How to choose between a queen and a legend?
Easy if you’re Carmel resident Ephraim Owens, who had all four coaches trying to get him onto their teams when he took the stage during the blind auditions for “The Voice,” which aired in the first week of the current season.
Faced with offers from Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, John Legend and Reba McEntire, machine operator Hess paid tribute to the queen of country music McEntire, but decided to remain with Legend’s team.
Owens, the father of 2-year-old Jackson Riggs and 4-year-old Evelyn Ann (whom viewers saw on stage during the blinds), spoke with IndyStar about his first time singing at the historic Black Church in Indianapolis, his horse and family connections. to “Voice”.
Why Ephraim Owens chose “Beneath Your Beautiful” as his audition song
This season, Owens performed Labrinth’s “Beneath Your Beautiful” in the blind auditions.
“You think about all the different songs and you think about that one opportunity, that one thing that you’re going to leave and make a first impression. Labrinth is an artist I look up to and admire for his lyrical ability and vulnerability, and “Beneath Our Beautiful” is a fantastic song. And it connects us in a way that resonates with me. It’s about vulnerability and the commitment that someone has to make to allow someone to see the ugly parts… it takes a lot of trust to see the scars. This is something that resonates with me even when I yearn for a wife. I had to do certain things and pursue her on a level that would allow her to open up to me and vice versa.”
“Because I was able to relate to the song so well, I felt like I could convey that message. I strongly believe in music. You can’t take people to places you don’t want to go, and this song is where I feel like I can take people.”
Although he is shown riding a horse on a farm and talking about working with McEntire, he chose John Legend.
“I’m full of surprises. I love riding horses.”
“I went to Lawrence Central High School and when I was in high school I worked at a feed store. And then I got involved with the Indiana Black Cowboys, also known as the MudHole Riders, and fell in love with horses and riding. I grew up in the city and rode horses all over the East Side. I’m sure it was a sight to behold for those who live on the east side.”
“The horse I ride on TV is my horse, Sgt. I’ve had him since he was seven months old. And he’s 16 now. This is something that’s always been an outlet for me; looks like music. “
“My wife loves Reba very much. But for me personally, John Legend, his music has inspired and influenced me ever since he released it. And while they all had great things to say, and I was very touched that all four of them pressed the button and turned to me, I felt the most peace in going on this journey with John. I don’t think I could really go wrong with any of them.”
Entertainment is in Owens’ blood.
“Both my parents went to Indiana. They are Sycamores and they met at a talent show. My dad sang and my mom juggled. And then they had seven children. And we are all wild individuals.
“My father was the minister of music, so he played music all over Indianapolis. I grew up with my grandmother singing. At the time, she was singing at Christ Missionary Baptist Church. The first time I sang in public was at my grandmother’s church. I was three years old and I sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and that’s when I knew.”
“Music has always been a part of our lives. My father always strived to do this and did it well. And he taught us, if you’re going to do something, strive to be perfect at it. It didn’t matter if we did a Mother’s Day music special; my father had rehearsals, and he wasn’t messing around at all.”
“I have four brothers and two sisters. I grew up on Delaware Street, 21st Street in Delaware. And I grew up doing musicals at Footlite (Musical), their summer theater. And then we joined the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. I took part in the match program of the Children’s Museum. I was always near the theater. And then when we moved to the east side and I went to Lawrence Central, I was in the show choir, The Central Sound.”
Campus Ministry in the Sunshine State
Owens moved to Florida after graduating from high school.
“My older brother went to Florida State and I just needed a change of scenery; just to end up being a better person. And I got involved in campus ministry, at Florida A&M and Florida State, and spent six years doing music in a variety of ways. I then returned home and became involved in several different churches, but the main church that I was really involved in and was actually a staff member was Grace Church here in Carmel, Indiana. I was an assistant pastor there from 2017 to 2021. I retired and have always been involved in music. It was the most consistent artistic expression of my entire life.”
“I’ve worked in churches and served as a worship leader, but I’ve never done music as an artist or done concerts or anything like that. So this opportunity with “The Voice” is the first time I’ve actually been able to get on stage as an artist and actually perform. The dream has always been to do this, but the reality is that I think there is a huge practical side to me, especially since I got married and we started having kids. Priority number one is creating stability in my family, taking care of my wife and children. The bills must be paid.”
How Ephraim Owens met his wife Elizabeth
He met his wife Elizabeth Owens while they were in a youth group in 2005.
“I was an East Side kid. She was a Carmelite girl. By all accounts, I was just a little playboy at the time and she didn’t pay any attention to me. And for years I tried to get my shot. She simply turned it off. And the years passed. I moved to Florida; she went to Butler. And when I returned, we crossed paths at a Mumford & Sons concert. We reconnected, had coffee and started stalking each other. We got married in 2017.”
He went from a city boy to farm life.
“My wife’s family has a small farm in Zionsville, and I have animals there—my horse, Sergeant; pigs; cows; and Jeremiah the donkey. I am solely responsible for the maintenance of the land and property. So every day after work or before work I go to the farm and take care of the animals, mend fences and cut down trees if necessary, or just do whatever needs to be done. If you’ve ever spent time on a farm, you know there’s always something to do.
His older brother David Owens was a contestant on The Voice.
The third time was the charm for Owens, who had previously auditioned for the show twice.
“I originally tried it out in 2011 for an in-person audition in Chicago, but I didn’t get a call back. And then I tried again in 2019 when they were here downtown – me and my three brothers went to the audition. My brother David got a call back. David ended up on the show and was on Kelly’s team.”
“When you audition, you are put into a community that is notified of other opportunities. I randomly received an email about something like a virtual audition. So I went to my little office, did the virtual audition, got a call back, and the rest is history.”
About the four-chair turn
The man who auditioned shortly before Owens failed to beat any trainer.
“I had a game face. I thought, “I don’t need to go from zero to four.” All I need is one person to try to give me a chance.”
“I knew that if I walked on that stage I showed my best side. I could have walked away with my head held high… And to be accepted for who I was was shocking and surreal.”
Viewers will then be able to see Owens prepare for the battle rounds, in which coaches pit two members of their team against each other, with the winner advancing to the competition. They will start on October 17th.
The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:00 pm on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl W. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter:@cherylvjackson.