Ownglow Takes a Deep Breath and Dives Right in on “Breathe”

At only 20 years old, the UK-based, Arizona-born-and-bred artist known as Ownglow has been causing a stir behind the scenes with his refined and soul-infused sound. With his debut solo release on Hospital Records about to hit the streets on June 16, the time has come to let drum & bass’ best-kept secret out of the bag and get the masses in on this new force within their midst.

Aptly titled Inside the Silence, Ownglow’s four-track EP for Hospital is a deep and introspective exploration of the liquid side of the dancefloor with a sense of maturity and confidence that belies his years. Collaborators and vocalists like Mitekiss, Disco’s Over, Elle Vee and Courtney Odom all lend their own flair to the proceedings, but it’s Ownglow’s own love of music that shines through on everything—from the hip-hop and soul influences of “Glo Mello Flo” to the jazz-infused “Mercy Me” and deep and deadly “Take Me.”

Even with all that heat the young blood is cooking up in the lab, it’s “Breathe” that has us coming back for more, as Elle Vee’s warm and heart-wrenching vocals create the perfect foundation for a shivering groove that features the genre-blurring collab work of Disco’s Over. Hints of classic liquid vibes merge with an almost minimalist yet well-refined approach to making those ears tingle, feet move, and heart glow with a warmth that is sure to have fans scrambling for more.

As Ownglow himself tells us, “This EP is a culmination of time spent in the US and the experiences that have been had in the UK. It’s music to party to, music to resonate with and to feel something from, with any luck. It’s for enjoyment! ‘Breathe’ specifically is a tune meant to be enjoyed at noon on a beach with a loved one, or a tune meant to be heard at 3am in the dance with your favorite people. I hope everyone enjoys listening to it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”

Available June 16 via Hospital Records.

Preorder the Inside the Silence LP here.