The Rise of the Independent Artist: A Conversation with Edward Crowther
Interview ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites ★ 1.5k Words
Charlotte, North Carolina has long been a fruitful place for culture and the humanities. With music in specific, The Queen City has plentiful scenes within the genres of country, jazz, and funnily enough, punk. Over the last decade or so, however, Charlotte has seen an uprise in artists that fall under the category of indie and rock that has deeply resonated with younger crowds.
Among these up and coming artists is 25 year old Raleigh-native Edward Crowther, an independent act known for his heavy grit as a guitarist. We got the chance to sit down with him to discuss his band, The Edward Crowther Band, and the new generation of rock that is sweeping the nation.
Online, you’ve stated that Slash is one of your biggest influences. Who are some others both from the genre of rock and not?
Slash is definitely one of my biggest influences; however, he’s not even the reason I picked up a guitar or got into music. The whole reason I got into this in the first place was because of a band called Portugal. The Man—more specifically, because of John Gourley (vocals and guitar) and his creative genius on the album Evil Friends.
For those who know, Portugal. The Man is indie rock—completely different from my hard rock roots. I'm also influenced by a lot of pop-punk groups like The All-American Rejects and Green Day, but I’m very particular about what I like and what my influences are. I think that helps me define my sound and taste.
Overall, I love all types of music, but I’m mostly into hard/blues rock, indie rock, pop-punk, and folk rock. Somewhere between those genres, you’ll find my sound.
Your band, The Edward Crowther Band, recently debuted this March at Petra’s Bar in Charlotte. Can you go into detail about the band, its members, and how you came to fruition?
Since 2021, I’ve been recording and releasing material under my solo project. I’m very particular about my creative vision, so most of the time I write and/or record all of the drums (usually just writing the parts and hiring someone to play them in the studio), bass, guitar, and vocals (I only sing on my track "Twenty," but I almost always hire different vocalists to sing on my material). For vocals—similar to drums—I handle most of the creative portion, including the lyrics and melody. Unless I really vibe with the vocalist, then I will typically provide a prompt for them to write from and maybe offer a few vocal tweaks here and there.
That being said, performing live is such a crucial part of growing your music. So, with enough original material out, I felt it was time to take these songs to the stage. Jaime Armendariz, who plays drums, was actually someone I connected with through a Facebook ad I posted looking for a drummer. Shortly after, I brought on Tucker Nelson to play bass. We connected from social media as well. However, after our show at Petra’s, he moved down to South Carolina and couldn’t continue with the band—so Omari Aquart, my current bass player, joined shortly after.
Lastly, Jayson Zessin came on board as the vocalist once I had Jaime and Tucker in the band, which was in late 2024. Jayson and I had been working together for the past year in a cover band we started called Vintage 37. His chemistry really fit the original project, and it’s tough—especially in Charlotte—to find a rock vocalist who can do my material justice while also checking all the other boxes I look for in a frontman. The lineup has remained the same ever since.
Given this is my solo project, the band operates a bit differently than most. I write and record all of the original material and then bring it to the guys to perform live (think of how Mick Mars, Warren Haynes, and Slash to name a few operate their solo projects since they don't always or really sing at all on their stuff). I’m the only one in the band who appears on the records. I typically hire different drummers and vocalists for each project to match the specific vibe of a track. So, while the live band isn’t on the recordings, they help bring the material to life on stage. That said, I do hope to collaborate with them more on future tracks.
What I think is cool about this setup is that, while we stay true to the recordings, you get to hear subtle variations of the songs live. Jayson's vocals are unique to him, and since my songs feature different vocalists on the records, you’re getting something new almost every time—which is exciting to me. The other guys also bring their own flair and style, which I really appreciate.
We’re hoping to be touring and playing midsize theaters and clubs across the U.S. in the next year, given how things are progressing. Regardless, it’s a great group of guys, and we have a ton of fun playing together.
To you, what does rock n roll really mean?
To me, rock n' roll gets this typical vibe of being rebellious and not following the rules, which is part of it, but to me, rock n' roll means truly living your life to your authentic self. It doesn't even have to be based around music either.
What first got you into rock music as opposed to more modern styles such as rap, indie, or pop?
As previously mentioned, I got into music solely because of indie rock. But once I saw the live video of Guns N’ Roses performing “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” at the Tokyo Dome in 1992, nothing else really came close to the euphoric feeling I had—even though I was just watching it on YouTube.
That being said, I love all genres of music. I enjoy listening to cocktail jazz, pop (from certain artists), punk, and even folk rock. Some artists that people wouldn’t even expect me to listen to—but that are frequently in my rotation—include Etta James, Jim Croce, The Smashing Pumpkins, John Denver, the Bee Gees, and Portugal. The Man.
Still, nothing beats a kick-ass rock band—but every genre has its own time and place.
What’s your opinion on the new generation of rockers? Do you see it blowing up like it once did in the 70s/80s?
I’ve been saying it since 2016–2017: the rock genre hasn’t really had a moment in a long time, and it’s definitely due for one. I think it’s finally happening. I’ve seen a ton of new bands and rockers emerging—not just on the live circuit, but also across social media.
The shift I think we’re seeing is the rise of the independent artist and platform. Because of that, it’s hard to say whether we’ll ever see groups like Guns N’ Roses—larger-than-life acts touring arenas like in the ’70s and ’80s—dominate the scene again. But I do believe rock has room to grow and become a bit more mainstream.
That said, I think a lot of rock bands prefer playing in the more intimate environments anyway because it’s more tangible, so that's not a bad thing.
Do you have any advice for young people contemplating taking up the guitar (or any other instrument for that matter)?
Find one artist you really like and dive deep into their discography—learn their music and style. I think when things get tough, it helps to know you’re learning from an inspirational source, not just scales and chords out of a book. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore other music, but for me, Slash really spoke to me. Learning so much of his material has helped me tremendously—both from a technical standpoint and in keeping that sense of joy whenever I pick up the guitar to play.
Age old question: Gibson, Fender, or a lesser known third?
Every guitar has its place I think. I'm a sucker for Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Jazzmasters. Both are awesome, but I tend to prefer Gibsons more over Fender and other brands as a guitarist. To me they just look, sound, and feel overall better when playing. Don't forget to pair it with a Marshall too!
Who are some locals/smaller acts you look up to that are helping to bring rock back?
I think a lot of folks on the scene are familiar with Ace Monroe. I've had the chance to see them a few times and connect with them, and I think they've done a killer job of making what a true rock band should look like. Other groups I've enjoyed hearing are the Band Feel, Dirty Honey, Velvet Daydream, Pageant, and so many more. It's an exciting time to be a part of the genre.
Is there anything you’d like to plug (new music, shows, etc.) or say to your fans?
If you've never checked out my music, stream my song "California Cruisin'" wherever you get your music. It's my most popular tune. I'll also be playing in Nashville, TN this summer at the Underdog on August 2nd, so if you're around in the area, definitely come out for this show.
