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- [00:07]
Jake Owen
No one writes a manual for how you kind of navigate through missing a child when you're on the road. And at this stage of my career, like, you know, I'm not, like, at the bus anymore after shows partying and looking for chicks. You know, I'm usually FaceTiming my little girls afterwards and making sure that they're going to bed.
- [00:23]
Troy Volhoffer
How things change, right? Hey, everyone. I'm Troy Volhoffer, and welcome back to another episode of. Of on the Bus. I'm very excited for today's guest, Jake Owen. Jake's been making a name for himself in country music scene since his debut album in 2006. But as most of you country fans know, in the summer of 2011, Jake's career took off with the smash hit Barefoot Blue Jean night. Jake has two EPs and seven albums under his belt. And this summer, we're lucky enough to have him join us for two Country Thunder festivals. He's such a dynamic performer and really connects with his fans. I can't wait to talk to him. So please join me in welcoming Jake Owen to On the Bus.
- [01:03]
Jake Owen
My girls are getting. They're getting older. Like, I'm leaving here, like, immediately. When I'm finished, I wish I could see Blake. I'm going to pick up my daughter and take her down, take her back to Nashville. I'm actually missing her recital tonight.
- [01:13]
Troy Volhoffer
Oh, I know.
- [01:13]
Jake Owen
I missed my other daughter's recital yesterday so I could play a casino in Biloxi.
- [01:17]
Troy Volhoffer
Right, right. Show business, right?
- [01:19]
Jake Owen
Yeah, that's show business. That's showbiz, baby. That's his hat.
- [01:22]
Troy Volhoffer
He's got a hat.
- [01:22]
Jake Owen
So that's showbiz.
- [01:23]
Troy Volhoffer
Oh, I love it. Oh, that is great.
- [01:26]
Jake Owen
You need that one.
- [01:27]
Troy Volhoffer
That's a good one. Hey, thanks a lot for coming, doing. Yeah, I know you had a busy day, and I've always wanted to have a, you know, chat with you because I really. You've had such a cool career, and.
- [01:37]
Jake Owen
Thank you.
- [01:37]
Troy Volhoffer
So let's go back to the beginning. Like. So started out golfer.
- [01:42]
Jake Owen
Yep.
- [01:42]
Troy Volhoffer
Had an injury. And then music became part of your life, right?
- [01:46]
Jake Owen
Really? I kind of started out more. I mean, people use the term golfer because that's what I was doing at the time when I got hurt. But I grew up with a twin brother right here in Florida, on the other side of the state, Vero Beach. My. My best friend in life, Marty Fish, went on to play professional tennis. Like, we all grew up, like, very motivated to be great at whatever we were doing. And we had our friends around pushing us to be Better. And so I kind of floundered around different sports and stuff, and I was never as good as Marty in, like, tennis. I was a decent baseball player. I was never big enough to play football, but I was just always, like, working hard at stuff because my dad was on my ass all the time. And same with my brother. When you have a twin brother, you're obviously like, who's going to be better at whatever you're doing? So when I got hurt, I was going to play golf in college, got hurt, didn't end up playing golf in college, started playing guitar instead, and decided that I was going to drop out of Florida State one day and move to Nashville. That was 20 years ago. And try to make it. And honestly, like, I really am excited to always continue my career from here on out, but I feel like. I feel like I made it, like, the day that I got to Nashville.
- [02:48]
Troy Volhoffer
You had some good success early, didn't you? Like, I mean, right off the top?
- [02:51]
Jake Owen
Well, I mean, I got a record deal pretty quickly, but what was that, like, 2006?
- [02:54]
Troy Volhoffer
Somewhere in the neighborhood.
- [02:55]
Jake Owen
Yeah, 2006, I got a record deal, and it was the end of 2005. October 2005. Put a single out in 2006, and it was seven years before I had a number one song, which was Barefoot Blue Jean Night, and then went on from there.
- [03:09]
Troy Volhoffer
You go down in history as having one of the most unique sessions ever, with Joey Moe being the first artist to ever record a record without drums.
- [03:18]
Jake Owen
Right.
