Wade Bowen Feels ‘Revived’ With Release Of New Album, ‘Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth’
The 12-track project features duets with Lori McKenna and Vince Gill.
Wade Bowen; Photo by David McClister
Wade Bowen just released his highly-anticipated new album, Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth (via Thirty Tigers), a 12-track project written by Bowen alongside some of Nashville’s most sought-after songwriters.
Bowen, who has been releasing music for over two decades, continues to push himself as an artist, songwriter, and storyteller throughout the project.
He says the making of Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth was an eye-opening process for him as he found himself falling in love with music all over again.
“It feels like I’m renewing my vows,” he admits. “I love waking up knowing what my purpose is, what my direction is, and also feeling like there’s so much more left to do… I feel revived.”
The release of the album marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bowen, who was sidelined by vocal surgery in 2018 and was still recovering when the world shut down in 2020.
With live music back in full swing and a newfound spark for writing and recording music, Bowen took on the role of sole producer for the project for the first time. He found inspiration in the ‘80s and ‘90s country music he loved and created a sound that was made for a live atmosphere.
Bowen also co-wrote every track alongside an impressive list of Nashville mainstays, like Lori McKenna, Heather Morgan, Eric Paslay, Randy Montana, and Ray Fulcher.
“I wanted to make sure we didn’t overthink these songs,” Bowen explains. “There’s not a bunch of minor chords or eerie, intensity-driven stuff – even though I’ve always had a lot of pride in those moments in the past. This record is written simply and that’s on purpose, to have enough space to be big and for the band to go somewhere with it.”
He covers a lot of ground on the project and admits some of the songs were inspired by the events that unfolded over the past few years. For example, “A Beautiful World,” written with and featuring GRAMMY winner Lori McKenna, came to life after Bowen found himself distraught over the constant negativity in the news and online.
“I was just so tired,” he admits. “Everywhere you turned – TV, social media – everything was always so negative. It was always like ‘What a rough spot our country is in! We’re all against each other! There are so many bad things happening!’ No one was talking about anything good. My original idea was ‘I wish everyone would quit trying to change the world, because it’s actually a beautiful place.’ And really, the world could be a much better place, if we just choose to look at it that way.”
Another standout is “A Guitar, A Singer and A Song,” featuring Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill. Also co-written by Bowen and McKenna, the lyrics find the artists wondering over the legacy that they’ll leave behind.
“We don’t think about it a whole lot until we get a couple decades into our career,” Bowen says. “‘Have I done enough that people will remember me?’
“For me, I’m at a spot where I really feel like these songs are the songs I want to play – more than anything I’ve ever done,” he continues. “I’m just smiling more. I feel like I’m in a really good zone right now. And I’m ready to roll.”
Wade Bowen will take his new music on the road this fall with dates planned through the end of the year. Fans can visit his official website for details on upcoming tour dates and tickets.
Somewhere Between The Secret And The Truth Track List
1. Everything Has Your Memory (Wade Bowen, Eric Paslay, Heather Morgan)
2. Burnin’ Both Ends of the Bar (Wade Bowen, Randy Montana)
3. Honky Tonk Roll (Wade Bowen, Randy Montana)
4. The Secret To This Town (Wade Bowen, Heather Morgan)
5. If You Don’t Miss Me (Wade Bowen, Ray Fulcher)
6. A Beautiful World featuring Lori McKenna (Wade Bowen, Lori McKenna)
7. She’s Driving Me Crazy (Wade Bowen, Eric Paslay, Heather Morgan)
8. Knowing Me Like I Do (Wade Bowen, Clint Ingersoll)
9. It’s Gonna Hurt (Wade Bowen, Drew Kennedy)
10. Say Goodbye (Wade Bowen, Eric Paslay, Heather Morgan)
11. A Guitar, A Singer and A Song featuring Vince Gill (Wade Bowen, Lori McKenna)
12. Somewhere Between The Secret and The Truth (Wade Bowen, Lori McKenna)
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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