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Brent Rowan, Steamboat’s own music producer, paints a picture with song for Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty.

Steamboat isn’t exactly known for its resident celebrity population, unlike Aspen or Telluride or Vail, where big houses and private jets have become part of the landscape. That’s precisely why Brent Rowan, a studio guitarist and music producer from Nashville who has played on tracks with big time musicians (Blake Shelton, Etta James, Lyle Lovett, Dolly Parton, Olivia Newton-John and many more), chose to live in Steamboat.


It was also because, like many people who land here, it was love at first sight. “I was coming over Rabbit Ears Pass at sunset and I thought, ‘Oh my word, what is this?’ and I knew that was it,” he says.

In addition to working as a studio guitarist, recording and producing tracks for some of the world’s most famous musicians out of his Steamboat studio, Rowan has also played on the soundtracks for more than a dozen films. In a twist of fate and good luck, Rowan agreed to lend his sound to an original score for a Steamboat Sotheby’s International Real Estate property listing video. It’s really no surprise that the music told the story of the house so beautifully that the property was sold sight unseen. “Brent’s music elevated our listing video to a piece of art,” said Judy Cummins, the seller. She explained that the buyer from Germany was looking at ranch properties all over the world. When the buyer found their property through sothebysrealty.com, it was the only one he considered in Steamboat. “Brent’s customized score truly brought the house to life.”

We caught up with Steamboat’s own resident music man to talk about raising his four boys in Steamboat, making music in his home studio, and how a local ranch got its own original soundtrack.

Steamboat Sotheby’s: You’ve had such an incredible and storied career in music.
Brent Rowan: I don’t know where to start with that. It’s been incredible. I’ve been really blessed. I’ve made some great music and been part of some great artists’ careers, from the Beach Boys to George Straight to Sting to Blake Shelton. I’ve just been very lucky, and I’ve worked really hard to try to make a difference.

SS: How did you end up in Steamboat?
BR: I was born in Texas and we would come up here to Colorado when I was a kid. That was long before John Denver sang about “going home to a place I’ve never been before.” I lived in Nashville for 35 years and then one summer I came to Colorado by myself. I rented a car in Denver and drove through the whole state, 2200 miles in 5 days. I came over Rabbit Ears Pass at sunset on my last night and thought, ‘Oh my word, what is this?’ It was just a little bit different than all the spots in Colorado that I’d been to. Something really resonated about it. That was the summer of ’92.

SS: So do you live here full time?
BR: Yes. Our kids are in school. My wife and I have four sons age 18, 15, 13 and 9. We wanted them raised out West, where you live more outside than inside. There’s just a little more freedom in every sense of the word.

SS: What makes Steamboat special?
BR: All these mountain towns, their DNA was originally prospecting and mining; people who were on the edge. In Steamboat, it’s about ranching. It’s the only ski town where it’s more down-to-earth in terms of the people who live here. It was a real ranching town that grew into a world-class ski area. It brings a differing kind of person to this area. Here, if people have a whole lot of money, they’ll never tell you.

SS: Do you still have to travel back to Nashville for work?
BR: No, I’ve got a studio set up here in Steamboat and people send me files.  My main focus right now is music for film and TV. I don’t want to travel and be away from my family, I want to live here.

SS: How did you get involved with Steamboat Sotheby’s?
BR: The way I’ve always played or produced is to paint pictures musically. A lot of the music that Realtors® use for showing houses online is not very good. It’s kind of this canned, cheesy music. I saw there was a need. I thought if I could help produce music that made you have an emotional attachment to something, then that could work for marketing. So I approached my friend who is a Realtor® at Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty and said, let’s do it.

SS: You produced an original score for a ranch listing, and that ranch listing sold.
BR: I’m not saying my music was the reason they bought it, but I’m not saying it didn’t have something to do with it. When I met the seller, the first thing he says to me is, “Thanks for selling my house for me!” I know if the music could sound like what that house looks like, it would work. I know, it’s real subliminal emotional stuff, but I think it makes a huge difference.”

SS: It sounds like it ended up being a good fit for you.
BW: I try to engage the listener and give them an emotional attachment to whatever it is, whether it’s a movie or property, to make them feel something, make them feel attached. I suggested the realtor play the music in the actual house when they’re showing it. When they close, I’m giving the new owners a DVD as a housewarming gift. That house has its own piece of music; that music belongs to that house.

SS: Lucky owners! Who would have thought they’d get an original piece of music from a professional?
BR: Well, when you dance around other people’s business, you’re not limited by what you don’t know.

Click here to view the property video with Brent Rowan’s CUSTOM SCORE

Click here for Brent Rowan’s DISCOGRAPHY

To read more about Brent Rowan click HERE & HERE

 

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