Owen (musician): Difference between revisions

Owen
Owen
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres	Indie rock; emo; math rock; singer-songwriter; acoustic rock;
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Polyvinyl Records; Hobbledehoy Record Co.; Wichita Records; Big Scary Monsters;
Members	Mike Kinsella
Website	owenmusic.com

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Owen is the primary solo project of American indie rock and emo musician Mike Kinsella. The project features soft melodies and complex acoustics, combining acoustic guitar with keyboard, other guitars, vocals, and drums.^[1]

Career

Owen's debut album, Owen, marked a departure from Mike Kinsella's previous projects. For the second album, No Good For No One Now, Kinsella opted to purchase recording equipment instead of studio time. In 2004, Kinsella collaborated with Cale Parks (of Aloha), Bob Hoffnar, Jen Tabor, and Paul Koob, to record (the ep). Despite rumors of a live band tour, Kinsella rejoined Joan of Arc and toured with Maritime and Aloha. (the ep) was written as a companion piece to a planned full-length album. Later in 2004, Kinsella recorded I Do Perceive, Owen's third album, with assistance from his cousin Nate Kinsella.

At Home With Owen featured a different approach to recording, incorporating sessions at Semaphore Studios and Engine Studios with producers Nate Kinsella and Brian Deck. In July 2009, Polyvinyl Records released The Seaside EP, a collection of songs previously available only as Japanese bonus tracks and a track from the Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers.

Kinsella's personal life changes, including becoming a husband and father, influenced the writing process for Owen's fifth album, New Leaves. Produced by Brian Deck, Graeme Gibson, Tim Iseler, and Nate Kinsella, New Leaves features ten tracks reflecting personal growth and complexity.

In 2010, Owen released the single "Abandoned Bridges" and an EP titled O, Evelyn in April 2011. The album Ghost Town followed on November 8, 2011. L'Ami du Peuple, was released on July 2, 2013.

On October 2, 2014, it was announced that Owen would release a covers album titled Other People's Songs,^[2] which was released on December 2, 2014, through Polyvinyl Records. This album includes covers of songs by artists such as Against Me!, Depeche Mode, The Promise Ring, and Lungfish.

In July 2016, Owen released the album The King of Whys through Polyvinyl in the United States and Wichita Recordings in the United Kingdom.^[3] In June 2020, the album The Avalanchewas was released through Polyvinyl Records.

On February 8, 2024, Kinsella announced an album titled The Falls of Sioux, which was released on April 26, 2024, through Polyvinyl Records. The single "Beaucoup" was released in advance.^[4]

Discography

Owen (2001)
No Good for No One Now (2002)
I Do Perceive (2004)
At Home with Owen (2006)
New Leaves (2009)
Ghost Town (2011)
L'Ami du Peuple (2013)
Other People's Songs (2014)
The King of Whys (2016)
The Avalanche (2020)
The Falls of Sioux (2024)

References

^ "Polyvinyl Records". Polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
^ Sharp, Tyler. "Owen announces 'Other People's Songs' covers album". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
^ Cohen, Ian (August 2, 2016). "Owen: The King of Whys Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
^ "The Falls of Sioux | Owen". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

External links

[1] "Polyvinyl Records". Polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved December 2, 2014.

[2] Sharp, Tyler. "Owen announces 'Other People's Songs' covers album". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

[3] Cohen, Ian (August 2, 2016). "Owen: The King of Whys Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved August 4, 2016.

