(June 16, 2019) Of all of the artists we cover at SoulTracks, one of the toughest to categorize is singer and songwriter Brian Owens. When we introduced him to SoulTrackers seven years ago, he came across as an old school soul man with a killer vocal instrument. But over the years he has shown himself to be incredibly versatile and musically curious, teaming with legendary vocalist Michael McDonald on the socially conscious Soul of Ferguson, dueting with Japanese soul sensation Nao Yoshioka on the peppy “Love Love,” taking on a country music icon's catalog on Soul of Cash, and providing a touching cover with his father of Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come."
(June 16, 2019) Of all of the artists we cover at SoulTracks, one of the toughest to categorize is singer and songwriter Brian Owens. When we introduced him to SoulTrackers seven years ago, he came across as an old school soul man with a killer vocal instrument. But over the years he has shown himself to be incredibly versatile and musically curious, teaming with legendary vocalist Michael McDonald on the socially conscious Soul of Ferguson, dueting with Japanese soul sensation Nao Yoshioka on the peppy “Love Love,” taking on a country music icon's catalog on Soul of Cash, and providing a touching cover with his father of Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come."
Brian is now readying the release of his upcoming album Love Came Down with the advance single "Sparrow," a vocally faithful cover of the Marvin Gaye deep cut (originally appearing on Gaye's Here My Dear). Produced by Grammy winner Brian Michel Bacchus (Norah Jones, Gregory Porter), Sparrow's jazzy backdrop and nice orchestral touches allow Owens to weave his expressive tenor through the subtle composition beautifully, ultimately resulting in a finished product that may even surpass the original. The engaging "Sparrow” brings the Gaye gem forward to 2019 in a completely full-bodied fashion that sounds like nothing else you'll hear on the radio. We just love it.
Check out “Sparrow” and welcome back Brian Owens to SoulTracks.
By Chris Rizik
Brian Owens feat. the Royal Five,
Keyon Harrold & Daniel Sadownick
"Sparrow"