With a sound that blends rich theology, bold creativity, and genuine emotion, emerging artist Sam Bowman has quickly become a distinctive voice in the Christian indie and EDM scenes. Known for his genre-defying debut album, Ghost, the scripture-inspired EP, Legend of Max, and an increasingly extensive catalog of thoughtful collaborations, Bowman makes music not just to inspire, but to wrestle with truth, faith, and God's character.
In this exclusive interview with NewReleaseToday, Sam discusses the stories behind his projects, the personal theology in his lyrics, and his new full-length album, Atlas.
For those just discovering your music, who is Sam Bowman?
I was born at a very young age—that’s where it all started. Some things happened, and I started writing music. I push buttons, make noises, and show strangers. I’ve been doing that for a couple of years now.
I’m convinced I have the best job in the entire world—not just writing for myself, but helping other people create and produce music of their own. I love writing about Jesus and what He’s taught me, using stories from my life and others to communicate that. It’s still surreal that people want to listen. I’m honored. I’m a singer-songwriter and producer from Dallas, Texas—where it’s summer right after Christmas.
You’ve produced for other artists and your albums. What’s that creative process like?
Ghost is like my son—it was a process of a couple of years. A lot of it was about living the story before writing it. Most of Ghost came from personal experiences and lessons God was teaching me. It's about making them rhyme and putting them to music.
When I produce, I enjoy experimenting—trying out sounds I like and recontextualizing them in different ways. Once I find a concept I love enough to talk about for hours, the songwriting flows from there. With Ghost, I wanted to communicate that Jesus’ truth is worth fighting and dying for. That He is the sweetest treasure we can know because He is the Word incarnate.
“Ghost Story” is incredibly bold and creative. What inspired such an ambitious track?
I’m honored by that. Ambitious is the right word because I didn’t know what I was doing. [Laughs] It’s got Carmen vibes, and I’m okay with that. It’s a 10-minute spoken word track—like a mini podcast more than a song.
The whole idea is that we live in a fallen world haunted by lies—about ourselves, about Jesus, about others. But you can’t have a lie without the truth, and you can’t fight a lie without truth. Ending Ghost with that track was my way of saying, “Let’s get clear about what’s real.” I'm thankful people gave it a chance. It’s longer than most TED Talks, but the response has been lovely.
Your EP, The Legend of Max, has a unique title and feel. Tell us about that.
Max is my dog—a jet-black goldendoodle. I didn’t even know they made those, but he’s my son. So I guess I have two sons: Ghost and Max. [Laughs] Legend of Max is probably more like a nephew-dog, though.
The title is strange on purpose. I didn’t want something cliché like "Breakthrough" or "Chainbreaker"—not that those are bad. I wanted to show how small and “worthless” my words are compared to scripture. The whole EP pulls directly from the Psalms—just five songs reworked from God's Word.
I wanted to write something approachable for mundane life. We don’t need cool-sounding phrases. We need scripture. If this project reminds people that my words are fleeting and His are eternal, then it has done its job.
You’ve worked with artists like Jay Steph and Matthew Parker and have been part of Young Pop Renegades. What’s that been like?
It’s a huge honor to be trusted with someone else’s story. I worked on Jay Steph’s MMXXII, and he let me do some bizarre stuff. [Laughs] It was a blast. That’s how I connected with Ben Lawrence, Nitro X, and Chris Howen—dear friends now. The Young Pop Renegades projects were charming. Different production experiences, but both brought amazing people into my life. Renegades never die.
Out of all the songs you’ve worked on, do you have any personal favorites?
That’s such a tricky question. "Wisteria" is one I’d put near the top. It’s on Ghost and came from my reflections on the root of bitterness in Deuteronomy. I was happy with how it turned out lyrically.
Another would be "Pandora’s Box." If I had to delete everything else and keep one, it might be that. It’s fun, existential, scriptural, and pokes fun at a kids’ Sunday school song. It reflects what God’s been teaching me lately—that His thoughts are way higher than mine. There’s so much freedom in that.
Let’s talk about your new album, Atlas. What can you share about it?
Atlas has been in the works for a while. It’s a continuation of the Ghost story—I even called it Ghost 2 until recently. It explores the tension between our strength and God’s strength, and where they intersect.
I’ve been dropping singles from it for over a year now. Seven are out, and the eighth just released. It’s the hardest I’ve pushed myself creatively and theologically. I hope it encourages people.
Additionally, if you scroll down on any of the singles, the copyright is listed as the Bible passage the song is based on. For example, "Pandora’s Box" says “A55”—that’s the verse. My words won’t say it better than scripture. But if I can help people sing the Word in their car, that’s awesome.
That’s such a powerful way to root your music in scripture. What’s your prayer for this project?
That it would do what the Lord intends it to do. This isn’t about me trying to slap a spiritual label on a record for success. It’s about His Word going out and not returning void. Whether it reaches two people or two thousand, I just want it to hit where God means it to.
Atlas has been part of the plan since before Ghost. There’s intentionality behind it, and I hope it encourages whoever listens.
Final question—how can we pray for you?
Please pray that Atlas encourages people with God’s Word, not my little “piddly” ones. That’s been my prayer. I want this project to serve its purpose and point people to Jesus.
Bradden Ford is a Christian music junkie charged with maintaining NewReleaseToday's new release database of artists and releases. He lives just outside of Nashville, TN.
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