Introducing #142 - Wil Owen
Let us introduce you to Bristol-based Welsh singer-songwriter Wil Owen - who has just released his debut single ‘Will It All Work Out?’ via Tinpot Records. The track was written over the course of four years and is a stunning piece of delicate folk music - ticking boxes for fans of Bon Iver, Novo Amor and Ben Howard. He took a moment to talk to us about his music.
Hey Wil, how are you? So your debut track ‘Will It All Work Out?’ is out now - can you tell us what it is about?
Hello! I’m great thanks, how’re you?! ‘Will It All Work Out?’ is about feeling fragile and combustible and guilty. It’s the product of watching the world come to terms with itself in a really intense period of time and wondering how you fit in to it all.
This track took four years to write, so we think the main question here is - why did it take that long?
Haha! I promise I wasn’t labouring over it every day for four years...but you’re right. I wrote the opening lines in 2016, right after Trump got elected. Those lines sat dormant for a few years and then when the wild fires hit in Australia and America and the global pandemic swept in, I think those familiar feelings of hopelessness and chaos crystalised. I stumbled on those words again in March last year and the rest came pretty quickly!
On this track, you worked with producer Tamu Massif, who has worked with the likes of Fenne Lily - how did that partnership come about?
Fortunately Tom Rosenthal, magical music man, suggested Tamu as a potentially good fit for my stuff. I was so happy! Tamu has that alchemy of talent and kindness so when we met, and ‘Will It All Work Out?’ was the first thing we worked on, it all came together so readily that we knew we had a good thing going.
You are Bristol based, what are your favourite things about living there?
There’s already loads of things that I love, but I did move to Bristol during a pandemic so I’m aware that there’s still plenty left to discover. I’ve spent a lot of time walking around! Places like Conham Park, Snuff Mills, Leigh Woods and Abbots Pool stand out. It’s so green. Bristol also has a really independent, community driven feeling about it which is great. That extends to restaurants, bars, music venues, it has everything!
What are your key musical influences?
Growing up in a house where the likes of Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush were on heavy rotation has definitely impacted on the way I write. I think there’s an element of being born in Wales too that distills a love for melody and harmony into your bones. I find harmonies, and in particular close harmonies, so moving. The older I get the more they strike a chord in me. That and brass bands, god they floor me.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never listened to you before?
I find questions like this really tricky! I’ve always thought that genres are weirdly restrictive, although I get why they’re helpful, it seems to me that it’s for others to decide where they want to place me. I bow to your knowledge! I suppose my songs are driven by the lyrics more than anything, does that make me a singer-songwriter?! As for the music that’s an ever-changing landscape, depending on the song. I’m learning to love new instruments, my latest demos include both clarinets and synth, so you’re in for a whirlwind ride! Am I fired? Is that completely unhelpful?! Forgive me!