Shawn Owen

Shawn Owen flows. His lyrics, chords changes, and creative process all seem to go together in one smooth, fluid movement. His voice has the tonal quality of a classic rock singer, but even when he gets louder, Owen keeps it easy on the ears.

The Annapolis-based singer songwriter names Bob Marley, Sublime, and Jack Johnson as his biggest influences. And it shows in the way he maintains a relaxed (read: chill) demeanor throughout his songs.

But Owen offers more than a laid back "it's all good" vibe. He puts feelings into his music.

"I try to show as much emotion as I can while performing, to try and get a similar emotional response from the audience," he says. "I also like to use humor in a show. It's cool to be all sensitive and emotional and everything, but sometimes people just want to smile and laugh, myself included."

Owen's interest in music was sparked early. His first live performance was singing a solo in a 4th grade Christmas play, and he has memories of trying to record himself singing along with the radio using a tape recorder at age eight.

"The first rock band I was in was in 10th grade," he says. "I sang and played drums for 1s Period Instrumental with a few kids I was in first period instrumental class with. Not the cleverest band name, I know."

After his post-high school band, Stolen Element, broke up, Owen started playing solo shows. In January, he formed the Shawn Owen Band (alternately known as the SOBs). They're planning to enter the studio this fall to record his first full length LP.

True to form, the songs on that LP are sure to be a product of Owen's calm demeanor. Although he describes his creative process as random, with songs coming in the middle of the night or early morning, it's what works best.

"I struggle when I sit down and force myself to work on song ideas," he says. "The better ones just seem to flow on their own time."

Usually, Owen writes his melodies first, and adds the words to match. But he always knows where his songs are headed.

"Normally, I have an idea in mind for the lyrics while starting with the music to get a feel of how I want the song to flow," he says. "It kind goes back and forth once it's started."

From here, Owen just wants to keep the ball rolling. He's putting his all into his soon-to-be released album, and hopes to break through to the next level of regional and national touring.

"I've gotten to play some really cool shows and meet some really awesome people in the 32 years of my life," he says. "I just want to keep that going as long as possible."
- What's Up? Annapolis

I think I walked into the Morgantown Brewing Company sometime around 8:45 p.m. It may have even been nine. The Brewpub was packed, though. I know that. Chatter of all sorts bounced off every wall and floorboard. Yet , the scene wasn’t harsh or eager. It felt subdued … like a manageable chaos brought on by the dim lights and wood stain color pallet.

It’s safe to say though that if I were twenty-one, I probably would have joined the patrons and mingled amongst that chaos. I’d be in a seating booth somewhere, propped up against a chair backrest sipping on ale, and my mood would be light and I’d probably add to the chatter all throughout the restaurant, occasionally dropping in curse words.

But I’m not twenty-one; I’m nineteen, so it’s funny to note then that upon entering the MBC, I immediately shuffled over to the bar and took a stool. There stood a reason for this, though; it’s where Shawn was sitting.

Shawn Owen writes and performs his own music – sometimes solo with a lone acoustic guitar, other times with a full band behind him. His sound ranges anywhere between the usual acoustic singer/songwriter aesthetic to something similar to a more boiled down take on reggae.

Back in 1999, Owen jammed around the Morgantown scene with his band Stolen Element. They played house shows as well as clubs, and they eventually set out on an East Coast tour, selling 3000 copies of their original EP. Five years later, with many parties and good times behind them, the band wrapped it up and split, and Shawn left Morgantown.

Today, Owen is 31, lives in Annapolis, Maryland and still possesses a passion for music. The Morgantown Brewing Company just happens to be the spot of his latest performance.

When I took my seat at the bar, Shawn had just been handed a sandwich by the bartender. I couldn’t tell you what was on it. I really wasn’t looking. There were french fries beside it, though. But before he could take a bite, I stole his attention and got him talking.

“So what’s it like being back in Morgantown?” I asked.

“It’s good,” says Owen. “Although, somewhat different.”

And from there Shawn went on to describe a Morgantown music scene ten years gone.

