Interview: Lethbridge Owen talk upcoming album

Lethbridge Owen will be releasing their exciting debut album ‘Mind Over Matter’ on Friday 5th April 2019.

Lethbridge Owen are a Folk/West Coast-tinged Rock/Pop band, formed of singer/songwriters Kelly Louise Lethbridge and Jimmy Owen, who write in a traditional style. Their work is reminiscent of artists ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Jimi Hendrix, and from to Heart to Bonnie Raitt, with strong Pop elements. Their songs are catchy, carefully crafted and memorable.

Working with great musicians and engineers, Lethbridge Owen’s original material provides their audience with a refreshing sense of variety, emotion and great performances and musicianship. The band drummer is Erik Stams, who has over 20 years performing & recording experience and is a graduate of New York’s High School of Music & Art. Bass-playing is by the talented, always-in-demand Noah Nelson (also a seasoned session man) and Chris Maresh (international superstar, and long-time bassist for the legendary guitarist Eric Johnson).

Check out latest single ‘All We Have Is Hope below’!

We managed to catch up with the duo as they talked about their upcoming album and more!

So how has your debut video ‘All We Have Is Hope’ gone down with fans so far? 
Its been wonderful to see such a beautiful response to the single! We’re so happy that people have really related with the song, We really enjoyed filming with the amazing Dave Neal! He really works some serious magic with the camera =) 

Does this set the scene for your album ‘Mind Over Matter’?
Yes! We thought long and hard about how to start this record, even before ‘All We Have Is Hope’ was completed. When we heard the play backs of everything together! It had to be up front! The Album is very eclectic as far as its song writing and production scape goes and ‘All We Have Is Hope’ had a mixture of all the elements we love so much, especially the masterful rhythm track with bassist Noah Nelson and Erik Stams on Drums which gave this track its sound!  

What song would you tell fans to look out for on your album?Wow! Well… There’s ‘Re-Inspire’ featuring a big hero of ours, Chris Maresh long time collaborator and bassist with guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson, it was a HUGE honour to work with him. There’s ‘The Great Healer’ which a mix of some modern production and old school recording techniques. Hopefully there is something for everyone on the record.. from some acoustic stuff to full out rock solo world like from ‘World’s Burned Over’  😉 

What was your favourite moment when recording the album?Wheeling in 100 Watt MarshallPlexi stacks jumped into both channels simply on 10, because there is no other volume on a Plexi, Getting in the Echoplex and going at it with the amazing Steve Honest! We had them some loud that you feel the rooms shaking.. its was wonderful- There was a Kemper hanging around that we stuck a Dumble logo over… It didn’t get used. There was a beautiful grand piano in the live room that was played on ‘All We Have Is Hope’, ‘If Only’ and the ‘Reprise’. There was actually a moment where the Leads for the guitar where being cut, we wanted to do it was live as possible i.e. in the room with the amps.. not a good idea!! Organs where moved. Cutting the Lead for ‘World’s Burned Over’ was a fun moment cutting with the Echoplex and orginial BK Tube Driver from the mid 80’s. We had some magic moments finding ways to capture the stereo cleans with some phase reversal techniques. On one of the sessions we had a good day cutting some rhythm tracks so, the Marshalls were set up and ready to go.. So we just went for it and Steve was there is get it down, a lot of the record where very ‘In the moment’ cuts, which is really cool! A Little icing on the cake was we also got a use an original Fairchild Compressor on this record! 
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?AHH!! There are so many where to start!, Would love to work with Lindsey Buckingham, Ian Thornely, Eric Johnson, Elles Bailey would be amazing! Would love to jam with Striking Matches, First Aid Kit! All these artist have a wonderful unique and freedom to their voice which is so inspiring to be around just to get something if even by osmosis… 

Will you be touring in 2019 at all in support of the album?Yes! We are hoping to get over the place really! Over to Europe would be great !! 

What do you get up to in your spare time when not working on music?Spare time ??!! Is that when you play or write when get to sit down on your couch?? =) Usually hanging with loved ones, Friends and family. There’s so little time when your working in music that’s important to take that time to be present for people and connecting with the ones you love =)