Cindy Ross
Eras tour opener Christian Owens, who goes by the stage name Owen, said he was in the recording studio “in the womb.”
Indeed, his mother was a Sony-signed artist and member of the 1990s group Lyric. Given his mother’s background, music has always been around him.
Owen has spoken variety Shot via Zoom in Taylor Swift’s hotel room after he arrived in Chicago as the second stop on his Eras tour. His next day starts at 7am and ends with a performance at Soldier Field.
The singer called the first night of the tour “moving” and looks forward to making the show even better for the rest of the show.
Owen is a true multi-hyphenate, whose accomplishments extend far beyond singing and Erath tours. He actually started dancing. She stepped into the industry door with Diddy’s “Hello Good Morning” performance on American Idol in 2010, danced with Normani on her song “Motivation” (2019), and performed “Lover” (2019). 2019), Owen now attributes much of his career to a lifelong love of music that stemmed from growing up in a music studio.
Owen’s big break came in 2011 when he joined Rihanna’s “Loud” tour as a teenager. “It was one of the big opportunities…I went on tour and after that I really couldn’t stop.”
Since her first tour with Rihanna, stars like Beyoncé (including the visual album movie ‘Lemonade’ and the iconic 2018 Coachella ‘Homecoming’ performance), Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X and Alicia Keys have danced I am also in charge of choreography. , Demi Lovato, Megan Thee Stallion and of course Swift.
Owen and Swift’s relationship began as dancers on their 1989 tour.
“I actually auditioned for Taylor in 2015. I think I was about 500,” he says. “I came from a completely different background with a hip-hop leaning… I just came out front and they cut people down round after round and I was like number 12. I thought, “Okay, that’s cool.” Then Taylor came in and handpicked us…she was so nice to all the dancers and treated us really well. We all bonded on that tour. “
Owen rejoined Swift’s “Reputation” tour in 2018, where she was particularly noted for her dance as the lead in the song “King of My Heart.”
In 2019, Swift’s team offered Swift to appear in the “Lover” music video (“I look so different now, like my hair is so long,” he jokes). The music video now plays before Swift’s Eras tour.
“I went to a concert in Jersey one night and I could walk around and see the show, and it was cool. [“Lover”] It was on the screen and I was walking past and no one knew,” says Owen. “It’s really nice to be one of the people who can actually see and enjoy it.”
As Owen began his singing career, Swift also helped Owen sign his first major record deal with Republic Records in 2021. “She’s always been a motivator and a supporter,” says Owen. The singer is currently signed to AE Records, a division of Atlantis Entertainment.
In November 2022, Owen kicks off the Elas Tour, which includes Paramore, Muna, Gracie Abrams, Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red, Haim, Beaverdoobee, Gale, and newest members. announced as part of her exclusive list of battles. Sabrina Carpenter.
Born and raised in New York City, Owen’s dance career began when he moved to Atlanta around the age of 13. Acting primarily in hip-hop, he credits Monsters for his hip-hop conventions and Janet, who credits him with taking classes from industry-leading choreographers like Jackson. and Britney Spears (and he will return to the convention as a music performer in 2022). At age 17, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue dance.
After establishing himself as a powerhouse in the music industry’s dance scene, he released his single “Luv” in February 2023 with his mentor Nuno Bettencourt, CEO of Atlantis Entertainment, of rock band Extreme. and co-founder). Ever since he toured with Rihanna, he’s had it in his back pocket. “I loved dancing and I always sang well. My mom always wanted me to sing, but I wouldn’t. Basically I had to do it myself,” he said. says.
His music is inspired by Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Aerosmith and Kiss, and his live performances are undoubtedly enhanced by his dancing prowess.
He currently has four singles out: “Baby Girl” (and its remix), “Rest of My Life,” “Show Me” and “Luv.” The Moon” will be released. Renowned songwriter and producer Rob Grimaldi collaborated on the songwriting. “I’ve been recording a lot of new stuff, basically trying to make the most of the new era,” says Owen. The singer said the new single “felt perfect to launch a new side of me.” It’s still rock, it’s electric guitar, it’s still a little grunge, but it also has a more pop side. “
“I want to be in music and I have to, but I think dance definitely helped my musical side of hearing certain things and hearing certain beats. ,” says Owen. “Obviously, dancing is very rhythmic. And I think singing might be as well… something in the music sounds different, so my rhythm might be different on some notes. ”
Formally introducing her musical personality with her debut European festival tour this summer, the singer stepped onto the main stage at Lollapalooza in Paris. In late 2022, she will open two of Lil Nas X’s ‘Long Live Montero’ shows (a tour he also choreographed for her number), and she will be the opening for 2023’s Eras.・It was scheduled as the opening artist of the tour.
Despite his burgeoning music career, Owen still struggles with being taken seriously as a singer with a dance background. “Transitions are hard,” he says. “Especially since I became a dancer, and now I’m doing music. I say, ‘Oh, I’m actually an artist,’ and they say, ‘Oh, you’re a dancer.’ is. It’s just a matter of balancing and being a true artist and getting people to see it, which is a challenge in itself. But it’s definitely something you have to keep pushing, keep going, keep believing in yourself…it makes a good story, it makes a good backbone, it builds that callus. “
The biggest lesson he’s learned from working with so many stars, he says, is that “preparation meets opportunity”, which he applies to his Eras Tour duties.
But Owen isn’t going to give up his dance career as his music career takes off. “It’s part of me and part of my arsenal as a performer,” he says.
Looking a few years ahead, Owen said he wanted to go head-on with his music and let it affect listeners. “I pray that I am mentally happy and strong. And I hope to inspire and share great music, make people feel good, make people feel emotions from my music, and all my fans I hope I was able to make that leap with you,” he says. “We’re really just making history.”