[4] "The Falls of Sioux | Owen". Bandcamp. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Solo project of Mike Kinsella}}
-{{multiple issues|
+{{Multiple issues|
-{{tone|date=June 2011}}
-{{BLP refimprove|date=June 2011}}}}
+{{Tone|date=June 2011}}
+{{BLP refimprove|date=June 2011}}
+}}
+{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
 {{Infobox musical artist
 | name                = Owen
@@ Line 7: / Line 11: @@
 | caption             =
 | background          = group_or_band
-| origin              = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], United States
+| origin              = Chicago, Illinois, United States
-| genre               = [[Indie rock]]<br>[[Emo]]<br>[[Math rock]]<br>[[Singer-songwriter]]<br>[[Acoustic rock]]
+| genre               = {{hlist|[[Indie rock]]|[[emo]]|[[math rock]]|[[singer-songwriter]]|[[acoustic rock]]}}
 | years_active        = 2001–present
-| label               = [[Polyvinyl Records]]
+| label               = {{hlist|[[Polyvinyl Records]]|[[Hobbledehoy Record Co.]]|[[Wichita Records]]|[[Big Scary Monsters]]}}
+| website             = {{URL|owenmusic.com}}
-| associated_acts     = [[American Football (band)|American Football]]<br/>[[Cap'n Jazz]]<br/>[[Owls (band)|Owls]]<br/>[[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]]<br/>[[Their/They're/There]]
-| website             = [http://owenmusic.com/ www.owenmusic.com]
 | current_members     = [[Mike Kinsella]]
 }}
+'''Owen''' is the primary solo project of American [[indie rock]] and [[emo]] musician [[Mike Kinsella]]. The project features soft melodies and complex acoustics, combining acoustic guitar with keyboard, other guitars, vocals, and drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php?id=284|title=Polyvinyl Records|publisher=Polyvinylrecords.com|access-date=December 2, 2014}}</ref>
-'''Owen''' is a solo project of [[Mike Kinsella]], and part of the [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] [[indie rock]] scene.
-Kinsella is one of the dominant and influential figures in the Chicago indie scene, having also led the band [[American Football (band)|American Football]], and played in the bands [[Cap'n Jazz]], [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]], The One Up Downstairs and [[Owls (band)|Owls]], and most recently Their/ They're/There.
-Owen is known for its soft melodies, complex acoustics, combining lead acoustics with keyboard and other guitars, plaintive vocals and on occasions adding drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php?id=284|title=Polyvinyl Records|publisher=Polyvinylrecords.com|accessdate=2 December 2014}}</ref> It can be seen as a natural progression for Kinsella, from the progressive and experimental severity of Joan of Arc via the more melodic-progressive [[American Football (band)|American Football]].
 ==Career==
-Owen's debut, ''[[Owen (album)|Owen]]'' was a stark departure from previous Mike Kinsella projects. For 2002's ''[[No Good For No One Now]]'', Owen's second album, an arrangement of purchasing recording equipment instead of studio time was agreed upon. In 2004, in collaboration with Cale Parks (of [[Aloha (band)|Aloha]]), Bob Hoffnar, Jen Tabor, and Paul Koob, Mike began recording again. What resulted was ''[[(the ep)]]''. The joint effort marked a turning point of sorts for Owen. Rumors began to swirl that a live band would be taken on the road for the first time but these rumors never materialized as Mike again rejoined [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]] and became a touring member of both Maritime and Aloha.
+Owen's debut album, ''[[Owen (album)|Owen]]'', marked a departure from Mike Kinsella's previous projects. For the second album, ''[[No Good For No One Now]]'', Kinsella opted to purchase recording equipment instead of studio time. In 2004, Kinsella collaborated with Cale Parks (of [[Aloha (band)|Aloha]]), Bob Hoffnar, Jen Tabor, and Paul Koob, to record ''[[(the ep)]]''. Despite rumors of a live band tour, Kinsella rejoined [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]] and toured with Maritime and Aloha.
-''[[(the ep)]]'' had been written as a companion piece to a scheduled full-length. In summer 2004, Mike again began recording and collaborating, this time with cousin Nate Kinsella (Make Believe, Joan of Arc) who lent assistance both on instrumentation and engineering. The results of these efforts were ''[[I Do Perceive]]'', Owen's third album.