“The scene was different back then,” says Owen. “Much of the music is club and bar oriented today. Before, house parties and house shows were the epicenter. That’s what bands were playing. 123 Pleasant Street wasn’t really booking smaller bands, and Sunnyside was just blowin’ up.”

Owen recalls many of those house shows, citing some of their eccentricities. One that sticks out took place near the current location of Summit Hall. Stolen Element was playing another house show, but rather than the usual living room setup, the band scoped out a balcony and plugged in.

For Owen, that experience felt like playing a festival. All he can remember are the countless people standing down below, looking up.

A lot of that street festival party vibe has died away, now. When I asked him if he could think of any reason for the calm, Shawn could only guess.

“The University cracking down probably has something to do with it,” says Owen.

Although, Owen may not have as close a connection to the University as most local inhabitants as he was never actually a student during his time in Morgantown. Instead, Shawn worked a handful of odd jobs while not on stage, and he can gleefully remember his friends waking up early for class as he slept in.

The freewheelin’ take on life even stretches back to before Shawn came to Morgantown. Growing up in Snowshoe, West Virginia, Owen picked up snowboarding at a young age. He even worked in his father’s ski shop, and eventually moved to Colorado at age 17 to chase a dream of professional snowboarding.

The dream didn’t work out, though. Shawn’s snowboarding career was interrupted after an injury, and that’s when he fell back on music.

But Shawn says that music was always apart of his life.

Early on, artists like Bob Marley and Subli - U92 Radio / Morgantown Sound - Alec Barry

I think I walked into the Morgantown Brewing Company sometime around 8:45 p.m. It may have even been nine. The Brewpub was packed, though. I know that. Chatter of all sorts bounced off every wall and floorboard. Yet , the scene wasn’t harsh or eager. It felt subdued … like a manageable chaos brought on by the dim lights and wood stain color pallet.

It’s safe to say though that if I were twenty-one, I probably would have joined the patrons and mingled amongst that chaos. I’d be in a seating booth somewhere, propped up against a chair backrest sipping on ale, and my mood would be light and I’d probably add to the chatter all throughout the restaurant, occasionally dropping in curse words.

But I’m not twenty-one; I’m nineteen, so it’s funny to note then that upon entering the MBC, I immediately shuffled over to the bar and took a stool. There stood a reason for this, though; it’s where Shawn was sitting.

Shawn Owen writes and performs his own music – sometimes solo with a lone acoustic guitar, other times with a full band behind him. His sound ranges anywhere between the usual acoustic singer/songwriter aesthetic to something similar to a more boiled down take on reggae.

Back in 1999, Owen jammed around the Morgantown scene with his band Stolen Element. They played house shows as well as clubs, and they eventually set out on an East Coast tour, selling 3000 copies of their original EP. Five years later, with many parties and good times behind them, the band wrapped it up and split, and Shawn left Morgantown.

Today, Owen is 31, lives in Annapolis, Maryland and still possesses a passion for music. The Morgantown Brewing Company just happens to be the spot of his latest performance.

When I took my seat at the bar, Shawn had just been handed a sandwich by the bartender. I couldn’t tell you what was on it. I really wasn’t looking. There were french fries beside it, though. But before he could take a bite, I stole his attention and got him talking.

“So what’s it like being back in Morgantown?” I asked.

“It’s good,” says Owen. “Although, somewhat different.”

And from there Shawn went on to describe a Morgantown music scene ten years gone.

“The scene was different back then,” says Owen. “Much of the music is club and bar oriented today. Before, house parties and house shows were the epicenter. That’s what bands were playing. 123 Pleasant Street wasn’t really booking smaller bands, and Sunnyside was just blowin’ up.”

Owen recalls many of those house shows, citing some of their eccentricities. One that sticks out took place near the current location of Summit Hall. Stolen Element was playing another house show, but rather than the usual living room setup, the band scoped out a balcony and plugged in.

For Owen, that experience felt like playing a festival. All he can remember are the countless people standing down below, looking up.

A lot of that street festival party vibe has died away, now. When I asked him if he could think of any reason for the calm, Shawn could only guess.

