The 25-year-old doesn’t shy away from personal topics, as the title track ‘Stay Awake With Me’, which is about his grandfather’s passing, and ‘Made to Love You’ – about domestic abuse – show.
The listener will immediately be drawn in by the eager and energetic orchestral first track, ‘What is a Man’, which touches on themes of male sensitivity and vulnerability. But Owen comes into his strengths with the catchy ‘Icarus’ and shows his range in the harder, harsher, foot-stomping ‘Hideaway’.
Although the themes are deep and personal, the album betrays a lack of commitment to a particular tone or genre. A deep South flavoured, hand-clapping, harmonica-fuelled blues current runs through a few of the tracks, while others rely on brass, a violin, crooning backup singers, and hint at a less substantial and more poppy tone. Finally, other tracks are stripped back, with a melancholic piano the main accompaniment to Owen’s well-honed voice.
This youthful artist is undoubtedly one to watch despite the album’s slightly confused delivery, so gather your best mates ‘round and pour a few strong glasses of something-or-other. This one’s for sharing.
7/10
