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We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, Owen Rivera; greetings and salutations, Owen! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the freshly-minted holiday season of 2023 treating you?
Greetings and salutations right back at you! Also, thank you for that far too kind introduction! As for the holiday season, it is off to a fantastic start. I received my first holiday gift very early this year. I was hanging out with my pup noodling on my guitar and listening to the radio on the Sirius XM Hallmark Christmas Channel when all of a sudden I heard my cover of Feliz Navidad coming out of the speakers! What a crazy moment to hear yourself on the radio when you’re not expecting it!
Major congratulations on the new and timely release of your beautiful rendition of Feliz Navidad! Staring at the tip-top, what inspired you to tackle this holiday classic?
Thank You! This song has always been very special to me and I have always wanted to cover it. Listening to Feliz Navidad has become a tradition to kick off the holiday season with my Puerto Rican family. I have many fond memories through the years of this song playing while celebrating, singing, dancing, and cooking during the holidays with family and friends.
What’s the secret to delivering a successful cover version of an evergreen tune such as Feliz Navidad?
For anything to be successful, you must make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and channeling the right influences. My family and our holiday memories surrounding this classic tune are what motivated me the most on this project. As for influences, of course Jose Felciano has influenced me the most while working on this tune. I love watching all of Jose Feliciano’s live “Feliz Navidad” performances, and there is a specific moment from one of his shows that spoke to me. He said, “And when I wrote it I wrote it to bring both cultures together…the American culture and the Latin culture”. Being from both cultures myself, I strive to do the same with my music and I am grateful for artists like Jose Feliciano who inspire me to do so.
Who was your producer on Feliz Navidad and what did the collaboration between artist and producer look like in the studio?
Michael Llyod is the producer of this release. He is such an incredible producer and has a long history of working with some of the biggest names in music history. I am very blessed to work with him and more importantly, learn from him. One of my favorite things about working with Michael is that he respects and encourages my input and feedback on the production of the songs. It becomes a collaboration of creativity and we work really well together and have a lot of fun. One of the challenges for us was finding the right sound for the solo. I wanted to go with a guitar solo but after giving it a lot of thought we went with a sax solo and the rest is history. I love the saxophone and feel it brings a nice touch to the song. It was important for me to make sure I honored this original classic while still adding a few personal touches of my own.
Did you have as much fun making the music video for Feliz Navidad as we did in watching it?
Absolutely! It is always so much fun to bring your music to life visually. We wanted to keep the video fun, festive and light-hearted. I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Word ‘round industry campfire has it that you’re poised to release some compelling original music via Curb Records in 2024 – Congrats! Can you give fans a hint or three as to what they can expect from your upcoming new music?
The rumors are true! My first original music releases are coming in 2024! I am very excited to share my sound and music with everyone. As for hints hmmmm…I would say get ready for me to throw it back to an old school vibe with a modern touch…some rock, pop…lots of emotion and passion…with some Latin surprises and covers coming your way.
What makes Curb Records the perfect home for you and your music?
Curb Records has such an incredible and rich history of Music and Artists.I am blessed and so thankful to now be a part of this family. I have found a lot of my music inspiration from Curb Artists so there is a natural fit there. Also, my journey of how I became part of the Curb Records family is very cool and organic. It feels like it was meant to be…which is a longer story I would love to share with you when you have me back for another interview…
Who inspires you musically?
So many artists and music styles have left impressions on me and inspired me. While I was growing up I listened to Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, to name a few. I have strong connections to old-school Stax Records Artists. That Memphis sound really has an influence on me. Ritchie Valens and his story and sound too. What I’ve been finding a lot of my playlist lately has been Steely Dan, Chicago, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, CSN (Crosby Stills and Nash), and Supertramp. I’m loving these old school sounds, harmonies and lyrics. Also, being Puerto Rican I developed a love at an early age for Latin Music. Artists like Marc Anthony and Celia Cruz are two of my favorites and were always playing around the house while I was growing up.
On the heels of the release of Feliz Navidad, can fans look forward to catching you on the touring/performing circuit?
Soon! After my original song releases that will be the next step. I absolutely LOVE performing live and can’t wait to personally bring my music to the people.
You began your musical life as a childhood prodigy, playing with some of the finest musical artists in the world. What have you learned from working with such artists as Graham Nash and Mavis Staples?
I did not work directly with them I actually opened shows featuring these artists which led to meeting and talking music with Graham Nash, and also visiting Mavis Staples’s personal studio to watch her record one of her albums and discuss songwriting and what inspires her. I have been blessed though to work directly with many award winning professional artists. Two of my favorite artists to work with are Steve Ferrone and Gregg Bissonette two of the best drummers of all time. What an experience writing and tracking music in studio with them. I have met with and worked with so many incredible Artists and the most important things I have learned from all these experiences is to be yourself, be kind, be humble, tell your story, and when the show starts to bring it.
You came of age in California in a family of Puerto Rican heritage. How have those roots informed you as an artist and as a person?
My Puerto Rican heritage is such an important part of who I am. Growing up the food, music, dancing and culture of Puerto Rico was always present in our home. My family from Puerto Rico was always present too. Playing dominoes, cooking arroz con pollo with maduros and empanadillas, playing Spanish guitar while singing and dancing together with family are all wonderful memories I keep close to my heart. This year I actually was able to finally visit my family in Puerto Rico and it was an incredible experience. Being on the island and listening to the live music, tasting the food, salsa dancing in the streets, walking down the streets at night listening to the coquis…were all special experiences for me. These are things I find inspiration in for my music. Things that make me a better overall and more complete person…Family, Language and Culture.
You’re also a respected actor and voice-over artist. Is acting something that you always hope to do alongside your music?
I started acting because of my music. Music is what has always driven me and always will. Acting kind of came along organically. I was actually playing a show in Beverly Hills when I was 5 years old for thousands of people and there were Hollywood agents and managers in the crowd. After I finished performing lots of agents and managers approached me backstage about representing me. I ended up signing with a top Acting Agency and later a top VoiceOver Agency. Since then, I have worked on many projects including starring on an Emmy Nominated kids show, starring on a Nickelodeon hit cartoon and even booking a lead on Broadway in New York. I am an artist at heart and love being creative so I enjoy the acting aspect of my career as well…but music has always been and will always be my true love and passion.
At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving your incredible rendition of Feliz Navidad many-a-spin on their holiday turn-tables?
I just hope it gives listeners some holiday cheer and hopefully sparks some happy holiday memories of times with friends and family…just like it does for me. Feliz Navidad! Wishing all of you nothing but the BEST this holiday season!
LISTEN HERE / WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE
