By CHERIE DONNELLAN
Recording Islands in the Stream with country-pop musician Amber Lawrence was “100 per cent perfection” for X-Factor finalist Jason Owen.
He spoke to the Independent about “getting on like a house of fire” with Lawrence since recording Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s 1983 hit duet.
“I’ve never been requested to sing Islands in the Stream during my solo performances but it’s a favourite song of mine so I’m happy I get to sing it with Amber,” Owen said.
He was “excited” about performing the duet among his solo cover songs from first album Life is a Highway when he played Corio’s Gateway Hotel for the first time on 16 August.
“I haven’t performed in Geelong before,” Owen admitted.
But he was relieved to hear the city had a strong country music following.
“How’s good that!”
Owen revealed that Lawrence, who has toured extensively around Australia, had been teaching him how to survive life on tour.
“She’s been doing it a long time and I’m excited to learn how it works.”
Owen believed his Geelong audience would have a “great time” at the Gateway show because he and Lawrence had “good fun on stage”.
He attributed his X-Factor success to his friendly performance demeanour more than the quality of his voice.
“I think the secret is you don’t have to have the best voice but you have to perform and that’s what I do.
“I’d rather be kicking back, trying to dance on stage [than being pitch perfect].”
Owen said “there’s more of me to be seen” after his X-Factor fame, with an album of original songs due out soon.
“I’ve been doing a bit of writing and thinking about my solo works.”
He jovially admitted struggling to “get words to fit in the right place”.
“Credits to all those people who’ve written great songs … it’s very hard.”
