Owen Campbell Interview

Owen Campbell Interview

Having recently announced a national album launch tour, singer-songwriter and slide guitar virtuoso Owen Campbell's career continues to flourish, with the news that his 2012 album, 'Sunshine Road" reached No. 1 on the iTunes Blues Album Charts in Greece, and No. 4 in Australia, where it has held Top 10 positions over the past 12 months.

Now with a new album scheduled for release on June 7th, Owen has added four more tour dates, taking his full band to Lizotte's, Central Coast on May 29th and tapping solo shows at the end with three dates in Tasmania from June 27th to 29th inclusive.

Folk/country songstress on the rise, Annabelle Kay will support his east coast shows.

Produced by the eminent Mark Opitz, Owen's forthcoming LP, is titled 'The Pilgrim", with the first single, titled 'Wreckin' Ball" was released on iTunes last week, and within days, reached No. 2 on the Australian blues chart.

His television stint as a finalist on the 2012 season of 'Australia's Got Talent" earned him a massive following in Australia and internationally, but prior to this, the Sydney-based singer/songwriter had been garnering loyal fans by extensive touring throughout his career, including international festivals, and was described in Ireland's Argus News as 'one of the world's most talented slide guitar players".

After reaching No. 1 on the iTunes charts last year, Owen's debut album titled 'Sunshine Road" has spent over 12 months in the Australian iTunes Blues Charts, twice reaching the No. 1 position and achieving Top 10 status in the ARIA charts as well as charting in the Top 5 in five different countries, also reaching No. 1 in New Zealand, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The album continues to achieve Top 10 status in numerous countries around the world.

Tickets to Owen Campbell's 'The Pilgrim Tour" are now on sale. For ticketing information and tour updates, go to www.owencampbell.com.au


Tour Dates

Friday May 24th: Romano's Hotel, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Saturday, May 25th: The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick, VIC
Wednesday, May 29 th: Lizotte's, Kincumber (Central Coast), NSW
Thursday, May 30th: The Vanguard, Newtown, NSW
Friday, May 31st: The Abbey, Canberra, ACT
Saturday, June 1st: Heritage, Wollongong, NSW
Thursday, June 6th: Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, June 7th: The Loft, Gold Coast, QLD
Saturday, June 8th: The Royal, Goodna, QLD
Sunday, June 9th: Woombye Pub, Woombye, QLD

Thursday, June 13th: Norwood Live, Adelaide, SA
Friday, June 14th: Coopers Ale House, Wallaroo, SA
Saturday, June 15th: Charles Hotel, North Perth, WA
Sunday, June 16th: Prince of Wales Hotel, Bunbury, WA
Saturday, June 22nd: Railway Club, Darwin, NT
Thursday, June 27th: Republic Bar (solo show), Hobart, TAS
Friday, June 28th: The Royal Oaks (solo show), Launceston, TAS
Saturday, June 29th: Red Hot Music (solo show), Devonport, TAS

Interview with Owen Campbell

Question: How did it feel to hear your song played all over the airwaves?

Owen Campbell: To be honest I'm so critical I don't really enjoy listening to myself all that much. I'm very grateful other people enjoy my tunes though.


Question: Tell us about your upcoming album, The Pilgrim:

Owen Campbell: Firstly, it turned out to be such a diverse album, I was going to chop it into two parts and the name I had in mind just wasn't working. But Mark Opitz (producer) came up with this title and it just made everything fit. He overheard a quote, the outgoing pope in his final speech said "And now, I'm just another pilgrim on my journey through life..." That really resonated with me, I'm not religious in the slightest but that statement is something everyone can relate to. This is how this album feels in a way, a pilgrimage of sorts.


Question: How does it feel to have had such great success, that is continuing, with Sunshine Road?

Owen Campbell: Its quite surreal, and if anything it's made me more shy then I've ever been, people approach me on the street and I feel like an animal in the headlights! A grateful but petrified animal! If I had the confidence off stage that I do on stage, perhaps I'd be a real rock n roller! I guess I'm just a nerd with a guitar....

Question: What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming tour?

Owen Campbell: I love playing live, it's the place where it all makes sense, this is the spiritual part of what is another wise soulless industry.


Question: What did you learn from Australia's Got Talent?

Owen Campbell: I learned that just because you think something is funny, doesn't mean it's funny!


Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Owen Campbell: I do write my own songs. My inspiration? A million and one things, experiences, war, wars in my head, redemption, liberation, loss, love... it's all quite dramatic!


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Owen Campbell: Mozart is a big one and Van Morrison these two men are the sharpest minds to ever have existed in the music world I think, Ray Charles, Dr John, Sea Sick Steve.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?
Owen Campbell: Release the new album, tour, tour, tour!!


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Owen Campbell: No, never, I just keep walking.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Owen Campbell: They are very different realms, performing live is all about the audience, in the studio is more self-indulgent. I prefer live, because it's just raw and fast flowing, if you, mess up you move on, whereas in the studio you're doing the same thing take after take, which can be draining.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Owen Campbell: There was nothing else for me, and it was what I'd always wanted to do, so I just did it, there was no other option. More importantly, I gave myself no other option.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Owen Campbell: There is a new challenge every day! But to name a few; Playing on the street when the world is walking past me. My attitude. My inability to accept I can't do it alone... many things. Most challenges people encounter are of their own making, lot of musicians have this arrogant way of wanting everything in return for doing nothing. Guitar hero was made by that mob.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Owen Campbell: That all depends on what's happened the night before!


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Owen Campbell: Seeing and experiencing the world, seeing the way music resonates with people. It's incredible when you're in a country and you can't speak the language, yet when you sing people just understand you! They don't understand a word, but look at you with smiling eyes that say-I get it! THAT, is unreal.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Owen Campbell: Good question! I don't know! Any suggestions?


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Owen Campbell: www.owencampbell.com.au


Interview by Brooke Hunter