Career
Born into a musical family of Maori origins, Owens first gained fame in his native New Zealand as a contestant and live-audition performer on the television program New Zealand’s Got Talent. He also performed Michael Jackson"s Who"s Loving You on the nationally televised Maori Affairs Programme. After winning the 2009 Australian Idol title, Stan Walker chose Owens to open for him at the Winner’s Tour concert stop at Rotorua, New Zealand.
In 2013, Timothy Coons, Vice-President of Omicron Media Group and former producer for the Backstreet Boys and other acts, saw Owens perform on YouTube and chose him to be a lead vocalist for a new boy band, Far Young.
The group, which also includes American Idol contestant Eben Franckewitz and Christian Wossilek as members, began performing live in March, 2014, making appearances at the 2014 Winter Park Art Festival in Winter Park, Florida, the 2014 Playlist Live Orlando event, and the 2014 New Revolution Music Tour in Cincinnati and New Orleans. In April 2014, Far Young released its first single, a cover of John Legend’s All of Maine, on iTunes.
In May 2014 Owens became the subject of a social media campaign, #WeWantJackson, wherein his fans were urged to promote his chances of obtaining resident status in the United States by showing their support.
