bio

Cousin Oven is the New Jersey/New York City-based rock band led by frontman Owen Bologna. A guitarist, singer, and multi-instrumentalist originally from Connecticut.

Cousin Oven started as a solo project with no real direction or goal other than being an identity for writing and releasing concept-driven albums. His first album, A Sound View, is a collection of songs inspired by houses in his hometown, while his second album, Royale for the Dogs, depicts the curious and deranged imagery of dreams. As a songwriter, Owen pulls from his experiences as a classical trumpet player, as well as his background in jazz guitar and melds the two musical identities into a uniquely voiced alternative rock group heavily influenced by the raw and honest recordings of bands like Big Thief, Options, and Slaughter Beach Dog.

After the release of Royale for the Dogs, Owen decided to turn the solo project into a more collaborative musical entity. Previously Owen would write, record, and mix entire projects himself. After doing this for two full albums, he began to feel burnt out on creating long-form concept albums and writing and recording all of the parts himself. Over the pandemic, he shifted his role in the group by including Nathan Giordano on bass and Steven McArdle on drums in the writing and recording process for their 3rd album, Manor Crescent. A collection of songs inspired by isolation, introspection, and observations around his community during 2020.

Cousin Oven consistently performs around the Northern NJ and NYC circuit with band members Nate Giordano and Steven McArdle. A power trio that strips down the lush studio recordings to the song’s energetic core.