Curb Records artist Owen Rivera is having a summer to remember. Between mastering his breezy new single “LaiLuv,” fielding voiceover audition requests, and catching every World Cup match he can, the nineteen-year-old singer-songwriter, drummer, and actor is proving there’s no slowing him down. A performer since age four, Owen has shared stages and studios with the likes of Mavis Staples, Jason Mraz, and Graham Nash, picking up hard-won lessons along the way that still shape his artistry today. Now, with “LaiLuv” out and bilingual Latin music in the works, he sat down with us to talk about the moment he first felt like a real musician, the feeling behind his new single, and what’s coming next.
- Hey Owen, thanks so much for speaking to us! How’s your week been?
No problem, and thanks for the opportunity! It’s been a great week…New song just mastered, some exciting new VoiceOver Audition requests, and thrilling World Cup games…good stuff.
- You’ve been performing since you were four years old. What’s your earliest memory of actually feeling like a musician, rather than just a kid who played music?
It was when I started actually recording music in the studio at 8 years old. I have always loved performing on the stage and entertaining, but that feeling when you’re recording your ideas that you came up with to be a single or a record, that’s when I started feeling like a musician. Being able to write and create what was on my mind and then bring it to life in the studio that was the moment.
- Did your family play a big role in nurturing that early on, or did it come more from you seeking it out yourself?
Both. It started by me seeking it out, and when I made it obvious when I was young that I was a musician at heart and wanted to build my life around music, my parents thankfully caught on early and started nurturing that curiosity.
- “Lailuv” has such a breezy, summer-ready feel. Walk us through how the song came together. What was that writing/recording process like for you?
Compared to other songs I’ve done, Lailuv wasn’t that crazy. Although it’s gone through a couple of changes (adding a verse, taking out a chorus, adding a bridge, etc.), once we had the instrumentals and backgrounds figured out, it has stayed rock solid ever since. The writing and recording were all about trying to capture that summer magic, putting myself in that summer mindset, and then delivering a vocal that takes the listener there with me.
- Was there a specific moment, place, or memory that shaped the vibe of the song for you personally?
Not a specific moment, place, or memory, but rather a feeling, is what shaped the vibe of the song for me. Lailuv is a feeling… the way I feel love oughta be, and though I haven’t found her yet…when I do… Lailuv expresses how I know I will feel about her.
- You’re a drummer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and actor. Do these different creative outlets feed into each other, or do you find yourself switching mindsets completely between them?
I’m going to be completely honest. I have no idea, haha! I would compare it, I guess, to an athlete being in “the zone”. When I’m acting, performing, and singing, playing guitar, playing drums, and keys, it all just kind of happens. My body just kinda takes over, and the art just kinda comes out.
- You’ve shared stages with artists like Mavis Staples, Jason Mraz, and Graham Nash, is there a moment from any of those experiences that’s stuck with you as a turning point? Oh man… Can I say all of them, haha! Two moments do stick out, though. Watching Graham Nash up close hold a full house completely silent and still with just his voice and a guitar. It didn’t feel like a concert; it felt like sitting in a room with a friend as they were storytelling and taking you on a journey. The other moment was when I was invited to Mavis Staples’ studio to watch her record one of her albums. It was incredible sitting there watching her bring such passion and love to the mic with her voice.
- Did any of them give you advice that you still carry with you today?
One that comes to mind is Graham Nash telling a young and impressionable me to switch my main instrument from drums to guitar, and to thank him later, haha. He also taught me how important storytelling is not just in my songwriting but also in my performances. Also, Mavis brought me aside in her studio after she finished recording and told me to always sing and perform with passion and love.
- You’re proud of your Puerto Rican roots and are currently working on bilingual music. What does that side of your artistry mean to you, and what can fans expect from that material?
Yes, I am a proud Puerto Rican! Wepa! It’s everything to me. I grew up listening to stories from mi familia about the town of Jayuya, where my mother’s family is from. I love visiting Puerto Rico and would love to make it my home someday. The music, rhythm, colors, dancing, food, and even the coquis (Google it) inspire me and my Latin music. I do not want to give too much away, but what I will say is I’ve currently got my Latin music in the workshop right now… y tiene mucho sazon!
- What’s next for you, more from this summer era of music, the bilingual project, or something else entirely?
All the above! I am always creating; my mind never rests. My Latin Music is on its way, as well as some new record releases. I also have some collab projects in the works with multiple Grammy Award Winners. Wherever music takes me, I’ll follow, and I can’t wait to see where my music journey goes next.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6qFlfBmbhe4KEaLeugsCze?si=w3Gy3XXmT82hOBl6CxnE8w