Jesse Owens - Casper's the Place to Be

Q: First, tell us a little about yourself! Where are you from, how did you get your start in music, and what does your musical journey look like today? Is this just a hobby? Do you play professionally? If so, where at?

A: I originally started playing music with percussion when I was in Middle School. Then, I ventured to other instruments: piano, beatboxing, guitar, singing etc.Playing music, for me, is a hobby. I hope to play live in Casper some day soon as I have over 40 original songs complete.

Q: What's your connection to Casper, Wyoming? Are you a local or a previous visitor? Tell us a little about your relationship with the community and what makes this place special to you.

A: I have lived in Casper for 6 years. I came here from Oregon to work as a flight medic with Wyoming Life Flight.

Q: What inspired your Casper Anthem submission? What stories, places, people, experiences, or personal memories helped shape the song? Was there a particular moment or aspect of Casper that sparked the idea?

A: I wrote this song from the memories made and places I have been in Casper. It was one of the easiest songs I have written as the experiences came naturally.

Q: Take us behind the music. What did your creative process look like from writing the lyrics to creating the sound? How did you approach writing and producing it? Were there any particular musical influences, sounds, lyrics, or creative decisions that helped capture the feeling and personality of Casper?

A: It took me about 3 hours to write and revise this song. I started acoustic with fun country rock chords to show the life Casper has. I took inspiration from the lyrics "Aint No Rest For The Wicked" by Cage the Elephant and took that inspiration to showcase Casper is a working town that works hard and plays hard.

Q: When someone hears your song, what do you hope they take away from it? What do you hope a listener who has never visited Casper learns, feels, or experiences through your music? And for those who already know and love Casper, what do you hope the song reminds them of?

A: When someone hears my song, I hope they can relate to it and feel the energy Casper has to offer. From floating the river to shooting guns, I want them to be able to experience those memories again through this song.