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Songwriting, Self-Discovery, and Turning Loss into Light with Garrett Owen
Manage episode 513766028 series 3680586
Garrett Owen makes music that is thoughtful, honest, and unmistakably his own. His songs blend folk, jazz, and rock influences with intricate fingerstyle guitar, abstract yet deeply personal lyrics, and a willingness to break the usual rules of key, time, and harmony.
In this episode, we dive into his album Memoriam, exploring the stories behind songs like “Rosemary and Thieves,” his slow, deliberate songwriting process, and the techniques that make his music stand out. Garrett also shares how he balances live and studio performances, protects creative focus in a noisy world, and approaches stage nerves and performance with honesty.
We also talk about finding meaning in music on a small scale, giving songwriters permission to experiment, and how patience and persistence turn ideas into songs that truly connect.
Listen to Garrett's music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7y2CyDlhMd1el8HDgyYuTD?si=Tt-EcYVMTZCEazm6WSJtsQ
Garrett's website: https://garrett-owen.com/
Chapters
1. Songwriting, Self-Discovery, and Turning Loss into Light with Garrett Owen (00:00:00)
2. Garrett’s Global Upbringing (00:00:15)
3. Openness, Taste, and Eclectic Influences (00:03:45)
4. What His Music Really Is (00:07:43)
5. Discovering Guitar and Early Obsessions (00:09:04)
6. Fingerstyle Foundations and Technique (00:12:40)
7. Practice Habits and High School Years (00:18:29)
8. Memoriam: Grief, Memory, Connection (00:19:32)
9. Writing From Self, Characters, and Abstraction (00:22:30)
10. Process: Letting Songs Emerge Over Time (00:27:01)
11. Melody Inside Chords (00:30:01)
12. Permission to Break Rules (00:33:16)
13. Theory: Use, Limits, and Color (00:36:35)
14. Rosemary and Thieves (00:40:22)
15. Recording Surprises and Live vs Studio (00:45:45)
16. Tech, Attention, and Making Space to Write (00:49:15)
17. Stage Nerves, Reps, and Stagecraft (01:07:04)
18. What He Hopes Listeners Will Carry (01:14:59)
19. What’s Next: Stripped-Down Sessions & Closing (01:22:27)
11 episodes
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