Exclusive: Zac Brown Band Member Readies Second Children’s Album, Feared Songwriting Would “Suck” After Marriage and Kids

Country music fans know Coy Bowles as the celebrated guitar player from the Zac Brown Band. But when the father of two thinks about himself, country musician isn’t the first thing that comes to mind–it’s children’s book author. Bowles has written five children’s books and is preparing to release his second children’s album.

UP AND UP will be available on Nov. 1. The second song from UP AND UP, called “Dance, Dance, Dance,” is out now, along with its colorful kid-centric video showcasing children sharing their best dance moves.

 “There was a lot that I thought that was going on with current kids music that I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is what works, at least for me,” Bowles said. “I set out to try to change that, or at least creatively do something that added to the positive part of it.”

Bowles co-wrote the project with his friend Carlos Sosa. He describes UP AND UP as more genre-specific than his first kids’ album, Music For Tiny Humans. The men started UP AND UP during the pandemic. Since they couldn’t invite musicians to their house to record, Bowles and Sosa had to play everything themselves.

“This album got into a more poppy kind of sounding realm,” Bowles said. “That was just specifically because we had to use keyboards and couldn’t get a clarinet player to come over here.”

Songs on the album include “The Clean Up Song,” “I’m Hungry,” “Washa Washa,” and “No One Like You.” UP AND UP is packed with hooky, melody-driven songs to encourage kids in their actions, recognize their feelings, and self-affirmation.

Coy Bowles Typically Listens To “Super Sad Music”

Bowles was hesitant to try children’s music. Although he’s written children’s books for 14 years, he didn’t want to link his books with kid-friendly songs because he typically writes and listens to what he calls “super sad music.”

“I really, really enjoy kind of churning from the bottom of your heart on the kind of ins and outs of the human existence and suffering that comes along with that,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pop song. If ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ comes on, I’m not going to turn it off.”

Bowles grew up on Southern rock, heavy punk, and metal. But he enjoyed the process when he wrote a few songs a few years ago to accompany one of his children’s books.

“Me and the group of dudes that were working on the songs just had a blast cutting up and being kids and being silly and all this stuff,” he said.  “When I finished, I was in a weird spot. I was like, ‘That was fun,’ … but I was still like, ‘I don’t want to slide down into this place to where I write happy music. That’s not what I’m about.’”

So, Bowles dove in. At 6 and 7 years old, his children are still young and can engage in the creative process with him. They tell him when the song needs to be faster or slower. They dance to his music. And he gets them to sing on his albums. He called it “so much fun.”

The song, “I’m Hungry,” was inspired by his children being constantly hungry while he was in the studio with Sosa working on music. His friend didn’t have children and was perplexed.

“He was like, ‘Dude, is (‘I’m Hungry’)all they say?” Bowles said. “And I was like, ‘For sure, a hundred percent.’”

Coy Bowles Incorporates His Children in the Creative Process

The men had a beat playing and started joking with the kids about being hungry all the time. They started saying “I’m hungry” repetitively, just joking with them.

“I looked at him and I was like, ‘Dude, that’s actually really good. That’s really funny,’” Bowles said. “That’s kind of what being a kid is: just joking around and not having limitations or rules. So, we just completely ran with it.”

Bowles and Sosa put a Rick Rubin/DMC spin on the song and came up with what they called “a super cool weird tune.”

However, a song from his previous children’s album called “Brand New Day” unexpectedly triggered Bowles’ creative awakening. He and Sosa were writing, and Bowles was convinced they needed to repeat the words, “You’ll never be denied” back-to-back. Sosa disagreed, thinking it was a waste of words.

“It is very unlike me to be that kind of bullheaded in a creative space, especially with him,” Bowles said. “He was like, ‘Dude, are you all right?’”

Bowles walked outside with tears streaming down his face and no idea what was happening. It was rare for him not to understand how he felt.

“There was this big unraveling of some kind of existential reality,” he said.  “So much of my drive in life is that coming from a small town, being around a bunch of really cool people, but also being around a lot of ignorance like racism and a lot of judgment, things of that nature. I always wanted to be free creatively. And it’s hard to get out of a small town sometimes, and my whole existence is based on, ‘Watch Me.’”

Writing Children’s Music Triggered Existential Crisis

The determination to break free had been Bowles’ fuel his entire life. But he didn’t realize until he wrote that song telling another kid that he couldn’t be denied, how much he needed to hear it himself.

“I started talking to Carlos about it, and he was like, ‘Okay, we’ll say it twice,’” he said.

Bowles had always heard that when artists got married and had children, their “songwriting sucks.”

“You hear these common songwriting tales,” he said. “There’s been this insanely therapeutic thing that’s happened on adult music, but it’s happened in a real way with this stuff as well.”

Now, Bowles has taken his craft of writing for children a step further. The musician has spent the last five years trying to connect with teachers and make creative products that enhance early education. He gives speeches about connecting to your calling as a teacher and advocates for their value in communities.

“I’ve been on this really intense journey connecting with teachers,” he said. “I’m encouraging them.  Their stories are genuine, and that’s some of the best stories that are out there.”

(Photo by Ben Rose/WireImage for NARAS)