| Owl John | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by | |
| Released | 4 August 2014 |
| Studio | Atlantic Studios, Hollywood; Creature Club Studios, Echo Park; Fluorescent Egg, Laurel Canyon |
| Genre | Indie rock |
| Length | 35:18 |
| Label | Atlantic Records |
| Producer | Andy Monaghan |
Owl John is the only album by Owl John, the solo musical project by Frightened Rabbit vocalist and guitarist Scott Hutchison.[1] It was released on Atlantic Records on 4 August 2014 (perhaps coincidentally, the date also being International Owl Awareness Day since 2011).
The music for the album was written and recorded on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, in early 2014, with Hutchison working with Frightened Rabbit's Andy Monaghan and Simon Liddell. He then moved to Los Angeles, where the lyrics were written and recorded. Scottish musician Peter Kelly plays drums on the album, which was mastered by Mazen Murad.[2][3][4]
A further two tracks were recorded for the project but not included on the album: the Christmas song "It Gets Cold", released on Soundcloud under the artist name Christmas John, and "All I Want for Me Is You", which features Ed Harcourt on piano. A short instrumental track credited to Owl John, "Hailstones", was used as the soundtrack for the video piece London - Christmas Morning in December 2014; it was released as part of an album accompanying the Neu!Reekie! poetry compilation #UntitledOne in 2015.[5]
Three music videos were released for songs from the album: "Los Angeles, Be Kind", "Hate Music" and "Red Hand". All were directed by Storme Whitby-Grubb and Charles Gibson.
In 2019, Coldplay sampled "Los Angeles, Be Kind" in their song "Champion of the World".
- ^ "Interview: Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison". Village Voice. 14 October 2008.
- ^ Bermingham, Finbarr (1 August 2014). "Saving Grace: Owl John on the record that rescued Frightened Rabbit". The Skinny.
- ^ Hutchison, Scott (1 August 2014). "Listen to the new Owl John album from Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison – Exclusive Guide". Q Magazine.
- ^ Hannah, Andrew (5 August 2014). "Scott Hutchison on Owl John: "I would love it if this album appealed to people who hate Frightened Rabbit"". The Line of Best Fit.
- ^ Sutherland, Angus (6 April 2015). "Neu! Reekie! Waiting for the ink to dry". The Skinny.