With the majority of people out of work, artists have been fortunate enough to continue on
during the pandemic, and in doing so, have provided fans with a hopeful form of escapism. The
obvious drawback being that they are unable to do it live. Whilst a large number of musicians
were reliant upon gigs as a source of income, that option is no longer possible. Though, the
pandemic has provided artists and songwriters with a unique opportunity to capture our current
situation in the form of music, and it can be used as something to look back on if we want to
give future generations a feel on what it was like to live through a pandemic.
Dropping a couple of singles, an EP and racking up millions of plays in the process, up and
coming Welsh talent Owain Felstead has thrived in creating music from his own home.
‘During the pandemic I have made more music than ever,’ said Owain. Spending more time to
improve and grow as an artist, he has been able to use Lockdown as a way of perfecting his
writing and production abilities, culminating in a more refined and mellow sound. Whether it be
his sobering outlook on love with the reflective pop banger, ‘Decisions,’ or his melancholy hit
‘Clover’ which has nearly 5 million plays on Spotify, it is obvious that he has a knack for creating
tunes worthy of chart placement.
Often layered with introspection, Owain has a talent for writing meaningful songs that not only
stick in your head after first listen, but also have something to say, a rare quality for an industry
rife with the generic pop formula.
‘It has been difficult to see friends and artists struggle with the problem,’ said Owain, when
referring to live gigs as a stream of income. The fact that artists have continued to work doesn't
always mean that they’ll be compensated financially. A large number of musicians these days
receive payment through streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. They don’t
always pay well either. It is perhaps one of the harder jobs to find success in, though if you’re
talented then it is a question of whether you’re willing to work hard enough to achieve that
success, which Owain goes on to sum up with, ‘there are days where I wake up and don’t feel
like writing. These days are the most important. I make sure that I get up and write even on
these days, developing a strong mindset and attitude towards my craft.’
Giving us more time to reflect and achieve our own personal goals has been one of few
positives to come from the COVID situation, it has also provided us with the opportunity to
explore the vast range of music out there that may bring us peace in all the madness, and I
think Owain is definitely one worth checking out as he goes from strength to strength.
Brad Cox