Greg Owens could tell you all about the artists who influenced him and his music, but that’s not what counts the most. In between influences from classic rock, ‘90s alternative and outlaw country, Owens finds the inspiration for his music in everyday people, like himself. On his first proper album, Life, Love and Southern Sadness, Greg Owens and his band, the Whiskey Weather, perform songs for the people the world has left behind.

            Growing up, Owens fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll via a cassette copy of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” leading him to consume as many sounds of the decade as possible. As a teenager, Owens was introduced to outlaw country by his older bandmates, who would frequently incorporate covers of Merle Haggard and Nirvana in the same set. The deal was sealed for the Tennessee songwriter when he discovered Ryan Adams and Neil Young, which became the last key ingredient in his own musical output. Combined with a deep love for the people he meets in dive bars and small towns, Greg Owens continues the American tradition of telling real stories of real people.

            The songs on Life, Love and Southern Sickness are songs for people, not for algorithms or the radio. Despite accolades from outlets like American Songwriter, Owens cares more about connecting with listeners. He will do just that when he performs the album around Tennessee and surrounding states this coming spring, sharing the music with the people who inspired it. Press play on Life, Love and Southern Sadness and hear the stories that most of the world has forgotten.