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Written by Ali Plum
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Tuesday, 10 August 2010 23:49 |
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 Few artists can match the ability of Johnny Cash to overcome adversity and turn their pain into definitively memorable songs. Daniel Walcher is one of the few. His music is captivating and his natural talent undeniable.
Local audiences have enjoyed Daniel’s distinctive sound in downtown Oklahoma City venues for seven years. He has played at the indie rock festival Dfest in Tulsa, the Norman Music Festival, and had the honored invitation by the Oklahoma Film & Music Office to represent the state as a featured performer at SXSW in Austin, Texas. But if you talk to Daniel, his eagerness is found in the gift of music itself and in getting to share it with others. His warm presence translates to the stage, “I want people to walk away from my show having just had fun.” Lyrical depth dovetails with innovation.
Daniel has evolved at rapid pace as an artist and performer.
“At first it was more for me, it was solo and acoustic, but this new music—we’re bringing more energy; it’s more approachable, and everybody can relate to something in the sound.”
His new album is a vibrant blend of folk rock and pop influences. Remarkably
calm and seasoned on stage acoustically, Daniel is looking forward to playing with a full band in September. Daniel’s songs are injected with pulsing melodies and skillful storytelling. A singer-songwriter with the ability to fuse passionate lyrics with pop/folk rock sound, music was always a form of constant comfort and therapy.
Daniel spent the first years of his life in foster care. He observed and questioned much of the complexities in relationships through his unconventional childhood. Adopted at age 10 into a family where he could let roots grow, Daniel discovered music was a way of communicating and expressing his feelings, questions, experiences.
“I was always trying to figure out people in terms of relationships. Through songwriting, I was able to explain life and the way people relate on my terms, from my viewpoint.”
The songs he has written through the years have helped Daniel make sense of his past and become resolutely optimistic about the future.
The therapeutic aspect of Daniel’s music translates to his audience with every strike of a guitar string and completion of a chorus. He has recorded two albums independently in seven years, and his highly anticipated third album, self-titled Daniel Walcher, was recorded at Blackwatch Studios in Norman and will be released in September. He is planning an Oklahoma tour to support the new album beginning in mid to late September.
A saving grace, music helped Daniel make sense of a world that started off acutely cold. He will donate 20 percent of sales of his new album to support White Fields, a long-term home for abused and neglected boys in Piedmont, Oklahoma—a part of his larger goal of supporting children in foster care statewide.
Along with sharing the warmth of his story with people who need it the most, Daniel is ready to bring a wicked good time and finally a full band to the stage. Get ready world;
here he comes.
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Written by Chris Wescott
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Tuesday, 10 August 2010 23:21 |
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 Not every college student knows which major they are going to pursue right away. On average, studies show that college students change their majors 2-3 times in their higher education career. Obviously, every person is different, and some know exactly what they want to do with their life. For those who are having trouble deciding, here are some popular majors currently being chosen around the nation.
Healthcare jobs are a great field to pursue for security and growth. One major on the rise in universities around the nation is nursing. The nursing field is extremely competitive; however, it is also the largest industry in health care. Registered nurses who can provide general care are almost always in demand everywhere. A bachelor’s degree in RN will take four years. However, you can earn an associate’s degree to be a Licensed Practical Nurse or an accelerated associate’s degree in RN in two years. CNN.com listed nursing as one of its ten most popular majors, which really is no surprise. The wide range of options that come with a nursing degree add to the reasons as to why it’s so popular. Nursing majors may pick which type of care they wish to provide, or whether they would like to become educators. It’s a flexible degree with an estimated average salary starting around $40,000.
Political science is also a popular major around the nation. According to CNN, 40% of all workers with this major are employed by government agencies. A similar field to political science is International Relations. Collegedegrees.com listed International Relations as one of its “five little-known but fast-growing college majors” in 2010. This major studies the economic, cultural, and military connections that foreign countries have with the United States. While Political Science focuses more on the American front, International Relations takes a turn towards the global system. Both degrees are growing in popularity and demand. If being personally involved in running for or working for political office isn’t your cup of tea, many who get a degree in Political Science enter a career in the media. Beginning salary for a degree like Political Science is roughly estimated at $36,000.
