Owen Riegling

Owen Riegling emerged as an up-and-coming force in Canadian country music while still in his late teens, blending a traditionalist approach with the unfiltered outlook of rural youth. His songs draw from the melodic pull of modern country, layered with the intimate textures and timeless atmosphere of Americana, all unified by his straightforward and approachable stage presence. Following an independent start via the blues-inflected 2021 single “Smoke Man,” he secured a deal with a major label and notched two charting successes in 2023: “Old Dirt Roads” and the rural yet catchy “Love (The Sweater Song).” The 2024 EP Bruce County expanded his reach further and delivered the additional hit “Moonshines.”

Born in 1999, Riegling spent his childhood in the small Ontario town of Mildmay. At age ten he began experimenting on a toy piano, and a year later he received his first guitar as a holiday gift. Guitar lessons soon followed, and his teacher recognized his potential by inviting him into the band. Within a short time he was performing weekend sets at local bars and restaurants, mixing covers of country and classic rock numbers with occasional original material. After high school he enrolled in college to pursue business studies, yet he ultimately chose to pursue music instead. Winning studio time in London led him to apply to the Ontario Institute of Recording, where he completed three semesters and cut his debut single as a class assignment. Released digitally, “Smoke Man” gained initial traction and was later included on his six-track EP Empty Room, which arrived in September 2020.

Riegling concentrated on live performances, appearing at venues ranging from neighborhood bars to the Ontario country festival Music in the Fields. In 2022 he performed at Boots & Hearts as part of an emerging-artist showcase. Impressed by his set, Universal Music Canada offered a contract, and the label released “Love (The Sweater Song)” as his first official single in June 2023. The track reached number 29 on the Canadian country chart. The following August, “Old Dirt Roads” climbed to number 28 on the same chart while also performing strongly on major streaming platforms. Growing recognition brought support slots on Canadian tours alongside Tyler Hubbard, Robyn Ottolini, and Chase Rice. In 2024 the release of Bruce County produced the number-two single “Moonshines,” and Riegling also contributed a cover of the Tragically Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” plus a collaboration with MacKenzie Porter on “Coming Home to You (Bigger Houses).”