Rings on a Tree (click to listen)
A new album of 15 songs written by Owen Temple and friends – available worldwide on September 29.
It was produced by Gordy Quist and recorded in Austin, Texas at The Finishing School.
VIDEOS OF SINGLES FROM THE NEW ALBUM
Owen Temple’s new record, Rings on A Tree, is a concept album – an examination of family history and the way every interaction we have reverberates for generations.
“It’s clear that our lives are a distillation and expansion of the lives that have come before us,” Temple said. “Every life, every interaction of matter and energy that happens, reverberates through the universe in an ever-expanding field. Waves of behavior that cause other waves of behavior, not just in one life, but in all our lives.
“During the Covid lockdown, I wasn’t writing much on my own, but when a friend would call and say, ‘Let’s go to a park and write a song,’ I’d always go. These meetups resulted in a reexamination of what’s important in life. We wrote songs that looked at the intergenerational interactions that created a certain wisdom, insights that transcend our narrow view of the present.”
As the songs accumulated, Temple saw them taking a spiritual, philosophical tone. “I was haunted by the ideas of our great-grandparents. Shadowy photos and mysterious documents from their eight lives give us clues about how these people have major consequence on our lives, even if we don’t understand exactly how. If you trace the branches of any family tree back far enough, you can see we’re all connected. That inspired the song ‘Rings on a Tree’ and the entire album.”
THE SONGS:
Part 1 – Big Bang
- The Song of Us
- Watch It Shine
- Days
- Beautiful Accidents
- Always Becoming
Part 2 – Pantheon
- Fork in the Road
- Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
- Virginia and Hazel
- Churches and Cantinas
- Are We There Yet?
Part 3 – Tree of Life
- Wild Seeds
- Rings on a Tree
- More Like September
- Gentle James
- Twenty Years
Part 1 – Big Bang
- The Song of Us
- Watch It Shine
- Days
- Beautiful Accidents
- Always Becoming
Part 2 – Pantheon
- Fork in the Road
- Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
- Virginia and Hazel
- Churches and Cantinas
- Are We There Yet?
Part 3 – Tree of Life
- Wild Seeds
- Rings on a Tree
- More Like September
- Gentle James
- Twenty Years
NEWs AND UPDATES
Shows Downtown on Main Street
Old downtown brick buildings have a lot of charm so I’m playing 2 of them – and both on Main Street – but one is
Learning to dance and my music on cassette tape
When my mom was a kid, she learned to dance at Schroeder Hall. Me and Adam Carroll are playing a show there on Thursday night,
Modern Explorer – Episode 2 – Gordy Quist
In this second episode of the podcast, I talk with Gordy Quist, an Austin, Texas-based songwriter and a member of The Band of Heathens. Over
Backyard Biergarten – Episode 16 – Medicine Man and Cracking the Code
In the latest episode of Backyard Biergarten, my co-host is Gordy Quist. Gordy is an all around good guy, member of The Band of Heathens, and my
Pull Over
When I’m driving down the highway, there are so many places I would love to see, but they’re on the wrong side of the road.
Summer trips and Frio River this weekend
Hope your summer is going well- It’s August, so lots of folks are getting their summer trips in now. I remember when I was younger,
Backyard Biergarten – Episode 15 – Gulf Moon and Rings on a Tree
John Edward Baumann co-hosts, my neighbor plays percussion (with a rake), and the dog shakes his collar like a tambourine in a end of summer
Rings on a Tree – Fall Tour Dates
Hallelujah. My favorite months of the year are at hand – September, October, November – and since we’re all one year older since the last
Modern Explorer – Episode 1 – John Edward Baumann
Launching a new project today- recorded straight from my garage- it’s the Modern Explorer podcast. In this first episode, I talk with songwriter John Edward