Jake Owen couldn’t have picked a better single to announce his upcoming fourth album than its title track, “Days of Gold.” Not only is its fast-paced arrangement and Jake’s acrobatic vocal entirely different than anything currently getting spins on Country radio, but the song, and its glimmering title, define exactly where the Florida native is in his career. For Jake, these truly are golden times.
Since the release of his 2011 watershed album Barefoot Blue Jean Night—which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and delivered four consecutive No. 1 singles: the double platinum title track, the platinum “Alone with You,” and the gold-certified tracks “The One That Got Away” and “Anywhere with You”—Jake has been riding high, and he’s channeled that energy into “Days of Gold.”
Far from simply a summer song, the single is about living life to the fullest. “‘Days of Gold’ is definitive of all seasons, of the good times we all remember, the times with our friends,” says Jake. “But it’s more than that. It’s not just a song about getting out on the riverside with your buddies. There’s so many instances that people can pinpoint in their own lives as days of gold.”
Jake—ever the daredevil—acknowledges the ambitious song is a creative risk for him as an artist. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. “When you take risks you get great rewards and that’s how I’ve always approached life,” he says. The forthcoming album furthers that carpe diem mindset through both empowering anthems and introspective ballads. As such, Days of Gold is set to be a milestone for Jake.
“An artist’s career is defined by their catalog of songs and that’s really what I want to put together on Days of Gold, a solid collection of great songs,” Jake says, citing the versatile work of heroes like Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and, especially, Alan Jackson. “Alan wrote songs that were fun-loving, but he also had ‘Remember When.’ That’s what I want in my own career, to record the best songs I can and give them to people.”
Jake has already come into his own as a live performer. His concerts—including the epic free block party he hosted for 20,000 fans in Nashville this summer—are thrilling affairs, and he’s also at the forefront of fan engagement in Country music. He frequently organizes hangouts with surprised fans via Twitter. “I have the ability to reach out to people and give them more than just music—I can give them my personality,” he says.
With his new album, Jake is ramping up to give listeners more of both, sharing with them his own “Days of Gold.”
“I want people to feel more than they did with my past albums, and I think they will,” he says. “Days of Gold is going to be a step forward.”
Or more fittingly for risk-taker Jake, a leap ahead—without a net.
Artist Name: Jake Owen
Label: RCA Nashville
Current Album: Days of Gold
Current Single: “Days of Gold”
Current Video: “Days of Gold”
Current Producer: Joey Moi
Hometown: Vero Beach, Fla.
Management: Brandon Gill, Morris Artist Management
Booking: Mike Betterton, Morris Artist Management
Recent Hits/RIAA Certs to date: “Anywhere With You,” “Alone With You,” “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “The One That Got Away”
Barefoot Blue Jean Night debuted No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and delivered four consecutive No. 1 hit singles, including the multi-week chart-toppers, the double platinum title track and platinum “Alone with You,” in addition to the gold-certified hits “The One That Got Away” and “Anywhere With You.”
Awards: ACA Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2012), ACM Top New Male Vocalist (2009)
Special TV/Film Appearances: Good Morning America, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Chelsea Lately, VH1 Morning Buzz and ESPN’s Game Day
Birthday: Aug. 28, 1981
Interesting Facts: Growing up, Jake participated in a variety of sports, but excelled in golf, and was pursuing a career as a pro. Unfortunately, he was injured in a waterskiing accident, which resulted in surgery, and he was unable to play golf. Fortunately for fans of Jake’s music, he decided to take up the guitar, and soon he was playing in a local bar.
Musical Influences: Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley, Alabama, Waylon Jennings
Category: Featured
