Following years of playing in bands of all kinds, Sam Lowry went solo as a singer/songwriter with an adventurous grasp of instrumentation. In 1999 he set up camp in Bloomington, IN, and began working on his debut album, Down Songs From the Exile Suite (2000). The album, released by Higher Step, showcased his melancholy lyrics and brooding voice, supported by his creative use of drum programming and guitar playing. He returned in 2002 with another album for Higher Step, Between the Lotus and the Han. It notably featured his backing band, the Circumstance: Sarah Quick (violin), Frank Hall (double bass), and Jonathan Richardson (drums). ~ Jason Birchmeier