I've been writing and performing solo for around ten years. At the end of 2009 I plan to take a good long break from that to 'regroup', concentrate on my band Sharks Took The Rest and become a little feral.
Over time I've had the good fortune to have made music alongside some brilliant people, some more often or intensively than others...however, I've been influenced by each person in some way or other - sincere and abundant thanks to you all.
Selima Hill,
long drives or cycles,
Bjork,
Odetta,
Neville Clay,
not enough sleep,
Kate Bush,
People who play the bassoon,
Dylan Thomas,
Raymond Carver,
Richard Dawson,
Nina Simone,
being in Wales every Christmas,
Elbow,
PJ Harvey,
sniffing the sea,
The Henshaws,
June Tabor,
Julia Darling
Dolly Parton.
Neye Benziyor?
"Something special"
William Orbit
'You're a really good singa"
(Jordan Nailor, year 4, Broadfields Primary School.)
'A delinquent Carole King'
(NME)
'Fresh from sharing session time with Elvis Costello on BBC2's Janice Long show, this, the second album from the Newcastle-based songstress, should by rights result in the installation of Beccy as the new queen of bleary-eyed ivory tinkling heartbreak. Imagine Carole King singing odes to lost love after four pints of Special Brew, or Nina Simone skinning up the wings of crushed butterflies - Owen is a fallen, aggrieved dark angel, and a very, very special talent.'
(Music Week)
'Are you a pop star? I didn't think so cos me grandad's never heard of yuz' (Year 4 pupil, Malvin's Close Primary School)
Also check out echoes and dust to see a recent review of the recent album (also voted one of 'THE BEST OF 2008' as part of their top 40 poll...nice!)
Praise for Beccy:
"A delinquent Carole King" NME
"A fallen, aggrieved dark angel and a very, very special talent" Music Week
"Polished, sophisticated and really darned good" The Journal
"A real discovery...Gorgeous" Janice Long, BBC Radio 2
...for Down With Gravity:
"Wondrous tales that sparkle with personality and warmth." NARC
"Amazing. Her stock in trade is raw emotion...Quality stuff." The Crack Magazine
"A gripping collection to be reckoned with...truly irresistible" Lesbilicious
"Brooding and dark...startling" Echoes and Dust
...for Beccy's recent telly appearance on The Culture Show:
"In short: brilliant." The Crack Magazine
Some more blurb...
Down With Gravity is Beccy Owen's brand new album. A compelling portrait of a musician whose relentless wit and wisdom brilliantly chronicles the most beguiling and heart-wrenching moments of human relationships, it features guest vocalists from the radiant Kate Rusby and inimitable Richard Dawson.
Owen presents us with a unique and moving musical journey that includes the stripped back intimacy of live piano and vocals on songs such as "You Are Gone" and "Drowning Minnow" to a more daring, filmic, textural vivaciousness on songs such as "Stalemate", "In Your Company" and "Blizzard", a sound that has begun to characterise Beccy's evolving vision and her on-going collaboration with co-writer/arranger Adam Kent.
Every bit as inventive, unique and arresting as those already switched on to Beccy's previous releases and live performances would expect, newcomers will also embrace this soulful gem of a record.
Firstly, thanks for having us a friend! We really do appreciate it, it's a hard slog being an original band at the moment.
Secondly, do you, or anyone you know, like to play bass? And do you, or this person who you know who plays bass want to play bass in a gigging rock band?
The Hubris are recruiting. Mark is hanging up his plucking pinkies at the end of the year and we need to find someone who can do what he can do.
We're after a bassist who likes his/her rock music. We've been compared to loads of punk bands, old and modern. John from Bruised Fruit described our recent demo thusly: "This is class - really catchy. It's like the Jam meet Green Day meet The Clash and it's a three way explosion of awesome." (Thanks John - hope you don't mind us quoting that to death!)
What we're after is someone who's, well, who's good at playing bass really. Have good attitude, be willing to practise up to twice a week, and tear up every gig we get our mitts on. Ideally the ability to backing sing would be good. Songwriting optional.
We've played quite a few gigs since we started gigging in July, and we have more gigs booked into the future. As soon as we get someone on board we have the opportunity of a load more very soon. We were played on Feile FM a couple of weeks ago, listeners texted in and asked for an encore.
Loads of scope for you to take a songwriting role if you fancy, plus we're a very easygoing bunch of people who have a good laugh as well as work hard.
If you like rock music and you want to be in a real rock band then contact me.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
We are proud to announce that we are HEADLINING the Cream
Insturment Cable Stage at the Lesser Muni as part of the 2009 Great British
R&B Festival in Colne, Lancashire, UK on Monday August 31st. The
Charlie White Project and Sheffield’s blues
poet Mr Billy Martin Jnr are also appearing. Expect great music and utterly
immaculate sound quality using cutting edge PA cables and power amps. Ticket
details are available at www.bluesfestival.co.uk.
Doors open at 7.30pm and we will be onstage at 10.15pm.
Our new album “A Time and Place” is available directly from www.robinhoare.com via Pay Pal and from
good record stores.
Down With Gravity