“The University cracking down probably has something to do with it,” says Owen.

Although, Owen may not have as close a connection to the University as most local inhabitants as he was never actually a student during his time in Morgantown. Instead, Shawn worked a handful of odd jobs while not on stage, and he can gleefully remember his friends waking up early for class as he slept in.

The freewheelin’ take on life even stretches back to before Shawn came to Morgantown. Growing up in Snowshoe, West Virginia, Owen picked up snowboarding at a young age. He even worked in his father’s ski shop, and eventually moved to Colorado at age 17 to chase a dream of professional snowboarding.

The dream didn’t work out, though. Shawn’s snowboarding career was interrupted after an injury, and that’s when he fell back on music.

But Shawn says that music was always apart of his life.

Early on, artists like Bob Marley and Subli - U92 Radio / Morgantown Sound - Alec Barry

Shawn Owen of Annapolis, MD, will serenade you with an effortless soul that speaks of a raw emotion he might have only set to a strum yesterday. His journey, however, spans years of moves over the states of West Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland, and multiple career changes with many great friends known from childhood and gathered along the way. Every story is captivating and heartfelt, and the strings of his guitars only do so much justice to the experience of his hands. What a beautiful song they make. Appalachian Jamwich was lucky enough to come across Shawn and his music and get a little peek into the inner workings of this dedicated musician’s life.



So where in West Virginia is your hometown? What are some good memories you have of the area you grew up in? How do you think it influenced you musically?

Snowshoe is my home town. I grew up right on the mountain my whole childhood. My father owned a ski rental shop so I’ve been skiing and snowboarding my entire life. Most of my memories are based around that. Most of my friends rode as kids so thats where we spent all our free time in the winter. I remember crazy night-riding with packs of like 10-15 little rippers, causing havoc, sneaking cigarettes on the chair lift, being little punks running around the mountain that we considered ours. Awesome times…

I’d say that stuff influenced me musically more towards punk rock. I was really into punk back then. NOFX, Bad Religion, Pennywise, Face to Face, Rancid, Lagwagon, etc. Fat Wreck Chords stuff was in my Walkman a lot. That’s right, I said Walkman… But the Zen side of snowboarding drove me towards reggae. If I was riding in the park, I’d listen to punk rock. If I was free-riding, it was reggae. I love the sound of knee deep powder cutting though Waiting in Vain or something. So soothing for the soul.

I saw you moved out to Colorado to pursue snowboarding! That’s awesome, our whole family snowboards. What attracted you to that sport? What ultimately ended your pursuit of a career in snowboarding? And how did living in the beautiful state of Colorado affect you?

My whole family rides too! Either on skis or boards, I pretty much consider them the same sport. Never understood the animosity between skiers and snowboarders. Glad to see thats fading. Anyways, I’ve been riding my entire life. I tore my knee up in a mogul contest when I was 13 and coming back from that snowboarding was safer for my knee. So I gave it a try and have been hooked since. I competed as an amateur all through high school in slope-style, half-pipe, boarder cross and racing gates. I moved out to live with my cousin in Denver the summer I graduated high school and moved up into the mountains as soon as we started getting snow. I worked at Loveland mountain and that was where I trained and based my competing out of. I did ok, won a few contests, grabbed a couple sponsors, earned a bit of money. I stayed out there for the next year and a half before I decided to move back east. I’d had a few bad crashes trying to keep up with kids going way bigger and trying crazier tricks than I could pull, like rodeo 9's, double flips and all that stuff. I decided that the pro route was a bit more than I could handle. I’d been in touch with a bunch of friends from high school about starting a band so the timing was just right to move back and start playing.

I loved my time in Colorado. It was my first home away from home so it has a special place in my heart. The awe and sheer humility nature creates for you out there is inspiring. It always motivated me to go further and harder, appreciate as much as I can along the way. I remember waking up hours before work to catch the first crack of light to ride Loveland Pass backcountry for a few hours and then again after work until the sun went down. Snowboarding will always be a part of my life and my time in Colorado helped make sure of that.

