Nominations Open for the Tulsa Music Awards

About three years ago, an online radio from Tulsa dedicated to playing local music had an epiphany: why not further support local music by hosting an awards ceremony? After all, who doesn’t love a good awards show? Nominating, voting, dressing up to attend, supporting your favorite music acts from Tulsa – what’s not to love?

So, the annual We Are Tulsa Music Awards began. Since then, a number of improvements have been put in place to ensure the best experience. Multiple meetings were held just this year to discuss ironing out some kinks – and we’re convinced that the awards ceremony in April 2020 will be even more incredible than last year’s!

The 2018 We Are Tulsa Music Awards was held at the IDL Ballroom on March 9, 2019. You can find a full list of the 2018 winners here.

Now dubbed the Tulsa Music Awards, the 2019 event will be hosted at Cain’s Ballroom on April 11, 2020. (For more information, head over to the event page here.)

You can start nominating your favorite musicians and bands today (November 1) by going here. Not only are there categories for different genres, but categories that celebrate best single/EP/album, best music video, best breakout and new artist, best small/mid/large venue, and so much more, are included as well.

Under each category, a minimum of 5 separate nominations must occur for the band/musician/etc. to qualify for the first round of voting. (More rules and regulations can be found here.) Voting begins in January 2020 – this will narrow down the selection for the second round of voting that will occur in March 2020.

Last year, some very talented musicians were honored and celebrated. We’re very excited to see all of the new and returning faces – we just need you to nominate your favorites and then vote!

Do you know who you’re nominating? Do you have an opinion on the Tulsa Music Awards? Let us know in the comments!

Caity RobbLeave a comment

New: Music from Burl

The band, Burl, recently added two new singles, “Taking the Heat” and “Everything You Ever Ate,” to their catalog.

From the OKC area, Burl is a self-described indie/soft rock band. Their latest singles that came out today, October 31, bring their songs on Spotify up to three. Despite their limited recordings, the band has already begun to grow a steady fan base – if their numerous mentions in Instagram stories and an upcoming interview with Lovers Spit Magazine are any indication, that is.

“Taking the Heat” is quintessentially a soft rock song. A steady, almost somber beat is paired with lyrics that beg someone to “take the heat” for them. Simple in concept, the song seems to highlight stress and anxiety, describing the moment where the weight on your shoulders grows too heavy for you to carry alone.

The second track, “Everything You Ever Ate,” seems to be some sort of parody. Beginning with a dark, “everything you ever ate lives inside of you,” and warbled music, the song makes the perfect Halloween track. While it sticks with the soft rock elements in “Taking the Heat,” the song has seriously spooky vibes.

Check out Burl on all social media and music streaming sites, and be sure to listen to their new music below:

Have an opinion on Burl? Know of any bands/musicians that deserve a feature? Let us know in the comments, or send an email to starcatchermagazine@gmail.com.

Caity RobbLeave a comment

The True CW & His “Night Out”

On October 10, Christopher Watkins (AKA The True CW) released his single, “A Night Out.”

Originally from Chicago, the young Hip Hop artist has since brought his keen ideas and musical prowess to OKC. His latest single, “A Night Out,” has been met with open arms and eager ears, hitting more than 2,000 streams on Spotify alone within the first couple of weeks.

The single includes an alternative approach to Hip Hop – a catchy beat mixes with an almost eerie track to create a unique sound. With verses meant to uplift, the backing track only reinforces the message of empowerment.

The song itself describes going out and going places. Beginning with lines discussing staying in and going crazy, the single progresses into the eventual process of actually spending the “night out.” With words meant to prompt people to have fun and live life, the song has an upbeat message and sound.

Check out The True CW on all social media and music streaming sites, and be sure to listen to his newest song below:

Have an opinion on The True CW? Know of any bands/musicians that deserve a feature? Let us know in the comments or send an email to starcatchermagazine@gmail.com.

Caity RobbLeave a comment

Cicadia “Sheds” Their Rough Start to Release Incredible New Music

On October 24, OKC band Cicadia released their EP, Exuviate. The five-track collection is the first for the band – both under this name and with these members.

Cicadia consists of Dylan McBride (vocals and lyrical composition), Jeremy Dolezel (guitar), Caleb Klusmeyer (guitar and lead songwriter), Ethan Bybee (bass), and Dylan Brooks (drums). Dolezel and Klusmeyer are the only two original members, having begun the project about two years ago under the name “Øver Cast.”

