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- September 22, 2021
In his latest release, Dylan Owen reminds us that there’s more to life than just worrying about the future. The track particularly serves as a word of encouragement for creatives everywhere, reminding them to appreciate the process of making art and figuring it out at their own pace. As the saying goes, “It’s not the destination, but the journey,” and that’s the sentiment that Dylan carries into “Young Skins.”
Dylan Owen is a self-proclaimed nowhere kid from a nowhere town. Based out of the sleepy small towns of Orange County, NY, Dylan has become a beacon of light for tens of thousands of ardent listeners who come from towns such as these and beyond. His songs of introspection, wonder, and struggle turn into soundtracks for listeners as they, too, try to navigate through life. His vulnerable, poetic songwriting, influenced by the nature and open roads of his youth, has generated comparisons in the press to alternative icons like Conor Oberst and Elliott Smith. He has shared stages with Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Watsky, Yelawolf, and Skizzy Mars. His songs have been featured by Revolt TV, PepsiCo, WWE Smackdown, MTV, For Folk’s Sake, and most recently, Paste Magazine. What sustains Dylan is his ongoing quest to carve out the meaning from his journey for himself and others, and to give away so that it might empower his listeners, who prove to him time and time again that there is more to life.
Listeners hear Dylan reflect on the road bumps he has worked through and the platform that he has built as a beloved hip-hop artist with a tight-knit community of fans in “Young Skins.” Named after Colin Barrett‘s short story collection of the same name, “Young Skins” was first posted as a poem by Dylan, which was then reshared by the author with praise. The characters in Young Skins inhabit a small rural town in Ireland run by the youth, which Dylan related to having grown up in a small town.
Dylan’s version of “Young Skins” reminds us that the people we idolized or modeled our careers after are not us, effectively humanizing our heroes. It puts the ball in the court of up-and-coming creatives to become their own heroes by remaining true to themselves despite the pressure of time. The poetic lyricism is delivered over simplified synths and subtle horns, keeping the focus of the track on the meaningful message. He observes that young people are just “old souls in young skins,” struggling to stay present because they’re so focused on the future. He notes that it’s okay if we don’t become the heroes we always thought we would, because we ultimately find fulfillment in experiences that shape us to be who we are meant to be. Dylan shares,
Young Skins is for anybody who’s ever dreamed of becoming the people in the posters on their bedroom walls. We don’t need to meet our heroes. We become them. Let these be my words of encouragement to every independent artist out there.
