Born and raised in Toronto, country artist Owen Barney has been strumming the guitar since he was just seven years old, influenced by country heavy-hitters Eric Church, Dean Brody, and Jason Aldean. He has played shows around Toronto from the age of 14 and has spent the last few years honing his skills as a performer.
He heads to Boots and Hearts this year at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, Oro Station from August 8-11. He performs on Sunday.
You’re coming to Boots & Hearts again this year. That must be exciting. Sunday is a great day too. Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, Tim Hicks. Oh hell yeah…
I am very excited to be a part of Boots and Hearts this year. I have always been a fan of Jason Aldean, so I am very much looking forward to seeing his performance.
Being on stage isn’t new for you, but I bet this will be a crazy experience? What are your thoughts on performing at Boots and Hearts this year?
I am really looking forward to playing at Boots and Hearts this year. It is such a fun festival to go to, but actually being a part of it and getting the chance to go on stage is truly a dream come true to me.
How did country music come to you?
I’ve grown up listening to country my whole life. I think my mom being from Alberta may have had something to do with it, but every time I would be in the car, that’s what was on, and I just gravitated towards it immediately.
Having an EP or even just to have a song out had always been a dream of mine. Being able to play my songs on stage is a feeling that cannot be beat. It is especially amazing when you see people in the audience who know them.
The guitar is a big part of who you are and the sound you make. Tell me about your relationship with the guitar and how it shaped you through the years?
I first picked up the guitar when I was about 7 years old. My Dad had an old guitar in the basement that I had found and got him to show me a few chords. Shortly after, I got a teacher.
My Dad was never really much of a guitar player, but my Grandpa was someone I was able to play with and learn from. Growing up, when going to visit my grandparents, the first thing I would do when getting to their house was run upstairs to his room and start playing guitar and wait for him to eventually come up and join me.
Earlier this year your EP came out. That must be exciting to be able to play. What’s it like having an EP out?
Having an EP, or even just a song out, had always been a dream of mine. Being able to play my songs on stage is a feeling that cannot be beaten. It is especially amazing when you see people in the audience who know them. Although I know not everyone there is going to know the words, each show always has a few who do, and that wouldn’t have been possible without this EP.
Let’s go through the three songs. Tell me how they came about and what they mean to you:
Home – 'Home' is a song that I really enjoyed working on. After writing the song, I loved it right away. I found the vibe of the song to be unique, and it was so fun to sing; still, it is one of my favorite songs to perform.
Killing Time – 'Killing Time' was one of the first songs I had ever written. It was definitely the first song I had ever co-written. After writing this song, I fell in love with it instantly. When it came time to choose the songs for this EP, I knew this song had to be on it.
Letting Go – I wrote 'Letting Go' after a relationship I was in had ended. After a while of not really doing too well, I wrote this song, and it helped me move on.
Why was Home chosen as the title track for the EP?
To me, 'Home' is a song that really pushes the boundaries of what country music is and what it can be. I feel like, because of its unique sound, it really can catch the attention of listeners, and that’s why I thought it was the perfect song to be the single and to represent this EP.
Is there new music ahead for you later this year?
Yes, I am going to be releasing another short EP in early July!
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