01Profile
A Jonny Owen Photo
Jonny Owen
Film — Merthyr Tydfil
03Interview
Name
Jonny Owen
What do you do?
I make films.
Where are you from?
I'm from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.
Describe your style in three words?
Casual Mod forever.
If you could interview one person - who would it be?
Richard Burton. The thing with Burton was that he was omnipresent to me growing up. As a small boy for one of the most famous people on the planet to be from the same place as you with a similar background was a sense of wonder and also made you think that maybe, just maybe I could at least work in that world too. I've read everything you can on the great man. I particularly loved Melvyn Bragg's book. He himself said that he found a much grander man than he imagined. I'd love to have had a few pints with him.
What is your favourite ever British film?
Quadrophenia is a film based on a concept album. The original album itself is a stunning piece of work. Songs like 'Cut my Hair' which beautifully articulate what it's like to grow up in a working class world obsessed with pop culture. The film is unique. In my opinion there's been some great ones but there's been no better British film about being a young man living for the weekend. In the States Saturday Night Fever runs it very close. Interestingly enough that film is also based on early 60's Mods in Shepherds Bush.
Best Gig you have ever been to?
I was lucky enough to have been at Spike Island for the Stone Roses. It's the age I most remember. Everyone was so young. 15 to 21 and it was ours. This whole thing which The Roses and Mondays led was new. We'd listened and admired our folks who had Elvis and The Beatles and older brothers who had The Jam and Clash but this was our time. It was a special moment.
Jonny's latest film 'Don't Take Me Home' tells the story of the Welsh football teams incredible journey at Euro 2016.
The film will be on general release from 3rd March 2017 with special St David’s Day previews on the 1st March.
Tickets can be booked here www.dont-take-me-home.com.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
First track you played on repeat?
God Save the Queen. I felt like it was plugged into my soul. What was I? Six years of age but I'll never forget it. My older brother was brilliant and would let me listen to his stuff and I'll never forget that. I actually couldn't stop myself from jumping around. Genuinely. I leapt about the bedroom. I played it over and over and over....
Song that defines the teenage you?
Resurrection has everything. They were sexy the Roses. People forget this now but they could groove. Girls loved them. They looked great but they had a real feel to them. The audiences in their early days was half and half. It was fantastic and this song had all that in there. It was a dance track. It was a floor filler that summer. Everyone would pile on and dance.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
The Jam were my first love as a band. My brother again had some of their stuff but I went fanatical and bought almost everything they ever put out. I used to go hunting around the record shops of Cardiff for stuff. Even now I'll see lads I knew from school and they'll say...you were obsessed with the Jam weren't you. I really was too looking back. They were the soundtrack to my life during my early teens.
"And the more I see, the more I know.
The more I know, the less I understand."
It's such a clever line. And he's right. The older I get and the (hopefully) wiser the less I understand why some people behave how they do. Great lyrics.
A song you wished you had written?
Paperback Writer is such a perfect pop song. Starts with a chorus and then that dynamic riff kicks in. It almost cartwheels through the whole song, spinning like a Catherine wheel. Underneath is McCartney's stunning almost rubbery bass line and then The Beatles in harmony. Lyrics about every artists dream of being commercially successful. Total Genius.
Four new songs you can’t stop playing now?
The Rifles
I know and like the Rifles as lads and they've been a great band for a decade now.
The Spitfires
Are a great young gigging band. The singer Billy really has something too.
Local Enemy
A young band from my home town in Merthyr and I like the titles of their songs. They have loads of energy too.
The Sandinistas
New band that have a chance of doing really well. They have great three minutes power pop anthems. They could well go stellar this next few years.
03Interview
Name
Jonny Owen
What do you do?
I make films.
Where are you from?
I'm from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales.
Describe your style in three words?
Casual Mod forever.
If you could interview one person - who would it be?
Richard Burton. The thing with Burton was that he was omnipresent to me growing up. As a small boy for one of the most famous people on the planet to be from the same place as you with a similar background was a sense of wonder and also made you think that maybe, just maybe I could at least work in that world too. I've read everything you can on the great man. I particularly loved Melvyn Bragg's book. He himself said that he found a much grander man than he imagined. I'd love to have had a few pints with him.
What is your favourite ever British film?
Quadrophenia is a film based on a concept album. The original album itself is a stunning piece of work. Songs like 'Cut my Hair' which beautifully articulate what it's like to grow up in a working class world obsessed with pop culture. The film is unique. In my opinion there's been some great ones but there's been no better British film about being a young man living for the weekend. In the States Saturday Night Fever runs it very close. Interestingly enough that film is also based on early 60's Mods in Shepherds Bush.
Best Gig you have ever been to?
I was lucky enough to have been at Spike Island for the Stone Roses. It's the age I most remember. Everyone was so young. 15 to 21 and it was ours. This whole thing which The Roses and Mondays led was new. We'd listened and admired our folks who had Elvis and The Beatles and older brothers who had The Jam and Clash but this was our time. It was a special moment.
Jonny's latest film 'Don't Take Me Home' tells the story of the Welsh football teams incredible journey at Euro 2016.
The film will be on general release from 3rd March 2017 with special St David’s Day previews on the 1st March.
Tickets can be booked here www.dont-take-me-home.com.
04Playlist Notes
First track you played on repeat?
God Save the Queen. I felt like it was plugged into my soul. What was I? Six years of age but I'll never forget it. My older brother was brilliant and would let me listen to his stuff and I'll never forget that. I actually couldn't stop myself from jumping around. Genuinely. I leapt about the bedroom. I played it over and over and over....
Song that defines the teenage you?
Resurrection has everything. They were sexy the Roses. People forget this now but they could groove. Girls loved them. They looked great but they had a real feel to them. The audiences in their early days was half and half. It was fantastic and this song had all that in there. It was a dance track. It was a floor filler that summer. Everyone would pile on and dance.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
The Jam were my first love as a band. My brother again had some of their stuff but I went fanatical and bought almost everything they ever put out. I used to go hunting around the record shops of Cardiff for stuff. Even now I'll see lads I knew from school and they'll say...you were obsessed with the Jam weren't you. I really was too looking back. They were the soundtrack to my life during my early teens.
"And the more I see, the more I know.
The more I know, the less I understand."
It's such a clever line. And he's right. The older I get and the (hopefully) wiser the less I understand why some people behave how they do. Great lyrics.
A song you wished you had written?
Paperback Writer is such a perfect pop song. Starts with a chorus and then that dynamic riff kicks in. It almost cartwheels through the whole song, spinning like a Catherine wheel. Underneath is McCartney's stunning almost rubbery bass line and then The Beatles in harmony. Lyrics about every artists dream of being commercially successful. Total Genius.
Four new songs you can’t stop playing now?
The Rifles
I know and like the Rifles as lads and they've been a great band for a decade now.
The Spitfires
Are a great young gigging band. The singer Billy really has something too.
Local Enemy
A young band from my home town in Merthyr and I like the titles of their songs. They have loads of energy too.
The Sandinistas
New band that have a chance of doing really well. They have great three minutes power pop anthems. They could well go stellar this next few years.