How did you end up moving to Annapolis, MD?

I moved down when I met a guy at Snowshoe from Annapolis. I was living in Morgantown with my old band Stolen Element at the time. We were a punk/ska/hard-core/reggae band. Kinda a mix between Metallica and Sublime. He hired us to play at a fundraiser for local skatepark and a t-shirt clothing company he was starting and the music scene was just awesome. We had played there before and had a great response from the people. A couple guys in the band were graduating from WVU that year so it kinda just fell into place. I moved down and my drummer moved shortly after he graduated.

Where did you play your very first show? How was that experience?

My first live performance was a solo I sang in a christmas concert when I was in 4th grade. The only thing I really remember about it is my sister making faces at me from the crowd and me just making them back while singing. I’m sure it was an epic performance. The first time I ever played live in a band, I was the drummer playing with a few friends - Appalachian Jamwich Magazine - Elise Olmstead

With the weather warming up, more and more of us will flock outside and venture to new events. This weekend features two special concerts in Annapolis with a blend of indoor and outdoor entertainment.

All weekend, The Whiskey will host the BLUSH Music & Art Festival 2013, which supports the Gene Gadd Cancer Foundation and the annual Avon Breast Cancer walk.

The event runs Saturday from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 12 to 8pm.

Over two days and three stages (upstairs, downstairs and outdoor), patrons can choose to enjoy the sun and the weather outside or unwind inside during the performances. Those in attendance will see 36 bands on Saturday and 21 on Sunday, including: The Kelly Bell Band, Mama Black Sheep, Happy Fuzzy, Bumpin’ Uglies, Viki Nova, Skribe, Pietasters, Faycez U Know, Cold Cash, Shawn Owen and a lot more.

What began as a project between Shannon Greb, of the Avon Foundation of Women, and Raoul Graves, the owner of Next Big Thing Productions, the company that runs the concert, has grown from a one-day event to two days for the first time this year.

“Every year it’s gotten progressively bigger,” said Laura Mackay, manager for Next Big Thing Productions and bartender at The Whiskey. “We’re aiming for 1,000 people for the two days. Last year we had about 600.”

If you’re in the mood to rock out and contribute to a good cause, head out to West Street this weekend. - What's Up? Magazine - Jake Russell

In the world of reggae music, much of it has a feel good vibe when it comes to the music, but the lyrics paint a different story. Historically, it has tackled social, political and financial injustices. Whether it was Marley, Tosh or any host of other artists over the years, the style of music has blended beautiful island rhythms with electrified lyrics to raise awareness and move people.

Shawn Owen is no exception to this idea as he goes after financial injustices in his song “Make Money.” When you listen to the music, the idea of one or fifteen rum punches sound wonderful. However, the lyrics will create a different response. The attached video is of him doing the tune solo acoustic, but he does travel with a full band. Check out his Facebook page or website for dates and go see him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bAeBY1QUZ7Q

Artist Name: Shawn Owen
Location: Annapolis, MD
Genre: Reggae, Acoustic
Band Members: Shawn Owen, Tobias Russell, Viki Nova, Zach Ditmars, Ben Bays, Paul Clagett
Website: http://shawnowenmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnowenmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnowenmusic - The Daily Krapht - Victor Alfieri

From the early 1920's to the '70s days of Carr's Beach when touring national artists including Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and James Brown would enjoy a Sunday layover through to the ‘80s glory days of Charlie's Westside-owned by Charlie Hiltabildle, who nurtured hometown music-Annapolis has enjoyed a rich musical heritage.

Since that time, we've had an ebb and flow of watering holes. When there were fewer venues, we enjoyed less live music. Now that there are more places hosting live entertainment, music in the greater Annapolis area is flourishing. The city now boasts a dynamic, eclectic and world-class music community, and it's a "best-kept secret" that locals enjoy practically every night.

