RECENT WORK
You can currently find my music writing in UMAmi, a local zine covering local music, punk culture, DIY spaces, and more. Its name is a play on "umami" and refers to the the Underground Music Archives (UMA) in the Metropolitan Library System’s Special Collections Department. The zine includes a monthly music calendar and is available at Metro Library's 19 locations and various shops/venues like Resonant Head, Ponyboy, Dig it!, Factory Obscura, etc. Previous issues are accessible online! Read on to find some of my stories!
I reviewed the track “Embers” from Beau Jennings and R.R. Williams, an anthem of soaking up the good times while they’re still around and tending to the embers in the burnout.
In one of my favorite articles to date, I take a moment to unpack what it’s like to let go of a perfectionist tendency to squeeze the most out of a performance and let myself just…enjoy.
In May 2025’s UMAmi, I reflect on why OKC’s music scene feels more alive than ever. With packed calendars, all-ages venues, and a strong sense of community, this might be a golden era for local music.
Check out my review of Oklahoma City local Donovan Funk’s new tracks “Stay” and “Window,” an introspective blend of guitar riffs and emo atmosphere.
I caught up with Dummy ahead of their show at Resonant Head, where they talked tornado sirens, coffee, kazoo covers, and “hypnotic electronic rock.”
In this review, I dive into “Promise,” from Oklahoma favorite Charlotte Bumgarner, which highlights her vocal and emotional depth, paired with a powerhouse release show in Tulsa. Standouts include the twangy, string-laced “Never Say,” the Boygenius-leaning “Strong,” and the edgier “Sleepwalking.”
I reviewed a show at Resonant Head with LABRYS, Friko, and Water From Your Eyes. Friko’s "Cardinal” from “Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here” was later named Paste’s top release of 2024. I’m calling it now: these guys are going to be huge.
I reviewed 10:10 by LABRYS, a raw, introspective masterpiece exploring addiction and life's struggles with haunting, guitar-driven sounds and raw lyrics.
Penny Pitchlynn delivers a captivating exploration of the human condition. It was an honor to review this incredible album.
Enjoy a locally grown playlist featuring the wonders of spring with the likes of “Be My Wildwood Flower” by Carter Sampson,” “Bloom” by Graveyard Party," and more!
Truthfully, this might be some of my best work yet. For the February 2024 UMAmi issue, I organized Oklahoma love songs from Most In Love to Least In Love. Read on to see where "Spinning" by Maddie Razook and "You for Leaving Me" by Colourmusic fit.
Cautious Optimism
In celebration of the new year, I created a playlist in the vein of “cautious optimism” for January 2024’s issue of UMAmi, including “When This Blows Over” by John Calvin Abney and “Boomer” by Bartees Strange.
December 2023’s zine features my interview with Oklahoma pop artist Kat Lock about her holiday single “Next Christmas.” Blending upbeat melodies with bittersweet themes, the song explores capitalism, chronic illness, and the emotional weight of winter.
November 2023’s zine reviews Keathley’s “Boots By My Boots,” a romantic track with fresh vulnerability. It follows her Spring single “Frostbite.” The issue also profiles Indigenous Oklahoma musicians and covers Horton Records’ all-Cherokee album “Anvdvnelisgi.”
October 2023’s zine includes a favorite “spooky-inspired” playlist featuring local Halloween-centered songs like “Vampires (Get Lonely Too)” by stepmom, “Our Spooky Song” by Keathley, and “Scream Queens” by Bad Athlete.
PS - I don’t only listen to music. I’ve also been known to watch a movie or two. Check out this review in the UMAmi zine of the incredibly gripping “Super Dark Times.” I also did a handful of snapshot reviews for the 2026 Oscars in the March 2026 and April 2026 issues!
The new six-track mixtape cassette captures a journey of raw emotion through the changing seasons and pairs beautifully with the immersive art experience.
When Okie artists come together, magic happens. Factory Obscura’s “Mix-Tape Vol. 2” is just one example of this collaborative magic.
When a person listens to this mixtape, even if they didn’t grow up during the era of personalized cassette tapes, they feel like a kid again, exploring and wondering about the world, just like stepping foot into the magic of Factory Obscura’s exhibit.
