Meet...The Cowgays

If there's one thing I have a weakness for, it's a country supergroup - so when I saw that Brooke Eden, Adam Mac and Chris Housman were teasing a new trio called The Cowgays, I was immediately sold. Eden, Mac and Housman all come to the genre with different approaches and backgrounds, but unite on one very important thing: that country music should be an inclusive, welcoming place for everyone. With a debut single, “Wish I Wasn’t Gay," coming out Friday, March 20th, we figured we'd ask Housman to answer some questions on behalf of The Cowgays, to help with some of our bubbling anticipation. With the voices, personalities and convictions these three possess, we know it's going to be pretty great, pretty 90s country (and pretty gloriously gay).

OK, let’s get right to it. Who are The Cowgays? When did you first start coming up with the concept for this trio? 

Well - we’re a gay country trio separated at birth!  How The Cowgays started was honestly a complete accident! We were having a great, gay ole’ time in Tulum, celebrating Brooke’s birthday and ringing in the start of 2024. Some margaritas had been had. Next thing we know, we’re singing three-part harmony to “When Will I Be Loved” in the stairwell of the AirBnb we were in, and an audience of friends had gathered. We finished singing that and joked “wait, are we a band?!”

All three of you come from different backgrounds and approaches to country music. Was 90s country the common place where everyone could meet sonically?

We do all have our own sounds - so honestly, we went into our first “Cowgays” write with very open minds. It wasn’t until our 2nd write that we tapped into what felt sooo right, and felt like we were reclaiming the country we all grew up on. Because 90’s country had the biggest impact on each of our upbringing’s, it felt like our sound naturally gravitated that way.

I know there’s music coming soon - what can you tell us about what’s in store? You posted a preview of a song, “I Wish I Wasn’t Gay” to Instagram - is the hope for some radio recognition, or do you think relying on those clearly gate-kept areas of Nashville is fruitless at this point?

Well, we’re officially releasing our debut single “Wish I Wasn’t Gay” on March 20th! Though we of course hope songs like this would/could make it to Country radio, we’ve all been in the country music business long enough to know that that’s probably not going to happen. At the same time - there’s a really fun freedom we’ve embraced that comes with writing songs from a place knowing that they don’t have to fit the country radio filters!

And to that point - you’ve all found audiences on TikTok and other means who are clearly hungry for country music that speaks to them. Is that where the real future of left-of-center country music lies? Or even in other countries (thinking of Mickey’s success in China)?

Yessss that’s where the future of country is! We really see it as this *massive* untapped market. Think about the number of people that feel unwelcome by the entire genre of country music? Or even the people that don’t know country at all? We’ve all as solo artists experienced that, we just need to give those folks (and ourselves) the space to be country fans. It’s not the genre’s fault, it’s what people have done with it. 

Did anyone else get in the writing room with you all, or have you planned any other collabs outside the trio? Who would be some dream collaborations down the road? 

 The Cowgays couldn’t exist without our amazing co-writers and co-collaborators! We started off with some of our favorites, like our producer/co-writer Zach Manno, co-writers Willie Morrison, Jessica Cayne, Brock Westover, Danny Magic, Adam Sickler, and Nell Maynard. We have so many collaboration ideas - The Chicks being at the top of the list. Call us!

What were some of the biggest musical inspirations for the Cowgays? I saw you shout out Orville Peck online - love to give him flowers.

Honestly, more than any particular artist(s) - 90’s country in general has probably been the biggest influence so far! Of course artists like The Chicks, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood. But the songwriting influence from Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Kacey Musgraves, Dennis Linde, etc. have helped blaze the trail for telling stories that aren’t always heard in country music.

I love how in the clip for “Wish I Wasn’t Gay” you harmonize on a little praise-the-lord. I love the idea of reclaiming your version of faith away from where it’s been radicalized - is that something you’re hoping to explore as a trio? 

Writing “Wish I Wasn’t Gay” was as close to a spiritual/religious experience as we’ve maybe collectively had. We all grew up with religious trauma, so writing a song like “WIWG” about accepting and loving ourselves as we are felt like it healed a large part of our inner-children. We want to touch on ALL of the things that make people feel unwelcome by country music and let people know that they have a safe space, whether they have previously felt that or not. 

Lastly, are you three planning to tour? Can we expect a Cowgay Rodeo?

A Cowgay Rodeo tour is the DREEEEAM!! We’re definitely planning on touring and working on that as we speak!

Anything we’re missing?

Our debut single “Wish I Wasn’t Gay” is coming out Friday, March 20th!