OWEL

OWEL is an alternative indie rock band formed in Woodbridge, NJ in late 2012. The band currently consists of Jay Sakong (lead vocal, guitar, keys), Nunzio Moudatsos (bass, vocals), Seamus O'Connor (guitar, keys, vocals), Jane Park (violin, viola, keys, vocals), and Ryan Vargas (percussion). The band signed to Equal Vision Records in 2016. According to lead singer Jay Sakong in an Instagram livestream, there is no meaning behind the band's name and it is supposed to be seen as just a name.

OWEL is known for incorporating orchestral elements into their alternative rock sound.

History

Origins

The band began in late 2012 as a reincarnation of another group which included lead singer/guitarist Jay Sakong and percussionist Ryan Vargas who both attended the same high school in Woodbridge, NJ. Sakong later met guitarist/keyboardist Seamus O'Connor while both attended the Institute of Audio Research in New York City. Violinist/keyboardist Jane Park, a childhood friend of Sakong's, would eventually join the group which would later become OWEL. Bassist Nunzio Moudatsos, another high school friend of Sakong and Vargas, would join the band in 2015 after several member changes.

''Self-Titled LP'' (2013)

The band released their debut, self-titled LP on April 2, 2013 via boutique label intheclouds records. The album was recorded at The Machine Shop in Bellville, NJ, produced by Sakong, mixed and mastered by Will Putney.

''Every Good Boy'' (2015)

On April 28, 2015 the band released the ''Every Good Boy'' EP via intheclouds records. The EP was recorded at VuDu Studios in Port Jefferson Village, NY and produced by Mike Watts (As Tall As Lions, The Dear Hunter, As Cities Burn, Tides of Man.)

''Dear Me'' (2016)

In 2016 the band signed with Equal Vision Records and released ''Dear Me'' on November 11, 2016. ''Dear Me'' was co-produced by Sakong along with Kevin Dye, vocalist of the band Gates, at AudioPilot Studios in Boonton, NJ.

In support of the release of ''Dear Me'' the band embarked on various tours supporting the Soil & the Sun, Mae, and A Lot Like Birds between November 2016 and June 2017.

On August 9, 2017 the band announced via its social media pages that they were amicably parting ways with violinist/keyboardist Jane Park. A final performance with Park is forthcoming and the band has teased various images on social media of a studio session together in late August 2017. On October 13, 2017, it was announced that Patti Kilroy was their new violinist.

The band released a previously unheard B-side from the ''Dear Me'' sessions entitled "All I'll Ever Know" on August 25, 2017.{{Cite web, url=http://www.equalvision.com/news/owel-release-new-single-all-ill-ever-know/, title = Owel Release New Single, "All I'll Ever Know", date = 25 August 2017

''Paris'' (2019)

OWEL released the full-length LP, ''Paris'', on March 29, 2019. The deluxe edition, including one additional song and several alternate song versions, released on November 8, 2019.

Discography

Full Length Albums
* ''OWEL'' (2013) intheclouds records
* ''Dear Me'' (2016) Equal Vision Records
* ''Live from Audio Pilot Studios'' (2017) Equal Vision Records
* ''Paris'' (2019)
* ''The Salt Water Well'' (2022)
EPs
*''Every Good Boy'' (2015) intheclouds records
Singles
* ''All I'll Ever Know'' (2017) Equal Vision Records

Members

Current
* Jay Sakong - lead vocal, guitar, keys (2013–present)
* Nunzio Moudatsos - bass, vocals (2015–present)
* Seamus O'Connor - guitar, keys, vocals (2013–present)
* Ryan Vargas - percussion (2013–present)
* Jane Park - violin, viola, keys, vocals (2013–present)
* George Maher - trumpet, flugelhorn, keys (2019–present)

Former

* Daniel Zaleski - bass (2013)
* Pat McGee - bass (2013-2015)
* Patti Kilroy - violin, keys, vocals

Timeline

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:2013 till:2020
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2013 gridcolor:tan1
AlignBars = justify
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:30
PlotArea = left:100 right:10 top:10 bottom:30
Define $dy = 0

PlotData =
bar:Jay Sekong fontsize:20
from:start till:end color:orange

bar:Seamus O'Connor
from:start till:end color:blue

bar:Ryan Vargas
from:start till:end color:yellow

bar:Patti Kilroy
from:start till:09/08/2017 color:red

bar:Nunzio Moudatsos
from:01/01/2015 till:end color:green

bar:Daniel Zaleski
from:start till:15/06/2013 color:lightpurple

bar:Pat McGee
from:start till:31/12/2015 color:claret

bar:Jane Park
from:start till:end color:pink

bar:George Maher
from:01/01/2019 till:end color:black

References

External links

OWEL Official Website

American indie rock groups
Emo revival groups
American emo musical groups
Equal Vision Records artists