But Annapolis needn't be a "locals only" outlet for live music lovers. To quote a friend, "Music is medicine," or therapy even. It's a great way to unwind, de-stress and feed that part of the brain or soul that gets neglected from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It's a great excuse to take a "personal day" from work, park the kids with Grandma, and pack a light bag to hit the road with your best buddy. Tell friends and family a respectable fib-that you've taken a renewed interest in archaeological projects, just south of town-really. If you sleep-in the next morning, I won't tell. There are plenty of spots around town where you can catch a great, late breakfast and tall coffee or latte, so come to town and join me.

In the upcoming year, it will be my pleasure to introduce you to some of the amazing folks who make this scene go: the old-school, touring and young blood musicians; the supporting players, including graphic artists, photographers, videographers and writers; instrument builders; bookers; teachers; and of course, a boatload of dedicated, diehard fans.

And, in turn, please tell me: Who are your favorite groups? What do you like best about live music in the greater Annapolis area? Going door to door and sampling? Intimate rooms and conversations? Sharing a late night snack with friends and discovering an up-and-coming groove?

Take a minute to check out some of the names that I mention on YouTube, Pandora, Twitter (#naptownmusic) and Reverbnation. I promise you'll be glad you did. Finally, please share the word and tell your friends. This is your page, your voice, our conversation and generous community. I welcome your participation and comments.

New CDs & Projects to watch for:

Spring 2013: CDs by Michael McHenry & Tribe (Funk/Soul/Rock); Skribe (Rock/Garage/Folk); Shawn Owen Band (a.k.a. the SOBs) - Visit Annapolis - Jeni Parris Brady

In writing this post, I've struggled a bit, trying to reconcile how I could never fairly capture or include all of the talented songwriters in Annapolis. The reality is that I can't. But I can share a local secret with you.

Bear with me as I recall to you, many years ago, a French-Cambodian friend of mine who introduced me to the celebrated Chinatown restaurants in Washington, D.C. We'd hit them in the wee hours, long after the din of diners had passed. Invariably, there'd be a large round banquet table in the corner with a passel of thin old men playing cards - dealing, cackling and smoking their hand-rolled cigarettes. Our host, the restaurant's owner, would welcome us with open arms and endless dishes of oriental delights. We'd leave after many rounds of Tsing-Tao or hot tea, feeling that we had been on an exotic excursion to a far-away land. Our bellies were full; we'd had our fill of warm stories and laughs. Life was good.

I get a similar old-world feeling after relaxing with Monday-night music in Annapolis: generous hospitality, shared stories, and hearty laughs generate a simultaneous feeling of satisfaction and the sense that I have been on a secret and wonderful odyssey. Monday nights in Annapolis are like my sweet memories of Chinatown, but a lot more accessible.

We start with an early visit to the Cahalans' 49 West, a cozy and eclectic coffee shop on West Street. As you peer into the large shop windows, entering through the general store door, you might not realize that this is one of the cooler venues in town. Put on the look of a local, passing up tables of regulars with coffee as they intimately rendezvous. Nod knowingly and smile to the staff serving from behind the pastry-case counter and keep confidently walking - back to where one might expect to come upon rest rooms. This is where you'll find your reward.

The private room is not large or fancy but, upon entering, you can feel the groove of homemade velveteen drapes, odd appointments and a local artist's exhibit of photographs, portraits, or paintings. The evening's hosts will be unwinding cables, positioning musical equipment and chairs, and you will receive your hearty welcome. Be sure to get there early - this room will soon be "standing room only" and the music is exceptional.

Visiting players include such favorites as Mike Heuer, Benjamin Bays, Tobias Russell, Katie Fisher, Jordan Sokel, Joe Harkum, Shawn Owen, The Audissey, Cole Cash, Letitia VanSant, Bob Sima and youngblood locals, Devin McCord & Mikey Powers of Sun Club, Niki Weller, Adam Narimatsu and Ahren Buchheister. Line-ups change every week and you can always find advance word on Facebook.

Originally intending 49 West as a home for local talent, owner Brian Cahalan brokered partnerships with independent songwriters, including Ruben Dobbs, Dave Glaser and Justin Trawick. In turn, due to an increasing schedule, Ruben sublet this series to the young masters, Alexander Peters and Skribe, although he does still occasionally step in to perform, pal around or just listen.

