oh?no!ok. is a fast-paced, high energy, alternative rock band whose sole mission is to provide a highly entertaining musical experience, both in a live setting and for at home listening.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Ryan Osborn - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Primary Lyricist
Nick Storey - Lead Guitar, vocals
Jackson Ludlow - vocals
Cole Miller - Drums, vocals
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to “oh!no?ok.”? How long has the band been around?
We’ve all been in and out of band/projects since we were kids. I (Ryan) picked up a guitar primarily for the reason to be in a band with some of my friends back in elementary. Our bands in high school got more serious but none of them really ever blossomed beyond a few shows and a few songs released on the internet. This is our first “real” band.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
oh!no?ok.’ s name really doesn’t have a crazy story. Originally we were called “Hello Vertigo”, inspired by the HItchcock movie “Vertigo” but once we started finding our style and footing as a band we decided that our name wouldn’t carry the weight of what we were really trying to go for. When in the process of trying to reconfigure the name we came across some lyrics with “oh!no?ok.” written on it and the rest is history.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Ryan and Nate laid the groundwork for the band’s music, though each member brings his unique flair, making the process a cohesive collaboration. The songs are laced with themes and narratives that illustrate society’s vices, cynicism and the lies that we tell ourselves to avoid confronting our insecurities and depression. The narratives in future songs will develop based on our increased maturity and life experiences as well as issues and obsessions that always seem to develop as life moves forward.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Bands that inspired us to reformulate our sound to a more punk/slacker rock vibe include 90’s legends like Weezer, Spoon, Butthole Surfers, Pavement, Radiohead, and Nirvana.
Recently we’ve also taken inspiration from more modern acts such as FIDLAR, Pup, Car Seat Headrest, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Strokes.
We love the bands that go against the grain and carve out unique styles in between genres.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
We come from a place where the local music scene is a very well kept secret. The one band we could all cite as a huge inspiration would be “The Moth & the Flame”. They were a band that was originally from Utah and we got to see them from inception to stardom while in high school. Around the same time the band “Sego” really started to make a splash around the local music scene as well. Seeing these two bands flourish and produce so much creativity and momentum was a huge stepping stone for all of us. We saw them first hand and thought if they could do it, so could we.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
We’ll hop in the car and do vocal warm-ups together, drink energy drinks and just keep relaxed and chill. Normally we’ll play Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. on the nintendo switch to keep our minds relaxed.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
So far it would be the release of the single. While starting off so small, we’ve seen a lot of great support as we watch the stats for the song increase and shows gradually get bigger and bigger. I’d say the biggest highlight as well would be the strong bond we’ve come to develop as a group. Somehow we’ve managed to get to do what we love with our best friends. As cliche as it sounds we really have become brothers and that’s huge.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
It would have been fascinating to have toured with the Sex Pistols. I know they were borderline psychotic but that would’ve been amazing to see first hand and see how exactly they channeled their energy into music. More modern bands though would have to be FIDLAR for sure. Their show’s pack a huge punch and the crowds are incredible. To be a part of that performance would be game changing.