Artist Spotlight: Calum Bowie

A lot of people might know you as ‘the window singer’ from TikTok! How would you say TikTok has impacted your music career?

Social media has been such a big part of my journey. I started off with the window videos as a bit of fun. For some reason they connected with people and started growing alongside the music I was releasing. Then I started playing some of my own music, either out of the window or busking, and it started to gain more and more traction. I think the videos really helped me sell out my shows early on, and I still get stopped in the street and asked if I’m the guy who plays out of the window!

We can’t wait for your upcoming gig at Glasgow’s SWG3 on 22nd March. What are you most looking forward to about playing in Glasgow again?

Glasgow crowds are unmatched! There’s a reason so many massive artists say that Glasgow are the best crowds in the world. I first played King Tut's in 2022 and every show I’ve played in Glasgow since has been super special. It’s also the day after my EP release, so I’m excited to play a whole load of new songs for the first time.

Your new EP Through the Window comes out on 21st March. Can you tell us a bit about it?

This EP is something I’ve been working on for the last year or so. It’s basically my life, up to now, in song form. It’s very autobiographical which is where the title comes from. ‘Through The Window’ is a play on the videos that I make (out of the window) but also on the idea that the eyes are the window to the soul. This EP is a real glimpse into my world. I’ve loved making my first proper body of work and it’s been an amazing journey, working with lots of talented people. There’s some real personal stories that were quite hard to dig back up, but they tell the story properly. Writing those helped me understand myself a bit better so I hope it maybe helps people with their own perspectives. The first song ‘Dream Of My Own’ is out so you can get go and get a taste of it right now.

You won Scottish Breakthrough Artist of the year at the Scottish Music Awards in November – how did that feel?

Incredible! I couldn’t believe it when they told me I’d won. To be recognised for all of the hard work up to now feels like a real milestone. So many of the previous winners, and artists winning other prizes on the night, are huge inspirations of mine, so even being in the same sentence as them is a massive honour. And playing the iconic Barrowlands was such a ‘pinch me’ moment.

We're absolutely buzzing for you to play the main stage at Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT this year - have you got any other exciting summer plans you can tell us about?

Hopefully some more music before Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT but we’ll see. I’m super excited to be opening the main stage on Friday. I played the King Tut's Stage in 2023 and it’s still one of my favourite memories of any festival!

Are there any artists that inspire your music/songwriting? Who and why?

So my dad always had bands like AC/DC and Big Country playing in the house when I was younger. They were my first real introduction to music. Then when I was a bit older it was Oasis, which then progressed into singer-songwriters like Ed Sheeran and Passenger. I think Passenger really resonated with me and definitely influenced my writing style. I really love the story telling aspect, and putting my own life into music really helps me think about everything.

Best gig you’ve played to date?

It has to be the two Edinburgh shows that I played at the Liquid Room at the end of last year. I know that’s not one gig but I honestly couldn’t pick between them. It had been almost 2 years since I’d last played in Edinburgh, and normally my friends and family don’t get a chance to catch my shows because I’m playing in different cities, but they were all at the shows. It was also my first time playing some of my songs to a Scottish crowd since they’d been out. It actually caught me off guard how emotional it made me hearing everyone sing back the words.

Do you have a dream venue you’ve always wanted to play?

I have a couple. After playing the Barrowlands at the Scottish Music Awards, I’m absolutely desperate to go back and play my own show. If we’re talking dream dream, then I’d say Murrayfield Stadium. I played there in 2022, right in the centre of the pitch for one of the international rugby matches (singing, not as a rugby player, to clarify) and I still can’t fathom how it must feel to play your own show there. That’s one for the lifetime bucket list!

Don't miss calum Bowie at SWG3, Glasgow on Saturday 22nd March - tickets here.