JACK COLWELL & THE OWLS – Hopechest

Raised on ‘60s folk and classically-trained as a composer at Sydney’s prestigious “Conservatorium of Music”, Jack Colwell choose the alt-pop path. The “classically-trained / pop-brained” Sydney-sider is due to release the sing-and-whistle-and-slap-along single, “Hopechest”, this October.  “Hopechest”pays homage to the godmother of freak folk, Vashti Bunyan. Inspired by her unique songwriting style, Colwell wrote the song to celebrate the diversity of her music.  This classical technique of re-working existing compositions with a modern twist is widely respected amongst classically trained artists.

Vashti Bunyan has heavily influenced the likes of Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective and Devendra Banhardt, who sometimes writes Vashti’s name on his arm before performing on stage.  With Vashti’s blessing, Jack reworked her 1969 release, “Just Another Diamond Day,” into what he re-titled “Hopechest”; the first single from the debut album, ‘Picture Window’, due for release 2012.

Originally conceived as an EP, Colwell’s ideas soon grew beyond the confines of a short-form release. His talented band, The Owls, are an ever-rotating line-up of friends and like-minded artists, including the likes of multi-instrumentalists Miles Horler, Hayden Woolf & Genevieve Fricker.

In his teens, Colwell self-released the well-received ‘White Noise’ EP.  Selected as FBi Radio’s EP Of The Week, he toured the country on the back of the release, headlining Sydney’s Surry Hills Festival and Newcastle’s This Is Not Art Festival.  As a live act, Jack Colwell & The Owls are a colourful and energetic experience: often compared to Patrick Wolf and Nick Cave. Colwell’s performances are described as dramatic, and often confronting.

Colwell may be classically trained, but his love of a great pop melody is overarching.  Colwell describes “Hopechest” as “chamber pop”, but he truly is the explorer of a great many sounds.

With collaborations including the likes of Daisy M Tulley (Bridezilla), Jack has a heavy swag of impressive work.  His single was recorded at Sydney’s Studio Ripple which also birthed forthcoming releases from Lanie Lane and Cloud Control.

Outside of the studio, Colwell has also been busy conributing to Sydney;s vibrant culture scene – featuring on the soundtrack for Belvoir Street Theatre’s play ‘Whore’, and collaborating on ‘Being Born Again’, a cross-pollination of projects from the music and fashion industries.

Most recently seen singing on stage at the Sydney Opera House with Architecture In Helsinki, Colwell is looking forward to taking his own work on the road in late 2011.

JACK COLWELL & THE OWLS – HOPECHEST SINGLE LAUNCH

OCTOBER 29 – SYDNEY
FBI Social, Kings Cross
w/ Brendan Maclean and Post Paint

NOVEMBER 19 – CANBERRA
The Front Gallery, Lyneham
w/ Lachlan Bryan

NOVEMBER 26 – MELBOURNE
The Empress Hotel, Fitzroy North
w/ Tully on Tully & Townhouses

‘Hopechest’is available for FREE download for a limited time only from:

HERE