We were lucky to catch up with Rich Owensby recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rich, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’d always made demos and messed around with recording my songs, but I got serious and took music production courses while in lockdown during the pandemic. I’m big on doing everything I can myself because I have a vision for how I want my music to sound that’s just easier to get to when I’m the one making all the decisions. Since then, I’ve released an EP and two singles, and I’m working on new music at the moment as well.
As far as challenges, the main thing is just staying dedicated to it. I’ve got a day job that I have to work around, but I still try to find the time to work on my recordings at home and schedule gigs around my work schedule. Still, it’s something I’ll always do, even if I end up just releasing music instead of performing it as well. I honestly never feel better than after a great gig or even a really good practice, because there’s just something so restorative about digging in and creating, even if it’s just to put your own take on a cover song.
Rich, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve been writing music since I was 15 and picked up a guitar from a pawn shop because my brother wanted to add that to tracks he was writing. So, I’ve got about 25 years of writing, performing, and just working with music under my belt, and I can’t imagine my life without it.
I’m in the Midlands region of South Carolina, which basically means I perform around Columbia (the state capital) and the surrounding area. I play in bars, restaurants, breweries and for private gigs, and I’m always looking for new opportunities. I try to offer something for everyone with covers from Johnny Cash and The Beatles all the way up to Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan, and even Taylor Swift. After all, you never know who’s in the crowd!
My originals are heavily influenced by the power pop of the 90’s and the blues rock of the early 00’s, so if you like bands such as Weezer, Foo Fighters, the Black Keys, the White Stripes, and others along those lines, you’ll probably dig what I do. I write, record, mix, and master all the music I release, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. My current favorite track of mine is a song called “Trees,” which is reminiscent of Oasis and is probably the most concrete example of how much I’ve learned as a songwriter, audio engineer, and producer.
I’m currently working on new music for a follow up this fall, and I’m excited to share new tracks with the world!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Really, it’s just that: creating. Even when I’m at my most frustrated with a mix, or there’s a cover I’m trying to learn that is just giving me endless trouble, I love that process. Like I mentioned before, it’s restorative, and it’s really when I feel the most like myself. I think that’s a big thing that’s lost in the conversation about AI music and “shortcuts”: if you’re not putting anything more of yourself into your art than writing a couple prompts, you’re missing the whole point. There’s a rush you get when people connect with a song you wrote that was incredibly personal, or in the course of one afternoon inspiration can hit and I can have a new song by the evening if I put my mind to it. It’s one of the things that really makes life worth living.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Just simply pay attention. Acknowledge when you hear a cool new song by liking the band, sharing their music, etc. Give the person pouring their heart out through their music in the corner of the bar a tip, even if it’s just a couple dollars.
That’s really one of the ways to make sure music continues: we need to show it’s something we value, and let the artists/performers know that. We’d all be doing this regardless, but having the wind at your back with the support of a crowd only helps you feel like what you’re doing actually makes a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.richowensbymusic.com
- Instagram: @richowensbymusic
- Facebook: @1AndOnlyRichOwensby
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/richowensbymusic
- Other: Threads: @richowensbymusic
Image Credits
Rich Owensby