This mixtape has the ability to make the listener feel re-engaged with the world.
Alison Sloan is creating a much-needed message of transparency about mental health with her single “Alive.” She defies labeling and genre and lets the emotional weight of her message guide her, playing with different tempos, styles, and instruments, ranging from jazz to emo to ballad.
Sloan’s music is a marriage of rebellion and sentimentality with a childlike curiosity narrated by the bearer of a newfound maturity. It’s music for anyone who finds freedom in vagueness, uses art as rebellion, feels at home with worlds they’ve built in their minds, and anyone who needs to hear that they’re not alone. Her single, “Alive,” is no exception and is about going through the motions in the recovery process. Through that pain, though, Sloan shines with a maturity and sentimentality.
Alison Sloan’s third studio album, “Fate,” explores the seven deadly sins through her genre-bending and emotionally rich songwriting.
The album features Sloan’s raw authenticity and intricate musicality, blending themes of vulnerability and religious imagery.
Following her previous concept albums, “Mindbody” and “Headspace”, “Fate” delves into sin and redemption with lyrical depth and allegorical storytelling. Sloan, recovering from personal struggles and a creative block, found new strength in creating this album.
“Fate” reflects her journey of vulnerability and healing, offering listeners a glimpse into her emotional and artistic evolution.
Music Writing From the Vaults
Scott Booker is nothing short of an expert in the music industry, but he doesn’t claim to know everything. I sat down with Booker in his office at ACM@UCO to chat about his history in music and gather his thoughts on music business.
“It was kind of weird to think, for a brief moment I was suspected of possibly murdering Elliott Smith.” - Scott Booker
Stephen Salewon is sipping from a matcha latte at Classen Coffee, speaking over the sound of soft indie music and the whir of espresso machines. He’s intentional with his words, both in conversation and in songwriting.
Salewon’s music is exactly what you’d hear in a coffee shop like this, chill, contemplative, and comforting. I spoke with Salewon about his newest EP, “All Around.”
John Calvin Abney is sitting at a table at Scottie’s Deli on 23rd Street in Oklahoma City, reminiscing over a black bean sandwich and pasta salad, wearing a black T-shirt and a flannel with a hole in the elbow.
He’s taking a short break after soundchecking for his record release show at the Blue Door, talking about life on the road, missing Oklahoma, and the future ahead of him.
Mad Honey is a dream pop/glitter rock band, and they’re makin’ waves in OKC’s music scene. I chatted with Mad Honey at Whole Foods about their influences, their vibe, and what they’re excited for in the future. To set the scene, picture retro eyeglasses, a ‘90s windbreaker, lactose-free coffee, and sea salt and tangerine-flavored kombucha.
Everything Kat Lock does starts ironically. This includes her musical career.
After training classically in Broadway and Opera, Lock was the only one of her friends who didn’t play an instrument. One day, when Lock was 18, a friend of hers (Ian Burns from GWIZ) thought it would be funny to teach her one song on guitar – “Hey Ya” by Outkast.
This was the beginning of her music career.
While munching on snacks in the lead singer’s living room, the NTZ dudes opened up about how they formed as a band, their favorite memories from playing together, and the deep sense of gratitude they have for one another.
The conversation was full of laughs, a few inside jokes, and a clear bond that goes beyond just making music.
Lunar Music Supply in Moore is connecting the local gear industry with the national one.
The aesthetic music store has an international eCommerce presence and provides the local scene with unique, custom gear from across the nation.
John Calvin Abney’s full-length album “Safe Passage” comes out Sept. 27, and I am beyond excited to hear it in its entirety. Abney said this album will have some of the most hopeful songs he’s ever written.
A bunch of teenagers gather in a living room inside a 900 square foot house in Norman. There’s a bowl of macaroni sitting by a drum set and a Grand Theft Auto game case sitting by a houseplant named “Palm McCartney.” This is ska punk band Irrational Consumers.
Ska is a unique genre of music, and (at the risk of sounding too hipstery) not a lot of people know about it. However, the Oklahoma ska scene is actually fantastic, so we would like to take the time to introduce you to some of the bands.
