Owly shedding a tear over his ex-bird after listening to Ruff Sqwad's 'Guns & Roses Vol. 2'
It's been a long time coming, but Owly (aka Shower Owl) returns today with a whole heap of surprises under his wings. First establishing his name in the grime scene in 2006, Owly was regularly found rubbing feathers on the frontline of video shoots, record shops (R.I.P Uptown Records, Rhythm Division) and club nights across the UK. Ever since hearing D Double E's menacing classic, 2003's "Birds In The Sky", Owly felt a personal connection with the lyrics, which led him to form a deep-rooted love for the sound. And it wasn't long before he was moshing out at legendary club nights like Straight Outta Bethnal, Dirty Canvas and Sidewinder, before eventually putting on his own night, Pigeon Face, in 2010.
Shower Owl has been in hibernation for quite some time (following that scandalous Skinnyman incident), but he's about ready to reclaim his rightful place as the top bird in the game. With Kanye and Drake digging through the scene's archives recently, and everyone and their nan writing tiresome long-reads of what this might mean for grime, Owly bopped through the Complex office with a few nostalgic Kodak moments to remind us all that, really, it's not that deep.
As told to Laura 'Hyperfrank' Brosnan
Owly x Skepta
Date: 28.12.06
Location: DJ Cameo's Pirate Sessions, London
"This wavey photo was taken after I ran into Skepta at a rave. He told me he was daydreaming about rolling on stage with Puff Diddy Daddy, Drake and Kanye West, and I had to quickly shut him down with a glass of champerz before he got too carried away."
Owly x JME
Date: 2.12.06
Location: Dirty Canvas, ICA, London
"I flew into the rave like, 'JME, are you dumb? Are you mad? Are you flapping around an art gallery in ski wear with a mic in your hand?' And, yeah: he was being genuinely serious. That same night, we had a mini photoshoot for his blog and made each other Top 5 friends on MySpace. Looking back at it now, we were actually really good friends who'd just lost contact over time... Jamie, if you're reading this, get my number off Skeppy and dial me in. I'm out here, cuz."
Owly x Logan Sama
Date: 30.11. 06
Location: Fabric, London
"Me and Logs had a catch-up inside the Love Music Hate Racism event, way back in '06. I asked him if he'd play a set at my #FreeRobin rave, as my don caught a bird and I wanted to let him know the flock had his back. Thankfully, Logan agreed. Fam for life!"
Owly x Jammer
Date: 10.11.06
Location: Do It!, Old Blue Last, London
"Jahmek Power spotted me mid-swing of the dreads on the second verse of 'Murkle Man', and we had a good ol' chat after his set to exchange colour blocking ideas. Apparently, green and purple would really suit my new birdcage decor. And, would you believe it, he was right! This photo here might look pretty suspect, what with Jammer being sweaty and topless, but it was just his unique little way of hypnotizing the human females to buy his CDs. Oh, and that other guy us C Gritz. He felt a little left out, so we told him to jump in the shot... Bless him."
Owly x Frisco
Date: 18.11.06
Location: Dirty Canvas, ICA, London
"He's a fully grown man, but he's never seen an owl this shower. Point the finger to the guy with the ultimate power, no flower. Owly MC, signing out."
Owly x Plastician
Date: 09.02.07
Location: The Fix Up, Leeds
"This night was crazy wild! Look at the way Plasticman's trying to choke me with this can of beer. He tried to say I got wavey all on my own... I beg to differ."
Owly x Scorcher
Date: 2007
Location: Bush Hill Park Railway, Enfield
"When Wretch 32 said he wanted me to meet Skywalker, I flicked out my ting map and said cool. But why am I in a place called Bush, and who the hell is this guy holding me up?"
Owly x Tinchy Stryder
Date: 2007
Location: Ruff Sqwad's "Xtra" video shoot, Stratford, London
"Tinchy's another guy who looked up to me and tried to jack my style. You might be an East man like Brian Harvey, Tinch, but you're not from the sky. You don't know about the real cloud 9."
Owly x Skinnyman
Date: 26.02.07
Location: I Luv Live, Soho, London
"I was just minding my own business, when this skeleton pulled me out of my nesting corner... I tried to flutter my feet but his grip was just too tight. Everyone was giggling when he spat me out and said, 'It's my council estate of mind that makes me put chicks in my mouth.' I mean, if you wanna take a bite out of me—cool. But comparing me to a chicken? That's a straight-up violation. I'm the showerist owl on road, and don't you ever forget it!"
Owly x Shorty
Date: July, 2010
Location: Just Jam, Alibi, London
"I had to chief-up Shorty BBK when I went to Tim & Bal's Just Jam event. My man stole my bars, style, and even had the audacity to do my calm showerman pose in front of me! The bloody cheek of it."