+''[[(the ep)]]'' was written as a companion piece to a planned full-length album. Later in 2004, Kinsella recorded ''[[I Do Perceive]]'', Owen's third album, with assistance from his cousin [[Nate Kinsella]].
+''[[At Home With Owen]]'' featured a different approach to recording, incorporating sessions at Semaphore Studios and Engine Studios with producers [[Nate Kinsella]] and Brian Deck. In July 2009, Polyvinyl Records released ''[[The Seaside EP]]'', a collection of songs previously available only as Japanese bonus tracks and a track from the Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers.
-On ''[[At Home With Owen]]'', Mike figuratively leaves the at-home bedroom that has characterized so much of Owen's past musical presence. His step away from bedroom recording allowed for an alternative approach to the songs recorded on At Home With Owen. "I've always hated how two dimensional the other Owen albums have sounded, and I think this one's finally got a third dimension," Kinsella says. The new approach to recording involved a fraction of pre-recording at Mike's mom's house, followed by sessions at Semaphore Studios with cousin [[Nate Kinsella]] ([[Joan of Arc]], [[Make Believe (band)|Make Believe]] and finally at Engine Studios with Brian Deck ([[Iron & Wine]], [[Red Red Meat]]).
+Kinsella's personal life changes, including becoming a husband and father, influenced the writing process for Owen's fifth album, ''[[New Leaves]].'' Produced by Brian Deck, Graeme Gibson, Tim Iseler, and [[Nate Kinsella]], ''New Leaves'' features ten tracks reflecting personal growth and complexity.
-In July 2009, Polyvinyl Records released ''[[The Seaside EP]]'', a collection of Owen songs previously only available as Japanese bonus tracks, as well as a track from the Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers".
+In 2010, Owen released the single "Abandoned Bridges" and an EP titled ''O, Evelyn'' in April 2011. The album ''[[Ghost Town (Owen album)|Ghost Town]]'' followed on November 8, 2011. ''[[L'Ami du Peuple (Owen album)|L'Ami du Peuple]]'', was released on July 2, 2013.
-Since the release of his 2006 album, much has changed for Kinsella. During the writing process for the fifth album, ''[[New Leaves]]'', Kinsella became both a husband and a father, adding a sense of responsibility and new direction to the personalized quality of Owen releases. As the title would suggest, New Leaves finds Kinsella building upon and branching off of the core elements of his efforts - clever lyrics over intricate guitar work - now aided by a more complex song structure and refined lyrical matter. Produced by Brian Deck ([[Iron & Wine]], [[Margot & the Nuclear So and So's]]), Graeme Gibson ([[Califone]], [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]]), Tim Iseler ([[Wilco]], [[Teenage Fanclub]]) and cousin [[Nate Kinsella]], New Leaves is 10 tracks of renewal and personal growth.
+On October 2, 2014, it was announced that Owen would release a covers album titled ''[[Other People's Songs (album)|Other People's Songs]],''<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharp|first=Tyler|title=Owen announces 'Other People's Songs' covers album|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/owen_announces_other_peoples_songs_covers_album|publisher=Alternative Press|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> which was released on December 2, 2014, through Polyvinyl Records. This album includes covers of songs by artists such as [[Against Me!]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[The Promise Ring]], and [[Lungfish (band)|Lungfish]].
-In 2010, Owen released the "Abandoned Bridges" single. He has also released an EP titled ''O, Evelyn'' in April 2011. Owen's album, ''[[Ghost Town (Owen album)|Ghost Town]]'', was released on November 8, 2011. Owen's album, ''[[L'Ami du Peuple (Owen album)|L'Ami du Peuple]]'', was released on July 2, 2013.
+In July 2016, Owen released the album ''The King of Whys'' through Polyvinyl in the United States and [[Wichita Recordings]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22178-the-king-of-whys/|title=Owen: The King of Whys Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=August 2, 2016|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> In June 2020, the album ''The Avalanchewas was released'' through Polyvinyl Records.