Frequently, the venue is a layover for traveling musicians. It's natural that friendships, gypsy junkets and reciprocating accommodations arise from this magical musical networking. Networking, fellowship, community, support-sometimes it's hard to know who is having more fun, we patrons or the songwriters. Join me; you can be the judge!

1st Monday: Songwriters' Showcase, with Alexander Peters, Skribe and Guests. 8 to 10pm, $8 cover.

3rd Monday: 12 Voices at 49 West, a monthly songwriter series hosted by David Glaser which features monthly artists. 7:30pm show (7pm doors open), $12. Call 410-626-9796 for reservations.

Last Monday: As described on Justin's Facebook page:

"Founded in 2008 by singer/songwriter Justin Trawick, "The 9 Songwriter Series" is a touring live music event based in Washington, DC. The show was created with the idea of nine artists getting together and combining their talents in order to play in nicer clubs and to larger amounts of people. Each installment features nine solo singer/songwriters performing in rotation and often sitting in with each other, providing audiences with a rich, intimate, varied listening experience. Where else can you hear almost 30 songs from nine different artists for only $10? To date, over 60 different artists have participated in "The 9", at events in DC, Arlington, Bethesda, Baltimore, Annapolis, New York City, Richmond, Charlottesville, Charlotte, and Philadelphia. Follow and Like "The 9" at www.twitter.com/wearethe9 and www.facebook.com/wearethe9. Watch the promo video by visiting www.wearethe9.com" (https://www.facebook.com/wearethe9/info).

*As with all live events, please check local listings in advance; schedules are subject to change. Also, check the calendar at 49 West for additional events.

Of Note:

- Visit Annapolis - Jeni Parris Brady

LEWISBURG, WV (WVMR) - Allegheny Mountain Radio
JANUARY 20, 2012 - Greg Hayhurst

Snowshoe, WV, is known mostly for skiing and tons of snow, not for a chill, beach vibe. So how did Snowshoe musician Shawn Owen become known for music with that kind of feel? He went to Annapolis and couldn't seem to leave.

"I just kind of fell in love with the ocean and the place and the town," he says. "I ended up moving all my gear down here and staying."

Owen is on the verge of releasing a new 6 song EP of original. The EP is part self-titled, part untitled as Shawn puts it, and definitely shows the influence that other musicians have had on him.

"It's mostly just a lot of acoustic guitar and a little bit of hand percussion," says Owen. "We size it way down from the life band stuff that we do and just get it to the root of it. It's a six song EP, all original songs. The style kind of varies a little bit. There's an acoustic reggae vibe with a little beach-ish, kind of Jack Johnson-ish feel and some regular singer/songwriter stuff, too."

In fact, on Friday, January 27th, Shawn will be holding the official release party for the CD. In celebration, he will be holding a concert at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, WV.

"It's one of their Pay What You Can Series, where I guess people just come to the door and pay whatever cover they can afford," he says. "What had actually set this up before the CD release had been scheduled, and we just saw it as a great opportunity to release back into West Virginia where I was from. I couldn't think of a much better venue to do a release like that."

"We going to do a really rhythm-oriented show with lots of percussion and hand drums and shakers and tambourines. Just on that line. It's going to be a really cool show. It's going to be different than watching Shawn Owen Band play live."

Of course, Shawn is not the only one to put the EP and release party together. Many friends and family have helped him along the way, including local Snowshoe photographer Kirsten Boehmer, and an old family friend with a passion for cooking.

"Blair Campbell, who owns Pretty Penny Cafe in Hillsboro and the Pretty Penny in Watoga State Park, is an old family friend of mine and she volunteered to come up and cook a lot of finger foods, appetizer, and hors d'oeuvres-type stuff for the pre-show reception," he says. "We're going to open the doors at 7, and then she's going to cater the reception with a lot of kind of island-based food geared around the titles of the songs. One of the songs is "Make Money" and she wants to do a Make Money Mojito drink; just kind of stuff like that."

