Meet Jackson Owens, an artist whose soul-warming vocals effortlessly stretch from R’n’B to pop and beyond.
Meet Jackson Owens, an artist whose soul-warming vocals effortlessly stretch from R’n’B to pop and beyond.
It is unquestionable that music runs in Jackson Owens’ (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) bloodstream. Born and bred in Turangi, Owens grew up surrounded by an intrinsically musical family. With weekends spent attending gigs with his parents and even lending a hand to pack down or sing back up, he was immersed in the culture from a young age.
“I suppose it was almost born into us.” Owens and his siblings couldn’t escape their passion for song as grandparents filled the household with soul music like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles. Owens credits his family and their music taste with helping him discover and flex his vocal excellence as he took inspiration from each legend, cultivating the unique sound we know and love today.
Owens’ talents began to span far from the family home as he made international strides. Traveling to Los Angeles at a mere 12 years old for the 2010 World Championships of Performing Arts, he secured multiple gold and silver medals. Eventually he joined the US trio Far Young, which helped him gain momentum and a calling for the stage. Owens continued to build his fanbase by posting covers to YouTube, growing a following of 35.8k on Instagram and 82k on Facebook. Jackson Owens gained attention globally, building a vast resume that hails some serious accolades. He toured with icons Six60 and Stan Walker and, of course, sang on the chart-topping track Love on the Run with Sons of Zion.
This was the tip of the iceberg as Owens was destined to forge his own path. Writing and creating his own music came naturally. He began recording sessions and finally released his debut EP, For The Better.
Set to heat up the summer and break away from what we’ve heard before, Owens’ latest single, If You Let Me Go, is live on all streaming platforms now. Ready to bring a more festival sound to his fans, there is no denying that Owens has achieved exactly this with If You Let Me Go. This track is a profound step into the pop arena, which came quickly to him. “it wasn’t challenging, it felt right, I’ll be making more music with this sound.” Rest assured, Owens’ sincere and soulful voice carries the track pairing smoothly. The upbeat and catchy melody makes the song ultra-meaningful and ultra-fun.
Never one to shy away from the deeper meaning of lyrics, If You Let Me Go is written by Owens and his brother. The song is about a relationship and the inner turmoil of wanting to know where the other person is standing. The song emulates the moment you are “basically pleading and wanting the person to give you an idea so you can decide if you want to put your one hundred percent into it.”
There is nothing quite like the feeling of silly season events with a drink in hand and an enchanting base pulsing. To pair perfectly with the warmer weather, Owens has also released a house remix to the single. “I wanted to try something else and do something different.” Rory Noble came on board and helped create the synth baseline behind the track, making it a no-brainer to launch both; “it’s come together nicely.”
Owens is performing his debut headlining show on Friday, December 2nd, at Galatos in Auckland. Early Bird Tickets sold out instantly. This is a moment Owens has been preparing a lifetime for, and he’s “ready to put on a show that will be a vibe.”
“It’s a dream come true to do my first headlining show all my work has been leading up to this moment”. This is a show you won’t want to miss and you can look forward to Owens signature robust vocal performance as well as soulful tracks that everyone can jam to.
With his sights set on 2023, Owens aims to release even more hits and perform as much as possible. “I want to do more of my own shows; I can’t wait to sing my own songs and hear people sing my own songs back to me. I feel like this is the year, and I’m ready to grind.”
It is clear that the Jackson Owens love affair with music runs bone deep. His commitment to perfecting his artistry has allowed him to create a true expression with his sound. An authentic family man with a voice of a lifetime, Owens humble roots shine through. “This whole thing was my passion, and now it’s my job, and I’m super grateful.”
