owen performing on stage

A Rare Gem

Owen Barney, Class of 2018, is spending a lot of time in Nashville. That’s because the youngster signed a record deal with Wax Records and has been busy writing. Look out for a seven-song EP due in May, that will include five songs he is writing himself.
 
This likely comes as no surprise to those who have seen Owen perform at Hidden Gems or at any of the venues he plays around Toronto and Muskoka. 

Lisa Barney never imagined this is how her son would be spending his final year of high school. She does, however, believe that Hidden Gems is what sparked Owen’s love of performing. 

“He got up there for the first time in Grade 7 – really his first time singing publicly – and people responded well,” said Lisa. “I’m very confident in saying that it was his ‘a-ha’ moment.’ I think he’s been very fortunate to be at the College and have a forum like Hidden Gems.”

Lisa has been a huge supporter of Hidden Gems and loves that performers have a safe environment to play. 

“That speaks volumes,” she said. “Would Owen’s success have happened anyways? Maybe. But look at all of the other young kids who have come since then. There have been some really great performances and it’s so great to see.”

Owen enjoys performing at Hidden Gems and remembers his first time.

“I felt more nervous because it was in front of all of my peers, but it’s definitely a more welcoming environment than anywhere else,” he said. “There’s more comfort playing in front of the school as opposed to anywhere else.”

This year, Owen played Vance Joy’s “Riptide” with Grade 4 student Max Balzer. 

“It was really fun,” said Owen. “I liked it better than playing on my own. It felt good to watch Max enjoy it so much. I know what it feels like to be a young kid at Hidden Gems and be so nervous. I could see as we were going along that he was enjoying it.” 

Owen recently learned that he got accepted into the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville where he will study the music business. 
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