-On October 2, 2014, it was announced that Owen is releasing a covers album titled ''[[Other People's Songs (album)|Other People's Songs]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharp|first=Tyler|title=Owen announces 'Other People's Songs' covers album|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/owen_announces_other_peoples_songs_covers_album|publisher=Alternative Press|accessdate=5 October 2014}}</ref> The album was released on December 2, 2014, through Polyvinyl Records. It included covers of songs from artists including [[Against Me!]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[The Promise Ring]], and [[Lungfish (band)|Lungfish]] amongst others.
-In July 2016 he released the album ''The King of Whys'' through Polyvinyl.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22178-the-king-of-whys/|title=Owen: The King of Whys Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|last=Cohen|first=Ian|date=August 2, 2016|website=pitchfork.com|publisher=|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
+On February 8, 2024, Kinsella announced an album titled ''The Falls of Sioux'', which was released on April 26, 2024, through Polyvinyl Records. The single "Beaucoup" was released in advance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://owenmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-falls-of-sioux|title=The Falls of Sioux {{!}} Owen|website=[[Bandcamp]]|access-date=February 8, 2024}}</ref>
 ==Discography==
@@ Line 42: / Line 41: @@
 * ''[[Owen (album)|Owen]]'' (2001)
 * ''[[No Good for No One Now]]'' (2002)
-* ''[[(the ep)]]'' (2004)
 * ''[[I Do Perceive]]'' (2004)
 * ''[[At Home with Owen]]'' (2006)
@@ Line 48: / Line 46: @@
 * ''[[Ghost Town (Owen album)|Ghost Town]]'' (2011)
 * ''[[L'Ami du Peuple (Owen album)|L'Ami du Peuple]]'' (2013)
-* ''[[Other People's Songs (album)|Other People's Songs]]'' (2014)
+* ''[[Other People's Songs (Owen album)|Other People's Songs]]'' (2014)
 * ''[[The King of Whys]]'' (2016)
+* ''[[The Avalanche (Owen album)|The Avalanche]]'' (2020)
+* ''[[The Falls of Sioux]]'' (2024)
 ==References==
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 ==External links==
-* {{official website|http://www.owenmusic.com}}
+*{{official website|http://www.owenmusic.com}}
 *{{Allmusic |class=artist |id=p512479}}
-* [http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php?id=284 Owen artist page at Polyvinyl]
+*[http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/artists/index.php?id=284 Owen artist page at Polyvinyl]
-* [http://www.timmcmahan.com/owen.htm Lazy-i Interview: November 2002]
+*[http://www.timmcmahan.com/owen.htm Lazy-i Interview: November 2002]
-* [http://www.punknews.org/bands/owen Punknews.org Profile of Owen with reviews, interviews, related bands]
+*[http://www.punknews.org/bands/owen Punknews.org Profile of Owen with reviews, interviews, related bands]
-{{Joan Of Arc}}
+{{Joan of Arc (band)}}
 {{Owen}}
 {{Authority control}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Owen}}
 [[Category:Indie rock musical groups from Illinois]]
 [[Category:Musical groups from Chicago]]
+[[Category:Polyvinyl Record Co. artists]]
+[[Category:Wichita Recordings artists]]

v t e Joan of Arc
Tim Kinsella Sam Zurick Mike Kinsella Nate Kinsella Bobby Burg Amy Cargill Jeremy Boyle Ben Vida Cale Parks Matt Clark Todd Mattei
Studio albums	A Portable Model Of How Memory Works Live in Chicago, 1999 The Gap So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness In Rape Fantasy and Terror Sex We Trust Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain Presents Guitar Duets The Intelligent Design Of... Eventually, All at Once Boo! Human Flowers Life Like He's Got the Whole This Land Is Your Land in His Hands 1984
Related articles	Cap'n Jazz

v t e Owen
Mike Kinsella
Albums	Owen No Good for No One Now I Do Perceive At Home with Owen New Leaves Ghost Town L'Ami du Peuple Other People's Songs The King of Whys The Avalanche
EPs	(the ep) The Seaside EP
Split releases	The Rutabega / Owen Owen/The City on Film Split 7" Owen/Into It. Over It. Split EP Devinyl Splits No. 5
Related	Discography