Andrew Gower is perhaps best known to audiences for his role as Bonnie Prince Charlie in Starz’s historical fantasy drama Outlander as well as his performances in Black Mirror, Carnival Row, You on Netflix and most recently series two of BBC drama Sherwood, however, the 34-year-old actor is returning to his first love of music.
Gower and his longtime friend James ‘Webbo’ Webster released their first single On Broadway from their debut album Black & White Movie as part of their band Gustaffson last month. The group was formed during the Covid pandemic with the pair dropping their EP The Jacaranda back in 2022.
Gustaffson has also teamed up with one of the creatives from Outlander for another single on the record.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Gower revealed a very special collaboration on the track Flowers with Outlander’s composer Bear McCreary, who is behind the show’s epic score and haunting theme tune.
“I always imagined because the album is called Black & White Movie, I always imagined inviting [McCreary] in any shape or form to collaborate on the album. I didn’t think he would say ‘yes’,” he said.
Gower sent the album to McCreary in the hopes one of the tracks resonated with the acclaimed composer, with Flowers proving to be the song of choice.
“From the other side of the Atlantic, Bear McCreary said he wanted to feature on our Flowers track. We celebrated in the studio. It was quite fitting he recorded it over the Atlantic, over the sea as they would say in Outlander. It’s just elevated the track to way beyond anything we could have imagined.”
He hailed McCreary as an “amazing advocate” for music and for his support of Gustaffson and for always being there “on the other end of the phone”.
McCreary created an orchestral composition to sit on top of the piano and vocals for the ballad.
Flowers, which is out today (November 15), comes with a music video helmed by Top Boy director Myriam Raja and starring Gower’s Carnival Row co-star Jamie Harris. The music video for On Broadway also featured a well-known face in the form of The Gentlemen and Lovesick star Daniel Ings.
Addressing why he decided not to be in Gustaffon’s music videos despite his impressive acting resumé, Gower said: “[B]ecause if I’m in it, I guess the story is just with me. When I’m not in it, the story is exaggerated even more and it extends beyond the band. I think if I’m in it, there’s a slight point where [fans] are like, ‘Oh, that’s the lead singer of Gustaffson’, whereas if I’m not it [the songs] exist on their own.”
For Outlander fans hoping to glimpse Sam Heughan or Caitríona Balfe in one of Gustaffson’s future music videos, he said: “If that happens, it will have to happen up in Scotland, won’t it?”
He went on to say: “They’re never free, they’re always busy, them two. Their careers are incredible. It’s amazing to see what they’re doing beyond Outlander and alongside Outlander, it’s been great to see their careers grow.
“The amazing thing with the singles being films in their own right. All the actors I have in mind over my 15 years […] it’s an amazing way to collaborate with people through music videos. Again, another art form that’s died away a little bit recently. I want to make music for TV and film, I want to do that and this is a great point with our music videos.”
Along with his musical endeavours, Gower has also kept busy with his acting projects and viewers can next see him in Channel 5’s crime drama Ellis and the short film Blessed Are They That Fear the Lord.
In Ellis, Gower will be playing DS Harper, the right-hand man to Sharon D. Clarke as the eponymous detective, as they crack cases involving those in desperate need of help.
Gustaffson’s single Flowers is out on November 15 and their album Black & White Movie will be released in 2025
Ellis premieres on Channel 5 this autumn
