Ox

In the yet-to-be-written almanac of Canadian indie alt-country history, Vancouver’s OX would figure as a seminal contributor. Emerging from the smoky confines of DOA’s Commercial Drive studio in 2003- ‘Dust Bowl Revival’ hit the college charts and reached #1- the first totally independent record to manage the feat. From there, through multiple albums and countless tours, Ox fuse weary with vicious, punk with hillbilly- farmer in the city with the electro-magnetic aura of tape hiss and amp crackle. Since 2012's 'Tuco' album, Ox's Mark Browning shifted his creative energies to start a family and focus on his community. Settling in his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario, the veteran songwriter created multiple businesses within his neighbourhood including a record store, recording studio, coffee bar, and vegan taco lounge (named after OX’s last album, Tuco). Gradually, the pull of music brought him back to his own studio to transform a cache of new songs into OX's sixth album, Ktel. Inspired by the joys of his newfound communal experiences, while reflecting on the burnout he experienced as a nomadic touring musician, his voice has the wizened sound of an indie-rock road dog who’s seen it all. With a cracked croon setting the stage for sprawling 70s styled country-rock jams, Ktel’s melancholy musings sparkle with a cinematic quality as reminiscent of T.Rex & the Eagles as they are of Car Seat Headrest.