WHEN I first heard him sing “I have got a feeling” I thought it was coming from a sound system, but then I realised it was a live performance while I was at a function hosted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) last year.
Then I met Roger Bowen, a very enterprising young man, who started off his music career with the Mischievous Guys Band three years ago.
Bowen is a policeman attached to the GPF String Band, through which he has performed at many functions hosted by the police, among other events.
The young man said that he likes singing soca but has tried other songs as well. He sang only one time at a church when he was invited by a pastor.
Bowen says he gets the adrenaline rush and the encouragement from the crowd whenever he performs since the looks on their faces speaks of appreciation and enjoyment.
He is motivated by the kind comments he gets from people because, whenever he sings, the audience adores him as  he has a voice that is so pleasing to listen to and, at the same time, can literally woo you.
For Bowen, his inspiration comes from his father; he said that music is indeed life for him and his family and added that in his music career, the sky is the limit for him.
He always had a love for music, and even in his school days he was always hooked on it and even now he walks around with his CD player.
Bowen obtains the lyrics of new songs and practices until he gets it right before performing as he is  part of a 13-member band attached to the GPF.
He hails from a family that loves music and it is a common saying that they all eat, sleep and breathe music; and he sings song that he thinks people can relate to.
The 23-year-old city resident will enroll as a contestant in the Groovy Soca Monarch competition this year and was a participant in the 2007 Soca Monarch competition.
He said, “As a singer I am experimenting with music, and in future I plan to write my own songs in realising my dream of being ‘original’ in the music arena.”
As for the GPF Band, they are highly favoured whenever they sing, since they have all the time to rehearse and they utilize such time to become better at singing.  As a result, they were awarded $100,000 by the Commissioner of Police Mr. Henry Greene for their good performances last year.
Bowen told the Sunday Chronicle that being good at singing is all about discipline and putting your best out, because whenever they perform they are expected to be good.
This outstanding singer said he is expected to perform at several events and in the past performed with both the Mingles Band and the Mischievous Guys Band.
He noted that the thought of going overseas had crossed his mind but his interest is performing locally until such time.