SOUL SEARCHING

ALIVE goes behind the scenes with STL soul singer Brian Owens.
Story: Ettie Berneking
Photos: Christopher Gibbons

St. Louis' Brian Owens is quickly making waves as an up-and-coming American soul singer. He started out singing country covers for the troops as a lead vocalist with the US Air National Guard band, Sidewinder, but his newest album, "Moods and Messages," has helped him find his own voice—with much industry acclaim. When Owens recently returned to his hometown to record a bonus track with Angie Johnson (a former contestant on "The Voice" and fellow Sidewinder band member), ALIVE jumped at the chance for a backstage pass (at our neighboring Shock City Studios) to talk about life, music and the journey Owens has begun as a singer-songwriter.

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GET "I Just Want to Feel Alright" on ITunes

In his first nationally distributed single, “I Just Want to Feel Alright,” Owens evokes some of the most universal experiences of pain and desperation, even tapping into the mood of a country recovering from war and economic recession. It is a cathartic, yet hopeful anthem for our times.

GET IT ON iTUNES

Brian Owens and the Military band Sidewinder performing Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" at the White House - Rough

Viral sensation Sidewinder, a band consisting of members of the 571st Air Force Band, perform a cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" on the south lawn of the White House. (April 11, 2012)

Brian Owens & Sidewinder To Sing At White House

Posted on: 8:46 am, April 6, 2012, by Staff Writer

One moment Brian Owens was in the middle of Afghanistan performing for troops, the next he and the Missouri Air National Guard band Sidewinder was singing on national TV, including before Game 7 of the World Series.

It’s been a whirlwind year for Brian Owens, the male vocalist of Sidewinder, after a video of the band went viral.

The requests soon began pouring in. Now Owens has his own single out and next week he and his bandmates are  going to the White House to perform for First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden.