J. Owen began his professional career in Ireland during the early 'eighties touring as a solo artiste with Clannad and Scullion. He then moved to New York, gaining new influences from the thriving Folk Scene there. Returning to Ireland in the mid-eighties, he began to develop his song-writing talent. He is now based in London, where he has established himself as an influential figure on the Acoustic Circuit, both as a writer and performer. 1991 saw the release of 'Ribbonmen', a collection of songs relating to the Irish Potato Famine of 1845. The release generated considerable interest, both for its historical relevance and the quality of the song-writing. In 1994 J.Owen recorded the album 'Sean One Shoe', a collection of songs inspired by his Irish London experiences. The subsequent tour and live radio sessions received wide-ranging critical acclaim. J.Owen teamed up in 1996 with virtuoso violinist Ashley Reed (Albion Band). As a duo, they toured on the festival and club circuit and recorded 'Kissing Stone', a compilation of contemporary songs and traditional Folk tunes, which showcased the innovative abilities of both performers. This allowed J.Owen to gain a reputation as a noted traditional accompanist, resulting in a number of recording and live sessions with other traditional players, including Gerry Diver (Sin E) and Kieran Kiely (Shane Mc Gowan). 1999 saw J. Owen returning to his song-writing roots with a four-track E.P. 'Claws' recorded with double bass player P. Kubrick Townsend. This was followed by the release of the single 'Eve of Solution' showcased at the 12 Bar Club in London's West End. The positive response to this new material generated enough interest to allow J.Owen to write and record his new album which was recorded between March and October 2001. 'Exiles', a full-length studio album of 12 new songs, truly reflects all of J.Owen's talents as a singer-songwriter, producer and musician.