Some people might say Owen Ragland, 23, is a former piano prodigy. Others might tell you he’s a producer who’s been making wavy beats for the city’s hottest hip-hop acts since he was a teen living in Webster Groves. Over his life, Ragland has been both those things.
But this last year he became Whitworth, a solo pop artist turning heads touring the country in Grace the Dream Bus, a 40-foot school bus decked out with an 18-foot performance stage on the back. He’s bringing his positivity-driven, melodic sounds to the Dark Room on Nov. 22.
“Being optimistic is revolutionary in this day and age,” he says. “I want Whitworth to be an optimism for people, a source of joy and a source of energy in a time where it’s hard to find those things.” Whitworth released his first album “Earth to Dreamer” in May, just one year after dropping out of his music and film program at Sarah Lawrence College.
He knew he wanted to make music full-time and tour. It was a hefty time commitment, and Whitworth took a chance on himself, confident that being a solo artist was his destiny. “School was, honestly, a way for me to grow as a person, not as a musician,” he says.
The young artist didn’t hesitate when it came to shifting gears and hitting the road. While in New York he connected with a manager and band members who supported his cause. He moved back to St.
Louis and recorded his EP “Down to Earth,” which came out in July 2023. Then he and his band hit the road for a 10.
