Being a semi-finalist on Idol is a huge accomplishment, but where does an artist go from there? For many, post-Idol fame hasn't been much of a reality. So how does an artist bounce back after all the fame and attention? For some, like the gifted Charly Lowry, you must continue to have faith in your abilities, be willing to start from scratch, and grind your way back to the top. Being a successful artist/band in this business is no easy task—not only do you need to be talented musically, but you also need the motivation and mindset.
Today, Charly Lowry is the lead singer in the band,
Dark Water Rising—a band she helped form back in 2008. The band has certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings. "Humble" in this sense isn't an understatement. The other members in the band basically picked up and learned how to play their chosen instruments as soon as the idea of forming a band became a reality. And just a few short years later, they all now play multiple instruments and have become even more confident in their abilities as musicians. There is always more room to improve as a band. It's what motivates you to become better as an artist.
The band's name,
Dark Water Rising originates from the home of its members, tapping into their Lumbee identity. The dark waters of the swamps are teeming with sounds of nature and original, beautiful music—music deftly captured in the sounds of this award-winning, Native American group hailing from Robeson County, in Southeastern North Carolina. The group—comprised of Charly Lowry
(lead singer/rhythm guitar), Aaron Locklear
(keys/guitar/bass), Corey Locklear
(lead guitar), Shay Jones
(drums), and Tony Murnahan
(bass)—continues to grow and amaze audiences each time they perform. They are constantly developing their sound, song writing, and instrumentation. This is a band that possesses the talent, motivation, and mindsets to be major players in an industry over-saturated with wanna-be performers.
Lyrically,
Dark Water Rising explores all themes of life, whether it is love, heartbreak, sacrifice, celebration, despair, or pain; all the while expressing their sentiment on issues affecting Native American communities.
Dark Water Rising coined the genre of their music as "Rocky Soul,” which is about as original as the songs that they masterfully create.
DWR's most recent album,
Grace & Grit: Chapter I, is just as engaging and intimate as watching one of their live performances. Dark Water Rising has garnered considerable radio airplay on college radio and stations throughout Indian country, appeared on both NPR's "The Story with Dick Gordon" and "The State of Things," and has earned a Native American Music Award for "Debut Duo or Group of the Year" in 2010. In 2011 they gained two nominations in the
Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award, Single of the Year for their song,
Hooked, and Best Folk/Acoustic CD for their eponymously-titled debut album,
Dark Water Rising.
In the meantime, enjoy an awesome video of My Fun, one of the tracks featured on Grace & Grit: Chapter I.
Dark Water Rising is one of my all-time favorite artists. Their sound--unique and fresh--sets them apart. I fell in love the first time I heard them.
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