Owen is a solo project from multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Kinsella, an important figure on the Chicago indie rock scene who is known for his work with Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owls, Their / They're / There, and American Football. Unlike most of Kinsella's projects, Owen showcases an unfiltered version of his creative vision, with music that is spare and hauntingly melodic despite the often downbeat nature of his lyrics. Steeped in indie folk influences and lo-fi philosophies, Owen made a distinctive debut with his 2001 self-titled album. As his lyrics matured with time, he made more ambitious use of the studio, and 2013's L'Ami du Peuple is regarded as a creative and conceptual high point for the project. Still active in multiple bands, Kinsella continued to flesh out accompaniment on a string of S. Carey-produced albums that included 2016's The King of Whys and 2024's electronics-injected The Falls of Sioux.