January 1, 2020 - As we greet a brand new decade, we’re alive with self-reflection and future predictions. While it’s human nature to pull lessons from the past as we encounter new experiences, rap artist Dylan Owen sends a meaningful reminder that living in the present moment is the best way to embrace our constant state of evolution. “We Were Only Kids Then”, set to release January 17th, greets listeners with powerful storytelling, digging deep into the notion that life itself is the destination and that our journey represents the finish line we continually strive for. The song’s mood is beautifully arranged using nostalgic flutes to create that sense of longing for the past. This paired with a vintage Rhodes and a driving Hip Hop drum groove builds a sense of momentum, meant to mimic the way human life is in a constant state of motion.
“See what I realize, there are no arrival points / Life is just a destination we’ve been speeding past, so if you ever steal the moment then don’t keep it trapped”
Similar to the introspective styles of Atmosphere and Mac Miller, Dylan speaks to a curious listener by pulling out truths that everyone can relate to. Relatability is one of the most compelling things about Dylan’s music; he consistently offers something that people can take and apply to themselves. “We Were Only Kids Then” stays true to his inquisitive spirit with an understanding that things can change in an instant - the impact of life’s fragility does not go unnoticed.
“I think you might have lost a parent since I’ve seen you last / But I don’t even ask, we just say / We were only kids then…”
Our constant state of growing can either remove layers and unseeable walls or it can do the opposite, using past hurt as a reason to guard oneself from emotional connections. In Dylan’s new track, the chorus seems to refer to the past as a simpler time even though we at the core are still very much the same. But because we’ve grown, we’ve lost some sense of imagination and an honest connection to our dreams. Delivering messages that every regular kid can relate to, he paints a portrait of stagnation that can come with small town American living.
“Cul De Sac kids who only know about dead ends / As we get older, we digress into the distance / We used to follow our dreams”
With his own brand of confessional, heart-on-sleeve storytelling, Dylan has built an undeniable fan following who relate to the meaning and life experiences captured in his songs. His honest lyrics have drawn comparisons to Conor Oberst and Elliott Smith. Dylan has shared stages with Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Watsky, Yelawolf, and Skizzy Mars; his fans have streamed his songs more than 11MM times on Spotify and his music has been praised and featured by Revolt TV, PepsiCo, WWE Smackdown, MTV, For Folk’s Sake, and many others. Dylan kicks off 2020 after the release of his 2019 album ‘Holes In Our Stories’ where his sold out album release show at NYC’s Arlene’s Grocery attracted fans and followers to celebrate his first vinyl release alongside his first non-fiction short story book. He launched a series of coffeeshop meetups with fans across the country while on tour supporting the album. Dylan is now releasing a new phase of steady singles in 2020, performing select shows in New York with his live backing band on trumpet and violin, and continuing to share pieces of ‘Holes In Our Stories’ with his loyal fans.
