MATT OWENS RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘BEER FOR THE HORSES’ – OUT NOW
The Title Track From His Forthcoming Third Solo Album, Due For Release October 21, 2022
LONDON, U.K. — (May 27th, 2022) — British singer-songwriter and musician Matt Owens has shared a brand new song, ‘Beer For The Horses’, the first single from his forthcoming album of the same name, out October 21st, 2022 and available to pre-order/pre-save now.
Listen to ‘Beer For The Horses’ here.
The follow up to his celebrated 2019 solo debut Whiskey and Orchids, and 2020’s acclaimed Scorched Earth – recorded under strict Covid restrictions, meaning the majority of the parts had to be multi-tracked separately – new album Beer For The Horses finds Owens back in the live room surrounded by The Delusional Vanity Project, a seven-strong band of noteworthy musicians he’s crossed paths with throughout his twenty-year career.
From album co-producer Robert Vincent to long-time friends and fellow Little Mammoths members Olly Cox and Jimmy Besley, the full band sound was rounded out by Geoff Widdowson (Danny and the Champs, Treetop Flyers), Hannah Johns (The Leylines), Samuel Taylor, and James Jack, with Norwegian singer Camilla Sky brought in later to add a layer of vocals.
Matt and the band cut the album’s ten songs live to tape at Devon’s Middle Farm Studios over the course of a weekend in January, and ‘Beer For The Horses’ is the perfect introduction to the record’s visceral, rock-tinged dynamic. Of the song, Owens said:
“This was written for a photograph. It hangs in a bar or either Kilkee or Kinsale, and I need to find out which. It’s the home guard posing in a bar and a shire horse has poked his head through the window and stolen a Guinness at the crucial moment. Got to still have fun, cos these are the times…”
Known for his work as a founder member of indie-folk band Noah and The Whale, who he toured the world with for almost ten years, Matt’s solo music has drawn attention to his own songwriting, allowing him to explore an edgier side, telling stories laced with dark humour and wit that will appeal both to fans who have followed his career to date, and those looking for something more gritty, and less polished. Never afraid to put in the time and miles, he’s also spent recent years developing his skills as a producer and co-writer – notable credits include Elles Bailey’s radio hit ‘Sunshine City’ – while appearing (both as a collaborator and support artist) with the likes of Thea Gilmore, and performing his solo music at festivals across the UK.
Following the successful founding of the 7 Hills Music Festival last year, this July the artist turns his hand to curating the inaugural Americana Fest at Bath’s American Museum & Gardens, featuring music from The Magic Numbers, Lady Nade, Kezia Gill and more, and a star-studded comedy lineup headlined by Reginald D Hunter. Taking place from July 1st-3rd 2022, with Matt Owens and The Delusional Vanity Project making a special appearance, limited tickets are available now.
Beer For The Horses will be available on October 21st, 2022, with the first single and title track available to stream/download worldwide now.
ABOUT MATT OWENS:
Those already in the know will be aware that for the last half-decade Matt Owens has been quietly establishing himself as a songwriter’s songwriter and a master storyteller.
He’s most at home drawing on his own rap sheet of scrapes culled from fifteen years of touring, set to his uniquely gritty brand of tightly crafted song-noir. His vignettes are populated by flawed & desperate characters shot through with gallows humour, chronicling the more private moments of the human condition.
His songs aren’t for everyone. He overshares, leaving in the grubby bits most others choose to leave out. There are dirty jokes nestling next to guilty emotions and heartache re-visited in stark, brutal honesty, but it’s this frank verse and “take it or leave it” approach which has long been Owens’ calling card.
The British-born singer-songwriter and musician first came to prominence as a founder member of indie-folk band Noah and the Whale. Releasing four albums, the band achieved huge success both at home and overseas, selling over one million albums in the UK alone. The band toured the world between 2006 and 2014, playing hundreds of festivals, including Austin City Limits, Fuji Rocks and Lollapalooza, as well as touring with the likes of Arcade Fire, Bahamas, and Laura Marling.
February 2019 saw the release of Matt’s debut solo album, Whiskey and Orchids to widespread critical acclaim including a 5-star review in Maverick Magazine. Nigel Stonier produced the album which featured Tom Waits’ drummer Michael Blair, Thea Gilmore, and Carleigh Aikins from Bahamas. The album received substantial radio play and that summer he played over 25 festivals as far-flung as the West Coast of Ireland and Northern Scotland, including Glastonbury.
2020 saw the release of Matt’s second album Scorched Earth, to a fanfare of acclaim from the music press. BBC radio shows across the country made it their Album of the Week, while Bob Harris included ‘Cargo for the Road’ on his first Best of Under the Apple Tree compilation, and the album went on to feature in numerous Americana Album of the Year lists. 2020 also saw Matt co-write with others, including Elles Bailey’s smash hit ‘Sunshine City’ which was Planet Rock’s Number 1 song for eight weeks.
This Autumn Matt returns with his eagerly anticipated third album, Beer For The Horses, cut live with an all-star seven-piece live band, The Delusional Vanity Project, at Middle Farm Studios.
Produced by Owens with Robert Vincent, who also appears on the album, the band features Scandinavian chanteuse Camilla Sky and members of The Leylines, Clemencie, Danny and the Champs, Treetop Flyers and Little Mammoths. Collaborating to create his most accessible and rocking set of new songs to date, Matt and The D.V.P. look forward to taking them on the road later in 2022.
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