- [03:18]
Troy Volhoffer
Like, real drums, which revolutionized the whole way of recording in Nashville.
- [03:22]
Jake Owen
Yeah. People still reference that to me sometimes they're like, man, in that. In that year that you guys put out Barefoot Blue G Night, which is the song I'm alluding to, that went number one, we kind of just took a risk and did something different. And, you know, I knew it was gonna be polarizing, but I also was like, what do I have to lose, man? I'd had a record deal for seven years. I'd had some. Some moderate hits, but, like, nothing that was polarizingly different. And I remember when I put that song out, a lot of other artists called me, and they were like, dude, this sounds way, like a new age. And in a way, you guys created.
- [03:52]
Troy Volhoffer
A whole new sound.
- [03:53]
Jake Owen
It started a whole new sound that ended up being something that then, you know, through time, you have waves, and now we're getting a new sound, so it's cool. I feel that song was song of the decade.
- [04:03]
Troy Volhoffer
Right.
- [04:04]
Jake Owen
And so I'm proud of that song. But as I'VE grown older. It's funny, I told someone the other day, I'm 43 now, and I was 30 when that song came out 13 years ago. It's kind of wild. And I think to myself, you know, that song says, whoa, I'm never gonna grow up. Whoa, never gonna slow down. And I think that's like, what music is. It's kind of like this fantasy life that you can live through. Like Jack and Diane. Like, you know, you go back to that. You know, two kids munching on chili dogs at the Tasty. Like, it takes you back. But now here I am at 43. I'm kind of like, as you said, like, I'm in a new chapter of my life in my career. I've got two girls. Like, I'm trying to make music that relates to where I am now in my life. And that's the fun part of being an artist.
- [04:44]
Troy Volhoffer
Yeah.
- [04:44]
Jake Owen
Kind of rolling with it.
- [04:46]
Troy Volhoffer
I just. I just want to go back to that time period. I've heard horror stories about Joey pushing guys to the. The brink of tears. Was he a hard guy to work with?
- [04:55]
Jake Owen
No. Actually, it's funny. Joey and I don't work together anymore, but I'll always say that he's like, was a magician in my career as far as coming in and pushing me to be better and learning from things. Like, we all become comfort comfortable in our own artistry. We know what works for us. And if you're one of those people that's so. I guess you can use the term selfish and arrogant to think that you can't learn from others, then you wouldn't be utilizing a guy like Joey to his full potential. Because a real producer, a good producer, which is what Joey is, and his track record proves it. They push you to be better than what you. You think you are. You know what I mean? But it takes an open mind of an artist to accept that that's what his intentions are, not to beat you down.
- [05:39]
Troy Volhoffer
Right.
- [05:40]
Jake Owen
There were times I felt beat down, you know, singing, because he's like, that's not it. That's not the note. It's this note. And I was like, well, that's how I sing it. And he's like, yeah, that may be how you sing it, but it's wrong. And I never took offense to that. And when I listened back to it, I was like, he's right. And so I admire people, man, that don't have fear to tell you what the right thing is and fight for what's right. And, you know, here's track record. And he always said, you know, we. We worked together back in the day. I went away from him, we worked together again. I went away from them. Who knows, man? We may work together again.
- [06:11]
Troy Volhoffer
Let's talk about now. Let's talk about touring. What's. What does 2025 look like for you and what's going on?
- [06:17]
Jake Owen
I've been making a record in LA with Shooter Jennings, which is super.
- [06:21]
Troy Volhoffer
Is he producing it?
- [06:22]
Jake Owen
Yeah, he did.
- [06:23]
Troy Volhoffer
Okay.
