Legendary house music producer and singer-songwriter Robert Owens teams up with house vocalist Pepper Gomez on “Be Ready,” via Wake Up! Music.

Pepper Gomez

Sharing how the collaboration came to pass, Robert says, “One chat with Pepper Gomez over the internet and I felt I was in touch with a kindred spirit, I felt an unconditional beauty, which triggered the writing on the tracks (‘Be Ready’ and ‘I’m Awake’). I’m very grateful for moments in life when lyrics start because of a conversation with someone that you feel is a beautiful individual inside out and thoughts for words on a track are secondary – not taking anything away from the work each amazing musician has done on the beautiful tracks… We work hand in hand as a family and I’m sending each of you love forever.”

Pepper explains, “You know this all started as a pipe dream.  In my heart and love of House Music, there has never been a doubt who is the best and to me, that has always been Robert Owens! Oh, my goodness – I love everything about him – his sense of melody, rhythm, the richness of his voice, his way of expressing, and of course, his lyrics.  I’ve listened to him countless times.  When you listen to someone enough, they become a part of you.”

Owens’ cult-like status in house music began when he and Larry Heard formed Fingers Inc., dropping “You’re Mine” and “It’s Over,” along with an album, Another Side. In 1993, Owens moved to London, where he started a label, Musical Directions.

His singles, “Mine to Give” and “I’ll Be Your Friend” topped Billboard’s club chart. Owens went on to collaborate with producers like Damian Lazarus, Coldcut, Roy Davis Jr., Marshall Jefferson, Soul Clap, Gina Breeze, Alinka, and Steve Bug, on labels like Ninja Tune, Boy Noize, Circo Loco, and HE.SHE.THEY.

When people talk about Chicago House Music, they inevitably mention Robert Owens.

Pepper Gomez holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is the founder and CEO of Wake Up! Music. She also started a successful behavioral health company. During the ’80s, Pepper was a vocalist on the rise, singing with Miguel Garcia (“Shake It”), Tony ‘Boom Boom’ Badea (“Face the Music”), Mario ‘Smokin’ Diaz (“Fusion Dance”), and on Matt Warren’s Billboard-charting “Way to My Heart.”

“Be Ready” opens on soft shimmering layers of sound, highlighting a rumbling bassline and crisp percussion. Gently braying brass tones inject the tune with iridescent accents as Pepper’s sumptuous voice imbues the lyrics with bewitching textures.

“Be Ready” exhibits the hypnotic allure of Chicago House Music, along with the remarkable talents of Robert Owns and Pepper Gomez.

Robert Owens Facebook | Spotify

Pepper Gomez Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Spotify

Written by Randy

Randy Radic is a Left Coast author and writer. Author of numerous true crime books written under the pen-name of John Lee Brook. Former music contributor at Huff Post.