In the fall and winter of 1999 and 2000 Channeling Owen, a melodic rock band from NYC, was featured on the hit television show Dawson's Creek, on rollingstone.com, modernrock.com, and in a six-page feature article, along with MCA's Blink-182, in Forbes ASAP (the sister publication to Forbes.) Their demo was recently named one of the top twenty demo's of 2000 by Music Connection--the influential LA music magazine.
"Channeling Owen is gourmet rock, serving up smart lyrics that digest on multiple levels, with a rare cello element to spice up their sound." -ModernRock.com
"Channeling Owen has a tight sound, slick looks and lyrically edgy tunes you can't get out of your head." -Forbes ASAP
Channeling Owen is four dynamic personalities: Matt Tonken (lead vocals/guitar); Stu Strumwasser (drums, and lyricist); Dean Beaver (bass) and Mika Larson (cello) who create a distinctive pop-rock sound that transcends its genre. This is due, in part, to their sometimes literary-minded lyrics, and the use of an electrified cello as the prominent instrument to highlight their constructions. In the two years since their inception Owen has received airplay on over 300 college radio stations, was featured in Forbes ASAP (the sister publication to Forbes), was a featured artist on Rollingstone.com, had their song "Scared of Me" featured on the hot teen drama "Dawson's Creek," and are the subjects of a documentary feature exploring the peaks and valleys of being an independent band in New York City today. Their 2000 demo was recently named one of the top twenty of the year by Music Connection-the most prominent LA music magazine. Channeling Owen is known for intense and exciting live performances and a repertoire that ranges from soft and moody to driving modern rock.
Matt Tonken has been singing as long as he can remember and first picked up a guitar at the age of ten while he was at summer camp. After injuring himself on the first day ("I was never much of an athlete," he says with a laugh) he borrowed a friend's guitar and sheet music and began teaching himself how to play chords. Through a mutual friend, he met Strumwasser and played with him (and bassist Dean Beaver) in another alternative rock outfit. Two years ago, the three broke to form Channeling Owen.
Stu Stumwasser wrote his first song at the age of six and performed it at seven, picking up his first pair of drumsticks in the process. In addition, Strumwasser is the force behind Channeling Owen's lyrics and vocal melodies, creating a purposefully ironic juxtaposition between Channeling Owen's melancholy lyrics and upbeat melodies. One review stated that Channeling Owen "could very well be next in the great lineage of soul-searching bands like Live, Collective Soul, or Creed." Strumwasser explains, "I am interested in things that are more serious in nature. My lyrics are emotional and intellectual responses to these things." There are also-of course-a few about lost love.
After spending many years in Nyack, New York, playing weekend gigs with various pop/rock and fusion jazz bands, Dean Beaver decided to make the move to New York City. Prior to meeting Tonken and Strumwasser, Beaver was the bass player for Planet Hate, a heavy metal band signed to indie label Energy Records. After spending a year on tour with Planet Hate, the group disbanded and Beaver met Stumwasser and Tonken. He is now an integral part of creating Channeling Owen's signature sound and writes a large portion of the music.
Tonken and Strumwasser (who refers to finding Mika Larson as "through some sort of astrological power") put the call out that they were looking for an "alternative instrument" to enhance the band's sound. Larson, a classically trained cellist who has performed with symphonic ensembles at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, brings a unique perspective to a pop-rock line-up. A graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, Larson describes her transition from classical to rock and roll as an easy one to make. She explains, "It was always a dream of mine to bring alternative rock music to a string quartet, but I never really thought the opportunity would present itself for me to actually play rock music like this."
The name Channeling Owen was inspired by John Irving's book A Prayer for Owen Meany. The title character has qualities that the band hoped to "channel," among them eternal youth and honest self-perception.
Channeling Owen's self-released CD "so much depends on Furry Bright Green Shoes" was a significant critical success. The band's follow-up, "Love For Sale," is available on amazon.com and from their web site www.channelingowen.com (where you can also see pictures, video, read lyrics, reviews, etc.). They play monthly in New York City at venues such as the Mercury Lounge, Elbow Room and the legendary CBGB's, and regularly tour the Northeast.
Channeling Owen Contact Information:
Press Contact: Karen Greco: (212) 695-7400
Management, Bookings and Concert Info: (212) 741-2939
Write to: Channeling Owen
PO Box 2320,
New York, NY 10185
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