- [06:23]
Jake Owen
Super country. It's not that people. What people want to hear, but, like, I didn't intentionally go there to say I want to make a commercial album. I just want to make a music that's, like, really special to me in. It's not barefoot blue jean night at all, but it's something that I'm super excited about, super proud of. And as I said, it's like, it relates to where I am in my life. So that. And then you know, also still going out touring, doing the Fun Jake summer tours, you know, with Uncle Cracker, and I'm gonna go tour some shows with the Dirty Heads. That's great. So, yeah, like, that's the thing that I've enjoyed doing for me as an entertainer, I enjoy entertaining. I enjoy bringing an experience to people to digest and then go with, like, we're like, this can't be that serious. You know, you have to be really fun with people, and you have to let them have a good time. And I think that's what I love about these, you know, doing these country thunders and these big festivals is that you get a lot of artists out there and it's their chance to own that crowd. Every artist has a chance to take that crowd and put them in your hand. And you can get intimidated by that position, or you can say, I'm gonna own this. And so, like, I always try to step out there and think to myself, like, I'm gonna own it. So. Well, that's what we're doing this summer.
- [07:33]
Troy Volhoffer
Like, last month in Phoenix, I was totally blown away. I hadn't seen you in a long time, and I was so blown away because you owned it that night, and you totally owned it. And the classic country look you got on stage, it's just. It's really refreshing. And I think, man, you're onto something. I mean, I think there's, like, something there that's really big.
- [07:50]
Jake Owen
Well, thanks, man. I will say this. Like, I don't know that I used to maybe in my younger days, like, be, like, trying to get to that thing. Like, what is Next. Like, what is next for me?
- [08:00]
Troy Volhoffer
Sure.
- [08:01]
Jake Owen
And I think maybe what you're saying in a roundabout way that I will take as a compliment is I think coming up as a kid, you're constantly trying to figure out who you are, of course. And until you, like, get to that point in your life, I guess where I am now, I admire folks and kids and artists that I've seen from the beginning, kind of stick to everything. They've always like. They just. They stayed there. I had being a kid from Florida here, moving to Nashville, going out on tour with Alan Jackson and Brooks and Dunn early in my years, you know, and being a beach kid, trying to, you know, play out there with these classic country guys, which. I've always loved, that kind of music. But you kind of try to find out. You get in where you fit in, you know, I feel like I've gone through the waves of my career and songs I've put out, and I'm at a place where I'm, like, really comfortable up there. And I think what you're alluding to is that it maybe hopefully shined through that night, and I hope that it continues to shine through, going through the.
- [08:51]
Troy Volhoffer
Touring aspect of everything. We've talked about that already. But let's talk about your personal life. What's new in your personal life? You got two beautiful daughters.
- [08:57]
Jake Owen
I've got two girls, thank goodness. They kind of are my saving grace in life in a lot of ways. You know, this business is really hard, and there's days that feel awesome, and there's days that feel like. That sometimes can feel, like, just terrible, and they don't care. It's funny how we all in this business can put so much emphasis on what's next, what's happening right now and all that. And what that's important to them for me is like, I'm just their dad. And my little girl, who's 12 going on 13, she kind of senses that in a way sometimes. And I can tell when she tells me. I called her there, and I was like, I'm really sorry that I'm not at your rehearsal this week or your. Your. Your recital. I said, I hate to always be the dad that's not there. And she's like, dad, it's okay, because I know that she's like, you're always here with me. And when she said that, I was like, oh, my God. Oh, that's beautiful. Still didn't make it any better. It's like I'm not there, but, like, knowing that she. She doesn't resent me for not being there is a big deal. So those are the, like, I think in my life right now, I never had this before. I've never had to understand. No one writes a manual for how you kind of navigate through missing a child when you're on the road and. Or these people that travel for a living. So at this stage in my career, like, you know, I'm not like, at the bus anymore after shows, partying and looking for chicks. You know, I'm usually FaceTiming my little girls afterwards and making sure that, you know, they're going to bed.
- [10:23]
Troy Volhoffer
How things change, right? Oh, I love it.
- [10:25]
Jake Owen
I know.
- [10:25]
Troy Volhoffer
Same thing, man. I got, you know, two kids and now, you know, I. I sacrificed all that time on being on the road and stuff, and then now, you know, they're out. They're in the business now. Not my business, but they're one's a manager and one's an artist and now they come out and hang out with me. So it all comes around the full circle. So, you know, but, well, hey, man, I really appreciate you coming here and taking this time out and have a great show tonight.