The release party for Shawn Owen's new EP will begin at 7 p.m. with free food, beer and wine courtesy of Pretty Penny Cafe. The concert will begin at 7:30. CDs and other merchandise will be available after the show, and the new CD will be available after the 27th on Amazon, iTunes, and shawnowenmusic.com. - Allegheny Mountain Radio - Greg Hayhurst (2012-01-20)

JANUARY 26, 2012
The Pocahontas Times-Suzanne Stewart

On January 27, Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg will transform into a reggae hall as Snowshoe native Shawn Owen performs songs from his new album.
Residing now in Annapolis, Maryland, Owen is returning to the West Virginia hills to celebrate the album release with friends and family.
Music has been a part of Owen's life since he was a child in an elementary school play.
"Singing a solo in fourth grade for the Christmas play was my first live performance," he said. "I was in concert and marching band through middle and high school, playing trumpet and percussion. The first rock band I was in was in 10th grade. I sang and played drums for First Period Instrumental. I think the homecoming dance was our first gig."
After high school, Owen formed Moosehead Bob with Pat Cumashot, Andy Hall, Bill Browning, Jamie Warner and Brad Sewell. That band became Stolen Element, with Cumashot, Hall and Browning remaining as members. Once Stolen Element broke up in 2009, Owen became a solo act.
Although he grew up in the mountains of West Virginia, Owen's musical influences come from a warmer climate.
"I've always been drawn to the ocean and the beach vibe," he said. "I went on a sailing trip with my family when I was about 12 and we only had three CDs with us; Bob Marley "Legend," The Best of the Doors and a Jimmy Buffett album. I pretty much listened to Bob the entire week, and the sound and the vibe just hit right at home."
These influences leaked into Owen's work.
"When I started writing music, the reggae/ska beats and rhythms just seemed to come to the forefront," he said. "Sublime was a huge influence for me also, so I think it was just a product of the music I listened to, and where I wanted to be in life."
Owen said his new album has an acoustic reggae vibe and consists of six songs: Wanting for Earning, Sure, Make Money, Taylor, Double Vision and Walk of Shame.
"I had my percussionist Ben Bays on it, a guest vocalist named Viki Nova and then my mom, Sue Owen, came and played tambourine on it, too," he said.
After the release, Owen plans to hit the road to promote the album.
"I play pretty regular in Maryland and West Virginia, and I'm starting to branch out into Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey," he said. "[I'm] trying to get on a regional touring schedule by the summer."
The release party,"Pay What You Can Show," will be Friday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. The event will be catered by the Pretty Penny, of Hillsboro.
"Blair Campbell is catering the reception before the show," Owen said. "We will have free beer, wine and finger foods for guests from 7 p.m. until the show starts around 7:30. She is basing the menu around reggae/island themed food and the tracks of the CD. She's doing Make Money Mojitos and Walk of Shame Chocolate Brownies."
Photographs for the album were taken by Snowshoe resident Kirsten Boehmer.
Visit www.pocahontastimes.com to hear the clip, "Walk of Shame." - The Pocahontas Times-Suzanne Stewart

FEBRUARY 20, 2012
Leicester Bangs - Rob F.

Before music consumed Shawn Owen’s life, he was a professional snowboarder, but injuries led him away from the mountains of Colorado to the sandy beaches of the Maryland shoreline. With over a decade of music-making experience, originally with punky-reggae outfit Stolen Element, and latterly under his own name, Owen’s brand of Bob Marley influenced pop with a singer-songwriter flair, is making him a lot of friends and fans at various venues along the east coast.

His new six-track release (eight tracks is you include a couple of ‘clean’ versions tagged on the end) provides a firm introduction to his songs and his style. He gets the ball rolling with “Wanting for Earning”; its assured writing is delivered with a solid, distinctive voice. He’s a pretty good guitarist, too. “Sure” with its combination of stuttering, heavily strummed chords and percussion, takes a couple of spins to sink in, but is well worth the effort, and best of the bunch, “Double Vision”, which won’t be getting used in any booze commercial soon, but raises a wry smile, all the same. - Leicester Bangs - Rob F.