PureVolume

Members: Alexander McCowan - Guitars, Lap Slide, Harmonica, Stompbox and Ukuele

His name is as heavy as a brickster. Take a look at his picture.

That is Alexander McCowan (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). For most of his younger life, Alexander was an athlete, spending many years as a hockey goaltender, a basketball forward and a long distance runner. It was not until he was nineteen that he crossed paths with a classical guitar. Drawn to its mystery, Alexander soon found himself ensnared by the sound. Hypnotized, he spent the next five years playing the guitar, doing drugs, working in hotels and traveling to California.

It was five years later, while living in Kilkenny, Ireland, that Alexander first began to write songs. "It happens when you pick up the guitar. Sooner or later, you start writing songs," he remarks of the occasion. "Sooner or later, for whatever reason, you begin to let it happen."

He returned to Winnipeg, where he began to slowly write more and more songs. On September 07, 2005 he made his first live performance. When asked what he remembers, he comments, "It was better than I expected it to be. Very encouraging on the whole."

What happened next was a period of education and experimentation. During that time period, Alexander learned to play the lap steel guitar, the lap slide guitar, the ukulele, and his uncle's electric Epiphone guitar. He also attained a Bachelor of History at the University of Manitoba, while he continued to write and perform his songs locally in Winnipeg.

In January 2008, Alexander released 'Thief Demo', a three song demo disc produced by Scott Stewart at Unison Studios in Winnipeg. It was given radio play on several college stations and marked his official entry into the local Winnipeg music scene. "I sometimes think those day were unfocused," Alexander says, "but it was those days that brought me here, those days that helped define my sound."

Then, in March 2009, he met and befriended a producer named Dale Penner. Together they set to work composing new material. This process culminated in November of 2009, when Alexander released 'Thief', a seven song EP. Alexander has commented that 'Thief' is like a cap on top of those five years of writing music. "It's beginnings," he says. "A beginning to things by ending things."

Alexander's unique and playful songwriting on 'Thief' work alongside the catchy and mellodic hooks he is drawn to, both as a guitarist and as a vocalist. He was joined by studio musicians: Daniel Roy on drums, Paul Yee on bass, Stan Berdenjak on accordion, and Tim Elias on seven other instruments and backing vocals. "They rounded it out nicely. It has a really raw, warm vibe to it."

In promotion of the 'Thief' EP, Alexander McCowan will mainly be touring as a solo performer. You can expect a soulful, intimate experience with numerous well-known cover songs weaving their way through the set list. Alexander will play the acoustic guitar, the lap slide guitar, the harmonica and the stomp box.

The summer of 2010 should show Alexander having increased performances with a three-piece band. He says, "With a band, the vibe will becomes brighter, stronger, like an increase in the overall energy. It will be a vibe to make people dance."

Discography:

5 for Free (summer 2005)

Thief Demo (winter 2008)

Thief (fall 2009)