Sounds Of Oklahoma: Bands And Artists From OK

Find your new favorite band from Oklahoma, or rekindle feelings for a singer you might've forgotten about. Here are Bella's overall picks.

Friday, January 26th 2024, 6:18 pm

By: News 9, Bella Roddy

OKLAHOMA -

Sounds Of Oklahoma- Bella's Picks

Working to create a comprehensive list of musical artists and bands from Oklahoma, I have found many hidden gems and was inspired by old favorites all over again. Here is a list of this week's favorites.

If you want to listen along to my top songs, follow this playlist on Spotify:

Smokey Motel

269 Monthly listeners

Two brothers from Davidson Oklahoma, show off not only their vocals but their lyrical prowess as well. With only a couple thousand listens on songs like “Bodies”, it’s surprising this musical duo hasn’t received much attention.

Smokey Motel is branded as an electronic pop rock band, but I’d argue that some of their sounds hint towards indie rock at some points. However, the electric guitar and vocals on other songs could beg to differ.

“I Die” was produced with help from local Oklahoma-based recording engineer Colton Jean.

According to a report by the Oklahoman, the two brothers grew up listening to bands like Creed, Hootie And The Blowfish, and Van Halen. These influences are prominent in songs like “Where The Hell Are You?” which is my personal favorite of these two.

Similar Artists: The Backseat Lovers, Dayglow, Declan Mckenna

J.J. Cale

2.3 Million Monthly Listeners

J.J. Cale was born in Oklahoma City in 1938, lived in Tulsa, and attended Tulsa Central High School. Cale’s songs were hugely popular and his songs like “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” were performed by Eric Clapton and Johnny Cash, according to a New York Times article.

The article also states that Cale was a Grammy award winner for an album with Eric Clapton called, “The Road to Escondido.”

A classic blend of folk, blues, and rock gives J.J. Cale’s songs a timeless feeling.

Often on a majority of his songs, Cale was known to play all instruments and mix all by himself.

Songs like “Magnolia” can evoke emotions so easily through the power in his voice and the masterful guitar playing. And yet at the same time, songs like “Lies”, “Crazy Mama” and of course “Devil In Disguise” have powerful steady drum patterns that just make you want to tap your fingers and feet along.

The perfect blend of music genres gave J.J. Cale ample room to show off his wide range in creating music, and his songs will continue to inspire for years to come.

Similar Artists: Nick Drake, Credence Clearwater Revival, Allman Brothers Band

BRONCHO

288.7k Monthly Listeners

An all-encompassing indie-rock band based in the great Norman, Oklahoma. I was surprised to learn that a band I listened to in college was from the same place I studied. Their #1 song for a reason is “Class Historian”, and was a song I kept coming back to listen to again.

“Try Me Out Sometime” is another good example of their drummer's abilities. Although this band hasn’t had a release since 2018, it’s safe to say that they exude 70’s beach band through and through. With hints of rock, indie, and interesting vocals BRONCHO is shaped into a catchy song-making machine.

Similar Artists: Generationals, The Growlers, The Shins

https://livesessions.npr.org/artists/broncho

Parker Millsap

296k monthly listeners

One of my standout artists, Parker Millsap is a singer-songwriter with influences of blues, country, rock, Americana, and folk music.

Millsap is from Purcell, Oklahoma, and has opened for big names such as Lake Street Drive and Patty Griffin.

His multi-instrument expertise takes what could have been a good song, into a great one. In songs like “Hades Pleads”, and “Heaven Sent” you can hear multiple string instruments, drums, and brass. This musicality elevates his songs and makes me want more.

Now, onto his lyrics and vocal abilities.

Millsap has proven to be a well-rounded musician without question, but his voice and lyrics are on another level.

In “Old Time Religion”, Millsap uses a deep and dark mood to magnify an old gospel tune also titled “Old Time Religion”. The original gospel song asks for a strong faith in God, not subject to change through pop culture, remaining firm in the Bible. However, Millsap cleverly and oppositionally used this tune to describe a man using the Bible and its teachings against others. This could also be influenced by what Millsap describes as growing up in a Pentecostal church.

In songs like “Your Water”, “Pining”, and “Heaven Sent”, Millsap uses a complex mixture of genres to perfectly compliment his impressive vocals.

Parker Millsap is underrated and will impress seconds into a song.

Similar Artists: John Fullbright, Shaky Graves, Shovels & Rope

Downward

35.6k monthly listeners

In 2015, Downward was formed by a group of friends from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bringing together influences from shoegaze, emo, and dream pop, listening to this band reminds me of earlier punk rock.