I spoke with local ska bands The Big News, LFNC, and Stinky Gringos about the growing Oklahoma Ska scene.
Play it Loud is a captivating, intimate and sentimental video series from the mind of Chad Mathews, hosted by Adam Hampton. Play it Loud is all about exploring Oklahoma music, and it features two main segments – a live performance and an interview with the artist.
Sophia Massad is on a journey of finding her individual sound, which is a little bit jazzy, a little bit folk-inspired, and a little bit rock n’ roll. Her music is getting a lot of attention, and Massad said she’s excited about what the future holds.
Erica Ray-Maynord is creating music that exudes peacefulness, mindfulness, and intentionality, with her Electro/R&B project, Elorah.
There’s never a dull moment in Johnny Manchild’s “Insomnia.”
It’s like if you took angsty 2000s punk rock (think like Anthony Raneri from Bayside) and put it in a blender with Ben Folds, threw in some jazz and added in some smooth orchestral elements.
Tyler Garcia is a sound engineer, ACM@UCO professor, producer, and event promotion expert. Basically he does a little bit of everything. I chatted with him about his work with 33rd Street Studio and Upstage Promotions and about his passion for Oklahoma music.
Me Oh My is starting a new chapter in their music with a new groovy sound, a funky music video, and a fresh new EP entitled “The Best is Yet To Come.” Me Oh My lead singer Megan Wiggins called this “phase two of Me Oh My and described the sound as “futuristic space aliens.” It’s hard to place, but it’s somewhere between the Flaming Lips and Alabama Shakes.
Annie Oakley has been in the Oklahoma Folk music scene for years, making a name as Americana badasses. Now, they have a full length album to show for it. “Words We Mean” is a delicate and deliberate musical experience from three Oklahoma gals (and featured guests) who know how to get their message across.
Bad Jokes’ music has a lot of unique elements, but one thing rings true – it makes people happy. When the band was asked to describe the vibe of their music, they said it’s like cruising with the windows down through the mountains with the sun shining, carefree and relaxed.
Let’s take a little walk down Oklahoma music scene’s memory lane and even more of peek behind the music business curtain…
Becoming involved in the local music scene can be so rewarding, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.
Follow these three tips to find some rad tunes and support local music!
There are thousands of music tastemakers, photographers, videographers, writers, superfans, and activists who are changing the Oklahoma music scene like Desiree Yearby, Ryan LaCroix, Evan Jarvicks, Elecktra Stanislava, and Nathan Poppe.
OKC’s music scene is quickly growing, which is why local venues like the Tower Theatre are so important in building live music culture. I talked with Tower’s Chad Whitehead about why independent venues are so vital to local scenes, and how people can support bringing music to the people.
To build music culture, it takes more than musicians, more than music professionals. This article highlights five unexpected businesses – a brewery, a bank, a car dealership, a burger shop, and a tech start-up – in Oklahoma City who are creating opportunities in the scene.
Sowers and Searle met in the dorms at OU and worked up the business plan for Guestroom while driving pizza for Pizza Shuttle, bonding over a shared vision of “getting good music to the people who want it.”
Oklahoma is packed with dedicated sound engineers who will do anything to get the right sound. From cozy home studios to spunky hidden gems, here are three recording studios making a name for themselves.
Plaza Fest is a reminder of just how much talent OKC holds. Even after celebrating its 20 year anniversary, it still feels like an all-day party filled with incredible local music.
OKC Mayor David Holt is doing the most for the Oklahoma music scene. Learn more about “City Hall Sessions,” a local concert series in which Oklahoma artist perform right in Holt’s office in front of a small audience.
This 2019 article unveils local venues where you can find pie fights, clowns, and a giant tree.
Kick it back to 2019’s Hip-Hop scene in Oklahoma City with artists Jacobi Ryan, Millie Mesh, Jabee.
And now…let’s step back to Oklahoma’s 2019 Country music scene with artists Parker Millsap, Tanner Fields, and John Moreland.
I put together a list of some of the top releases of 2019, and I’m barely scratching the surface.