Ollee Owens — “Nowhere to Hide” — Ollee Owens Music
Canadian singer Ollee Owens’ luminous second album, “Nowhere to Hide,” blows in like a cool breeze out of the farming community of New Bothwell, Manitoba, fresh and bluesy, a soulful session filled with music shaped by her own life and feelings.
Owens is not a newcomer but a veteran singer-songwriter who took a 15-year break to raise a family and now finds herself ready to tell her musical stories with a rich, emotional vocal style that gives life to her passionate lyrics.
The album features a varied cast of excellent backing musicians, pulled together by producer and drummer Bobby Blazier. They float creatively through arrangements that carry inflections of jazz, blues and soul.
The opening (and title) track, “Nowhere to Hide,” strides in with a Southern blues-rock feel, heavy with guitars and pulsating organ behind a tough vocal message: “Trouble, trouble, trouble, ain’t no trouble gonna bring us down.” A sensuous sax and rippling organ help drive “Solid Ground” into jazzier territory, with Owens’ seemingly effortless strong vocals.
The rhythmic, upbeat in spirit and style, “Some Days” grows out of a faith in human resilience. A gentler, slightly funky “Roots” features a softer Owens vocal turn, giving her a chance to emphasize the eloquent lyrics. “Love You Better” rocks in with a chuckle and bouncy beat. “Still In Pieces” is a lovely ballad with an almost-whispered intro and a mournful lyric: “All in pieces now, don’t know what to do.”
“Shivers and Butterflies” is an elegant ballad exploring the feelings of love: “You light up my eyes, you make me feel so alive, I just love, love, lovin’ you.” The soaring, rollicking blues of “My Man” continues that sentiment. “Love Hung Around” continues a recurring love theme that fills much of Owens’ music with gentle passion driven by the blues. “The Neighborhood“ pushes its horns front and center, giving this track a different edge.
“Lord Protect My Child, a Bob Dylan song, is a glorious bit of singing and musical backing in the finest gospel tradition, dedicated to one of her three daughters who has a cognitive disability. “My daughter is twenty-three now, but there’s still a lot of vulnerability…the desire for protecting and taking care of her will never go away.”
“Nowhere to Hide” is a superb sophomore effort from Ollee Owens, whose powerful singing and smart songwriting deserve a much wider audience. You owe it to yourself to hear her music.
Here’s “Some Days” from the album:
Track List and Credits:
1. Nowhere To Hide 3:55
2. Solid Ground 2:47
3. Some Days 4:15
4. Roots 4:52
5. Love You Better 3:45
6. Still in Pieces 4:14
7. Shivers and Butterflies 4:42
8. My Man 3:22
9. Love Hung Around 3:59
10. The neighborhood 4:06
11. Lord Protect My Child 6:29
Musicians:
Guitar: Will McFarlane (Tracks 1,2,4-6,8-10) Phil Hughley (Tracks 1,2,4-6,8-10) Chris Rodriguez (Tracks 3,7,11)
Bass: Tommy Sims (Tracks 1,2,4-10) Craig Young (Tracks 3,11)
Drums/Percussion: Bobby Blazier (All Tracks)
Keys/Organ/Piano: DeMarco Johnson (Tracks 3,4,6,7,10,11) Gabe Klein (Tracks 1,2,5,8,9)
Horns: Rahsaan Barber (Sax on tracks 2,10) Cord Martin (Sax on track 11) Roland Barber (Trumpet on track 10)
Background Vocals: Joey Richey (Tracks 2-11) Gene Miller (Tracks 2-10) Minnie Pearl (Track 11)
Songwriter Credits
Ollee Owens, Kornelius Colyn: Some Days/Love You Better/Still in Pieces/Roots/Shivers and Butterflies
Ollee Owens, Will McFarlane: Solid Ground/My Man
Ollee Owens, Phil Hughley: Nowhere to Hide
Will McFarlane, Tommy Coomes: Love Hung Around
David Hidalgo, Louie Perez: The Neighborhood
Bob Dylan: Lord Protect My Child
Blues Roadhouse 