Education has always been a somewhat popular major. Currently, Elementary Education has launched itself into the spotlight. To pursue a career in education, you have to be dedicated and patient. It takes about four years to complete a bachelor’s degree in education. When entering the education field, teaching hopefuls have to participate in student teaching, as well as pass the PRAXIS exam. Those entering the popular field of elementary education should expect to make about $30,000 to $35,000 depending on the school and location. It takes a Master’s degree or Doctoral degree to be a professor at a community college or University, the salary on average is higher. High school teachers can make about $40,000 a year, and some college professors make $48,000 to over $100,000.
Other popular degrees are Criminal Justice, Marketing, Computer Science and communications. Majors like marketing and communications are very flexible, and the jobs are many. Broadcasting, journalism, public relations, public speaking, speech writing, local, state and federal marketing agencies, marketing research, marketing strategies and sales are all possible career fields to pursue with either degree. The options are out there, and with school starting back up, it’s time to keep an open mind. If you haven’t decided which field to study, any one of these popular majors might be the ticket. |
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Written by Ali Plum
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Friday, 16 July 2010 03:57 |
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Oklahoma's music scene is ripe with talent. Synergy in the art and music industries has culminated in a showcasing of talent enjoyed by people on a local, national, and even international level. Shane Henry, born and raised in Verden, Oklahoma, is no exception to this phenomenon.
Starting his music career at age 17 by playing in local bars a few times a week, Shane was quickly recognized as a unique talent. But Shane's interest and connection to music started much earlier than his late teens; his father introduced him to "the greats"--Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan (just to name a few) at an early age. Shane considers himself blessed to have grown up in such a musically alive environment. With his dad on guitar and mom on piano, Shane's first jam sessions were at home, and at a young age he knew he wanted to perform. He says it was a natural progression to pick up an instrument and play music. But his most inspiring moment of self-revelation came at a B.B. King concert, and he knew for certain that he wanted to seriously pursue music as a career.
Early in Shane's career, dreams and tour dates came true. The experience from his first tour proved invaluable to the next phase of his musical journey and solidified his natural ability to perform and connect with his audience.
Lyrically, Shane's music feels soulful, hopeful, and truthful. Melodically, his songs feel bluesy, with a paradox of retro-rock edge and acoustic intimacy. Shane's latest album release is the anticipatedBeauty in the Struggle. A college tour in the fall along with other notable venues nationwide will reconnect Shane Henry and the fans he won over years ago when he embarked on his first tour at the age of 19.
Shane's passion and drive to make music and perform live in a quickly changing music industry is resolute. This same intensity goes into each stage of the creative process--from the birth of a song in the reflective writing stage, to the collaborative work that takes place in the studio, to the stage where he performs live--a feeling he describes as "the best drug; there's nothing like performing for people who want to listen to your music."
Shane is clear in his philosophy, "You have to be willing to change, take chances, take risks." His new album is proof of this philosophy. He's trying new things and enjoying new collaborations with artists both locally and in L.A. Shane's back to touring across the country, guitar in tow, still wowing crowds with his raw talent, ready to embrace where the road will take him next.
After time and experience in the music industry, Shane says it's still all about the grassroots. The magic of the moment between listener and performer at a live show is what it's all about for him. Released on itunes in July, Beauty in the Struggle describes the last seven years of Shane's journey as an artist...and in life.
"I'm really happy with Beauty in the Struggle both musically and lyrically. It sums up what this record is about and what it took to make this album a reality. It's about taking the approach of looking at things as the glass half full instead of half empty."
At times when it seems as if the world is trying to convince us that our glasses are half empty, Shane Henry's heading out into that world with melodies that infuse optimism and honesty--one venue at a time.
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Written by Brian Attebery
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Friday, 05 February 2010 06:13 |
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Written by Joey Bivens
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 12:42 |
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