of the album, revealing “We recorded everything live, as it should be, for this sonic journey. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
Speaking of the title track specifically, she shares that the inspiration came from her nana. “My nana was 100 years old when she passed away last year. She would always tell me that when she died, she would be drinking wine on Venus. She was a little eccentric but thought that was just something so cool. When she passed, I wrote a song about it.”
Bowers will be playing a handful of shows with The Hodge Podge over the next few months, including XPN’s XPoNential Music Festival in September! Find more details, and check out the festival’s full line-up here.