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So how has life been after X Factor?

So I finished second on X Factor. It’s something I never thought I’d do as people will always judge and talk about what you’re doing. They maybe won’t understand what my goal is. My sister applied for me, and she was very forceful about it. Because I was thinking, no I don’t want to do this, fuck that.

But it’s since changed my life. I’ve gone from a nobody to a somebody in a very short period of time. The transition from the shy guy, the type of guy not to share anything that’s on my mind, to a super-open person who is charismatic with everyone. My character has certainly changed. I’ve got used to speaking with people – having worked in catering and hospitality. My confidence level has gone up since then.

We were always a musical family and my sister always beat me in music games. So I tried to sing like her, but I never managed to hit the notes that she could. I never managed to beat her at her game but then time passed. And well, you know the rest.

I’d say that if my sister released some tracks here, she’d become one of the best singers on the island and maybe even at an international level.

Have you ever considered collaborating on a track with your sister?

Actually we have often discussed this. Even with my brother – he has a really great voice – deep too. And I’m thinking of making one song (me, my sister and brother). That would be an amazing thing.

Publicly people don’t necessarily know them but it would be special to me. It’ll be something a bit out of the ordinary – and I think the public would be surprised by how good their voices are.

Last time we met, you mentioned that people don’t really get to see the real Owen Leuellen – can you expand on that a bit?

I think people think I’m some guy who leans back and let everything come together without working. I’m literally working three jobs. I’m working harder than most people.

Music being the first, managing my brother’s restaurant ‘Taste’ in Valletta. And I have to pay close attention to detail, we started from the bottom and it’s crazy that we’ve been able to turn this from nothing into something. Nowadays we’re just entrepreneurs and trying to make a living.

 

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Have people acted surprised when they’ve seen you working at the restaurant?

The worst one I’ve had was when a particular politician and minister from one of the political parties came over to me and said. ‘Oh so this is where you ended up’.

I was thinking, oh man that really really hurt my feelings. Are you fucking serious, is this all you can say to my face? That really scarred me in a way. For a few months, I was a bit shy – or afraid – to take the garbage out, or to sweep the floors or some shit. But these are the daily tasks when you run a restaurant.

It knocked me back a bit. I came to the point where I accepted what I do, so I kinda appreciate it more. I really grind to achieve my dreams. This is one of the main incomes that helped me get by, especially during Covid when music events and gigs weren’t really allowed.

I’m really thankful to my brother who put me in this place.

So what’s your role at the restaurant and the day-to-day?

My role here is as manager. So I’m handling deliveries, stock-taking, ordering stuff. Also, I’m managing the staff, bar, waitresses and front of house etc. I’m just here to make sure everything is under control and up to standard.

We have a pretty good team and it’s like a second family. I don’t really have to bug them or mess with them because they’re always doing their job. So I cna just be me.

You’re a people-person – do you enjoy chatting with clients and customers?

So I started working when I was 14 years old – as a dishwasher. I never went to high school. I started working in a restaurant: growing my knowledge, and gaining a different perspective. I thought I was a good waiter, I worked in other people’s restaurants before. I got the experience and became confident talking with people (especially foreigners).

That was the period in my life when I became more confident. It was never about music. Then when I started talking about my music with clients at the restaurant – it was very different from what I was used to.

Instead of just being treated as a waiter or some kind of slave – the local people recognised me and said ‘ah you’re here’. It kinda changed the game as well. There were people that said ‘you should be proud, you’re working hard here’ and ‘you’re grounded and not some big-headed guy’.

Those people helped to motivate me.

Then there were the people that said, ‘what happened to your music career – aren’t you doing music anymore?’

 

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And what was your response to people that said this?

It was always the same response. My priority will always be music. But since my brother has this place then I’m going to give him all of my heart and soul. Help him in any way I can.

For example trying to promote the place myself in my own way. Working here as a waiter and manager requires me to be on the spot though. That grounds me more, and makes me more hungry to make my musical career a success.

I work with passion – I’m quite a good waiter actually.

Family means a lot to you, doesn’t it? How was your childhood and upbringing?

One of the main reasons I really love my brother is that we came so far. Some people have family finances and that safety net. My siblings didn’t have that. We had nothing and came from nothing. Let’s put it this way. We were at the very bottom and crawled our way towards the top.

We can appreciate anything. If you gave me a grain of rice today, I’d appreciate it the same as a 300g piece of ribeye.

Looking back and where we are now, I appreciate the rhythm we’re working at, we’ll definitely move towards bigger and better things.

What was your life like as a kid?

I’ve always lived in Valletta. I’m working on an album/mixtape and I have a song called ‘the story of my life’ which defines my past and what happened as I grew up.

We were raised in Valletta. The capital is split. There’s the bottom, the middle and the top of Valletta. We were born and raised in the bottom part, had friends from the middle part and then eventually moved to the ‘top part’ where the rich snobs are. We kind of had to adapt. Everyone was wearing Pull & Shark at nine-years old. Meanwhile we were wearing Gap or some shit like that.

I was born in a family where we had a lot of stuff running against us. My parents were divorced, both of whom had their share of a very difficult past. They were never friendly with each other. My brother, sister and I lived in the aftermath of the havoc of our parents’ relationship. And I don’t blame them at all, as they were young when they first had us.

We went through a lot of stuff that I couldn’t put into words. I could put it into music (but it would take a whole album to tell my story).

Lately I’ve been trying to tell my story more through my music and I hope people will listen to it and perhaps even relate to what I’ll be talking about.

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