In their most recent release in 2023, their EP Split has in my opinion one standout song, “The Waltz”. But songs like “Your Way” and “GLASSHOUSE” secured their spot on this list.

This band is a great example of music that immediately puts you in a certain mood. And when musicians or bands can do that, you know they have something special.

Similar Artists: Linkin Park, Green Day, The Grunge Growlers, Distorted Resonance

Husbands

432.3k Monthly Listeners

Husbands in an indie pop band based out of Oklahoma City. According to an article on AudioTreeTV, Danny Davis and Wil Norton both provide vocals and guitar in the group and first got to know each other while directing a Godzilla musical in college.

Apart from the interesting sound effects, vocalities, and layers in songs by Husbands, their ability to create a beachy catchy song is unstoppable.

What I think makes them different from any other surf/indie pop band, is that their four albums are self-produced. Songs like “Used To Surf”, “Face Molt” and “Crash Pad” are catchy in a different way. Which is what makes Husbands so underappreciated. Very similar to DJO, this band creates a grittier songscape that takes the reverbed guitar and strong vocals even further.

Who doesn’t enjoy some well-placed synths and surf-rock guitars? “Lost Weekend” and “She’s a Betty” make me want to sit by a pool, and I can’t complain.

Husbands actually surprised me with their musical talents and production value. Two thumbs up from me on this one!

Similar Artists/Bands: DJO, The Vaccines, Peach Pit

Related Article: https://audiotree.tv/session/husbands

JW Francis

94.1k monthly listeners

Born in Oklahoma, then based in New York, JW Francis is now what he calls a “nomad”. Francis spends his time traveling, playing concerts, and backyard shows. His interesting personality and ways of bending the rules performance-wise, also shine through in his music.

Francis is known to use his audience as a part of the band when he performs, much like another uber-creative artist Jacob Collier.

In songs like “Swooning”, and “Keep It Cool, Steve”, you can hear the indie-pop influences very clearly. But in other songs like “Take Me Away”, the music production takes a slightly different approach that I don’t dislike.

I think Francis’ ability to write and perform so freely, is inspiring for musicians. He not only is attempting to break out of a niche or musical ‘box’, but he is also finding new ways for an audience to feel a part of something rather than just spectating it.

According to an article by Spin, Francis used stories from fans and turned them into songs. The article continues to say that hundreds of fans submitted stories about their loved ones, and Francis picked from those to create his latest album “Dream House”.

Creativity exudes from JW Francis, and many of his songs like “Too Fast”, can instantly give you a mood boost.

Similar Artists: MOTO BANDIT, Shimmertraps, Husbands

Daniel Mudilar

1,995 monthly listeners

I found Daniel Mudliar through TikTok. An app that has given me many new musicians to listen to, and also has helped many artists and bands take off.

Mudliar is from Oklahoma City and has only two songs out. However, I was able to find live versions of both, as well as an unreleased song on YouTube.

I am a big fan of Jack Johnson and the feeling I get when I listen to him. Mudliar has a similar vibe to Jack Johnson, and Jose Gonzalez, who I also am very fond of. In “ Indecisive”, Mudliar takes a simple guitar loop and elevates it even more so in the live version.

The quality of his work is impressive considering how little attention he’s gotten. However, I think this is a smart move on his part because his live recordings are very good, and film-like.

I was able to find a music video for a song that to my knowledge is unreleased called “Mystery” with Ken Pomeroy and Garrison Brown. This unplugged acoustic version of the song is simple, yet musically very interesting.

Similar artists: Jack Johnson, Jose Gonzalez, Iron & Wine

Corey Kent

4.3m listeners

A country boy from Bixby, Oklahoma, has made a name for himself in Nashville. According to his website, Corey Kent started playing and performing when he was just 11-years-old, and had moved out of Bixby and was playing shows in Nashville at 17. Kent had a chance encounter at a Willie Nelson concert, and was pulled up onto the stage, and was inspired to start writing music full-time.

Kent started traveling with huge country names like Parker McCollum, Kolby Cooper and Cody Johnson, and then blew up when “Wild As Her” took off.

Kent’s most recent single “This Heart” actually took me by surprise. His vocal abilities show off in this one, and the music production feels different than most of his discography.

I also really enjoy “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” and “Once or Twice” from Kent.

I think when we can hear his smooth vocals in songs like “Once or Twice”, I can appreciate Kent’s raw talent.

Similar Artists: Sean Stemaly, Chase Matthew, Conner Smith