The Bolen Girl’s “Night Owl” at Art’s Tavern

From staff reports

Sophie Bolen, a 23-year-old rising country/pop music artist who grew up in Grand Rapids, summers in Glen Arbor, and writes and records in Nashville, recently released the music video for her single “Night Owl” (a song borrowed from acclaimed songwriter Deanna Walker). The video features scenes at iconic locations including Art’s Tavern, the beach at Glen Haven and Sleeping Bear Point. Watch the video below:

The Art’s footage in “Night Owl” was filmed on the one day each year when the popular watering hole is closed for a deep cleaning (when the staff temporarily removes all the pennants and photos from ceiling and walls). Owner Tim Barr and several locals posed as extras, including Synchronicity Gallery owner Dave Thomasma—Bolen’s mother’s cousin—who appears slumped over at the bar as the town drunk.

We caught up with Sophie Bolen to learn about her Glen Arbor roots and her burgeoning country music career.

 

Glen Arbor Sun: In the video I recognize Art’s Tavern, Glen Haven, and (I think) the beach at Sleeping Bear Point. How about the hotel room and the forest scenes: are those also filmed in or near Glen Arbor?

Sophie Bolen: We shot at Arts and the Glen Haven beach. My aunt and uncle were gracious enough to open up their home, or as we call it ‘The Lodge’ to use for the bedroom scene. The Lodge has an amazing view of Glen Lake and Lake Michigan. The scenes in the forest were filmed at my parents’ house (on the Crystal River), which used to be my grandparents’ house. You wouldn’t know it from the way we shot the video, but my Grandpa made an 18-hole putt-putt course in the woods and we filmed it on the course.

 

Glen Arbor Sun: What’s the story behind this video? What inspired it? When was it filmed, and how/why did you choose Art’s and the other settings. Was Tim Barr excited about being included in a music video?

Sophie Bolen: About a year before I got my hands on the song, I heard it for the first time in a songwriters’ catalog and when I heard the lyrics about ‘dreamers and bar stool companions’ I immediately pictured Art’s. I am a very visual person with a big imagination, and whenever I hear a song I most always see a mini movie of the song coming to life in my head. The song haunted me for another year, and then I was able to record it.

Ben Lemmen directed, shot and edited the music video. He has his own ties to Glen Arbor and was super excited to potentially shoot at Arts. I told him my initial ideas for the music video and he meshed them with his ideas and created a solid storyline.

I knew from that initial ‘mini movie’ in my head that I wanted to film it at Arts and Glen Arbor. I have a very emotional connection to Art’s and Glen Arbor. I grew up going there. It was always so special to go with my grandparents and family. And because I have all my memories there with family—some who have now passed on—it just feels like home. From a filmmaking standpoint, Art’s is a dream location to film at. It’s already got incredible lighting and such a specific warm aesthetic. You don’t even have to decorate one thing about it!

I told my Uncle, Michael Lyons, about how I wanted to film at Art’s and asked if he could help me out with going about that. He knew Tim and by some miracle … we got to use Art’s the one day they are closed … the annual deep clean. It would have been almost impossible to film in there when they were open with customers, so it just worked out perfectly. The extras in the background during the scene at Art’s are all my relatives too! So many of my family has settled down in Glen Arbor so it was such a hoot to have them be a part of it … it made it all the more special. And yes, Dave Thomasma who owns Synchronicity is my mom’s cousin. He has a cameo as the town drunk at the beginning of the video slumped over at the bar.

It looked like Tim was pretty interested in having us film there. I can’t wait to hear what he thinks of how the video turned out. I am so grateful that he allowed us to come in. It made my dreams come true.

Glen Arbor is so beautiful, and It was no question to film the rest of the music video in the beautiful sites around town.

 

Glen Arbor Sun: Tell me more about your passion for (country) music and what sent you on this track? How’s life in Nashville? Of what accomplishments are you most proud? And what’s next for you?

Sophie Bolen: I grew up doing musical theater, I actually was in my first show when I was 4 years old. I completely fell in love with it, I was a theater rat, I would’ve lived there if I could. Then when I was 10, I had the opportunity to audition for a feature film that I eventually booked. The first movie I was in was “The Christmas Bunny” starring Florence Henderson and myself. That launched my professional acting career and my love affair with filmmaking.

Throughout my acting, I was still constantly singing whether it be recitals, events or talent shows … but I was mostly singing musical theater. I grew up riding and showing horses, so being around that, you grow to appreciate and have an emotional connection to country music.

When I was 15 or 16 I went to a talent showcase in Chicago. That’s where I met my New York and Chicago acting agents and where I met Matt Wilder, who would eventually become my music producer two years later. I went to down to Nashville for the first time just before I turned 18 to write with top songwriters and work with Matt. I knew as an artist I wanted to go into country music, I identified with it and loved the storytelling of the music. It was also a perfect style to go into because I was fresh off of acting in two horse movies that I stared in, “Rodeo Girl” and “The Horse Dancer.”

It took a few years to get the right sound down and what felt true to me as an artist. I now work and write a lot with Rebecca Lynn Howard, who is an inspiration, my mentor and my friend.

Even though I started my country music journey five years ago I am just now starting to release my music. I also just played live for the first time in Nashville at the venue I dreamed of playing, The Listening Room Cafe. Rebecca invited me up on her writers round to sing a song that we played together. I’m looking forward to perform in live in Nashville more.

Thus far, this music video has been my most proud accomplishment. My two passions have been acting and singing and this allowed to mesh the two together. It also allowed me to step in a producer role, which has been a goal of mine to start producing projects.

I was blessed to have Lemmen take charge of this project and bring it to life. He is such an incredible filmmaker whom I admire. My brother Alex, is also an incredible filmmaker and he helped Ben out with everything for the shoot. Gaffer, Grip, 1st AC, PA … he was everything.

What’s next? I have about 20 songs that are almost ready to be released. I’m going to release a few singles this year and then I’m looking to drop an album in 2024. Soon I’ll release my next single and music video … it’s a country/dance cover of “Free Ride” by the Edgar Winter Group that is crazy and I’m crazy excited about.

Glen Arbor Sun: And tell me about your life “up north.” Will you spend the summer here, or how much time? What are your favorite summer activities here in Leelanau County?

Sophie Bolen: Glen Arbor is my favorite place on earth. I thank the lord my relatives a few generations back started coming up north. I am planning on spending most of the summer here! In all the seasons, I try to travel up here whenever possible.

My number 1 thing to do in the summer is to be on the Crystal River. Whether it’s kayaking by myself, or canoeing with a buddy I love the beauty of the river and all the wildlife you can spot. I love the rocky beaches at Port Oneida, I have some of my favorite summer memories of all time on those gorgeous beaches with my girlfriends. And, whenever I’m driving around the lake I will always, and I mean always, stop and take in the breathtaking view at Inspiration Point. I’m also super excited to be hanging out at The Mill this summer. I just went for the first time and had a delicious latte in a really cool historic space.

I have memories as a child of going to beach with my Grandma and picking out rocks to bring home and paint. Walking barefoot from the cottage to Laker Shakes with my cousins. Taking too big of a handful of samples from Cherry Republic. Watching my older cousins go grab a drink at Art’s and thinking it’ll be so long until I could do that. Now, you’ll find me there with some good company, maybe a beer and definitely a basket full of tots!