- [10:48]
Jake Owen
Thank you. I'm excited about it. These opportunities are, are awesome. You know, I get excited to have that opportunity to be out there tonight, you know, play for these people, make them have a good time. I have a little bit of a leg up with being a Floridian. Love it. So I'm gonna take advantage of that.
- [11:03]
Troy Volhoffer
I'll see you in Calgary next.
- [11:05]
Jake Owen
I'll see you.
- [11:05]
Troy Volhoffer
We should have some fun there too.
- [11:06]
Jake Owen
Cool.
- [11:07]
Troy Volhoffer
So thank you. Thank you very much, Jake. Really appreciate it. Thanks, brother. Big thanks again to Jake Cohen for joining us on the bus today and for lighting up the stage at Country Thunder Florida. He's truly a must see artist and you can catch him on tour now through October. You can head to Jakeown.net for those tour dates in the U.S. uK and Canada. He'll be joined by Darius Rocker and Uncle Crocker for a few of those nights. And you'll definitely want to get those tickets in advance. I can't wait to see Jake on stage with us again in August at Country Thunder Alberta. We're back for another installment of On Tour with Troy, where I'll answer questions from listeners and Country Thunder fans about my life on the road and my time in country music. Let's do it. What does Nashville mean to me? It's music city usa and I love Nashville so much. It's home. It's such a creative space and it's not only for country music, all genres. There's so many songwriters in Nashville and there's so many artists in Nashville, and it's my favorite city in the whole world. How did I go from playing pro hockey to a career in the music industry? My father and my grandfather were in show business. My father worked with Dean Martin and Gold Diggers. He toured a lot as a kid. Growing up, I was around him a lot. He ran the Stagehand Union, and I got to see all the different shows, and I got to work at a very early age in my life. At about 10 years old, I was pushing boxes and doing different shows. So I had a great backstage view of every genre of music there possibly was, from Liberace to Kenny Rogers to Dolly Parton to Kiss to Cheap Trick to Van Halen to the Clash. So I was totally enthralled by it, and I didn't come from a lot of money. So my vision was to have a production company, and my goal was to own it. So I was a decent hockey player. And I signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. I took my signing bonus and I bought a lighting system, and that started my career. The old adage saying, build it, they will come. That wasn't the case. It took me a good 10 years to get my foot really in the door and to have some success in the music business. What is my favorite venue to work in? I love Madison Square Gardens. It's not the easiest place to work in, but I love it because of the history, the iconic acts that have come through there. The walls just ring with history, and you can still hear Led Zeppelin in the hallways. First album I ever purchased was Elton John, Madman across the Water. I was like 8, 8 or 9 years old, and I really dug the COVID of the record. It was blue, and I had Madman across the Water in darker blue, and Tiny Dancer was a single off that record. I just want to thank Jake Owen for coming on today in a very tight schedule and being on the bus. It was a fantastic interview and great time spent. I hadn't seen Jake in a long time. Played Country Thunder last month in Arizona, but we didn't have an opportunity to meet each other that day. But we date back to, you know, early 2010. It was great to catch up with him today. I hope you really enjoy this show. I'm excited about it. So please catch him. He's a great live act and he gives it 100% every night. Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow Country Thunder on all our social platforms. CountryThunder we have new episodes dropping bi monthly. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you know when the new episodes hit the feed. Man, you know, the last time we hung out, I don't know if you remember this or not, but it would have been about 2011. I had you up in Canada.
- [14:49]
Jake Owen
Oh, that's right. That's right. I forgot about it.
- [14:51]
Troy Volhoffer
I think you were opening for Georgia Straight or Chesney or something.
- [14:53]
Jake Owen
You know what it was? That was a long time ago. And I believe it was funny because George was there that night. Cuz Irv Woolsey was there last night and he was smoking that cigar and he said, he goes this, Remember that? He goes, this cigar is like Clay Walker. It doesn't draw. Yeah, I remember he said that because.
- [15:11]
Troy Volhoffer
Of the three of us sitting there.
- [15:12]
Jake Owen
Yeah.