The group underwent a series of changes at the beginning of this year that led to them recruiting new people – including borrowing McBride from Lilac Kings for vocals (to trade, Klusmeyer joined Lilac Kings as their bassist).

The band cites the genre “swancore” as their main influence. (“Swancore” is defined as a type of post-hardcore music that is “melodic” and “mathy.”) Their main inspirations come from Dance Gavin Dance, Hail the Sun, Royal Coda, Body Thief, Circa Survive, and Sianvar.

Their debut EP, Exuviate, consists of five songs – beginning with “Last Laugh” and ending with “Obsessive Composure.” Each one is expertly crafted and beautifully played.

First on the list is “Last Laugh;” a haunting melody is paired with dark lyrics to create this deeply disturbed song. According to McBride, “Last Laugh” is about “sucking it up” and “going through with something you may or may not feel is morally correct.” All of this is evident by the depressed resignation in the lyrics. The song picks up towards the end, topping it off with angry cries.

With swirling, layered music, the next song, “Troubleshoot Protocol” achieves an anxiety-filled sound. Desperation, frustration, and fear shine through every note. The song, McBride claims, is about someone “struggling with … feeling relevant in life… and how to deal with… the emotions that come with thinking they’re not.” This thought is emphasized by the line,”we’re all just dying to get by.”

The next track is the instrumental “Emergence Theory.” Something of an interlude, the piece breaks the high-emotion songs in half, serving as relief from the heaviness.

Following it is “Interrelation,” a ballad of being “afraid to fall in love.” The song denotes one-half of couple in a close, friends-with-benefits sort of relationship fearing the possibility of it developing into more.

“Obsessive Composure” is about “fighting yourself for who you want to be as a person – and how it affects you and your relationships.” This one is very clearly the fight song of the collection. Battle music scores lines dripping in inner conflict.

Every bit of Exuviate is well-worth the listen. It’s the kind of music you can get angry with and the kind that prompts inner exploration. Packed with a plethora of one-liners and quote-worthy material and combined with tunes that perfectly embody inner strife, Cicadia’s new music come highly recommended.

Check out Cicadia on all social media and music streaming sites, and be sure to listen to the new music:

Have an opinion on Cicadia? Know of an bands/musicians that deserve a feature? Let us know in the comments or email us at starcatchermagazine@gmail.com.

Caity RobbLeave a comment

Spotless Mind Releases “Part-Time Burnout”

On October 25, Spotless Mind released their third EP, Part-Time Burnout.

This being the last few songs before a dramatic style change, the music is clearly influenced by 2000’s rock music like Fall Out Boy and Weezer. With a flurry of instruments, shouting vocals, and lyrics denoting angry ballads, the EP is an emo-kid’s anthem.

The first song is “Lame Brain.” From the start, droning guitar sets the mood; angry words bemoaning angry thoughts. Sad lyrics plead the listener to stay through the bad. The song seems to tie together sadness and anger while the score prompts listeners to jump and yell along.

“Fakerrrs” follows the beginning track, calling out “fakers.” It attacks people for not saying what they mean. With vocals inspired by the wailing of Patrick Stump, the song achieves a fury-filled sound.

The next song, “Little Cracks in the Wall,” describes a meltdown caused by the words of others. Lyrics like “drinking all your words like poison” and “no one is on my team” bring to mind visions of pity parties; the song goes on to denote the process of a depressed implosion.

Next is “Backseat Driver.” Filled with harmonies and reverberating guitar, the song is probably the most pop punk of all of the EP – complete with falsetto in the bridge. Fast-paced and accusing, the song goes in circles with harmonies.

If “Little Cracks in the Wall” is a pity party, “part-time burnout” is a full parade of self-pity and inner hatred. Dark thoughts come to light as the song describes a person down on their luck and struggling through hard times.

As was mentioned in the interview we did recently with the band, the lyrics were inspired by the hardships the band faced earlier this year. Each song, to some extent, launches into a tirade of ways in which the members were either wronged – or where they wronged themselves. A series of ballads that could serve as an anthem for teens wrapped in their own self-destructive thoughts, the EP is definitely a great way to wrap up the band’s teenage angst before they switch gears towards a more mature sound.

Check out Spotless Mind on all social media and music streaming sites, and be sure to listen to their new music.

Have an opinion on Spotless Mind? Know of any bands/musicians that deserve a feature? Let us know in the comments or send an email to starcatchermagazine@gmail.com.

Caity RobbLeave a comment