Those who live in the Mile High City are presented with one of the country's largest arrays of nightlife options, on a nightly basis. So much so that Denver’s residents can often feel overwhelmed with so many choices or even become semi-jaded due to the consistent stream of the world’s supreme musical talent. On any given night, at least a few (probably most) of this city’s venues are hosting some producer you’ve heard of, some band you haven't heard of, maybe someone you’re tired of hearing of, but sometimes there’s a show that’s just too intriguing to miss. This Thursday is definitely one of the latter.

AudioCulture, one of the cities newest production companies, is already back at it after their recent Black Box takeover in conjunction with Potent Productions. That show was basically a hometown, throw-down, featuring local Denver artists. This time around, they’re hosting some less familiar names that are eager to show the “bass capital” what they can do- among those a quickly rising up and coming artist from across the Canadian border sure to take the bass world by storm in 2020.

OAKK is a 26 year-old, Canadian producer with a rather unique upbringing into the music world. From rapping to DJing to producing, and even being “found” by Bassnectar, Calgary’s Cole Edwards seems ready to take the bass world by storm. Or at least roughly 15 cities of the great USA anyways.

“OAKK is definitely out there killing it in his own lane. I’m excited to see him perform on a proper system” said co-headliner, Leet, who’s also visiting from out of town. Hailing from less foreign lands than Calgary, or maybe more foreign lands depending on how you look at it, Harrison McCord is from Tennessee. His excitement to play with OAKK wasn’t all he had to say when we spoke with him this week.

“This set is going to be special, that’s the most I’m going to dive into about that though,” said McCord. “My sets are always changing. I’m planning a special setlist and also integrating original visuals into my set. I love Denver, in fact I plan on moving here next year.” Some of you might even remember Leet as he played The Black Box around this same time last year, on Sept 20th.

We hope to see you all there Thursday night. The team at AudioCulture hasn’t let us down yet, and the lineup is beginning to sound more and more promising. David Warren will be joining OAKK and Leet, along with the winners of AudioCulture’s Bass Battles, I Cite and Kid Konsume for a b2b set. More event info can be found at the AC official event page, and tickets can be purchased directly here. Without further adieu, enjoy our one-on-one conversation with the evenings spotlight act, OAKK.

SV: You excited about this week?

OAKK: Yeah, it’s going to be my first time in Denver. Really excited to play the Black Box, I’ve heard really good things about it from a bunch of friends.

SV: What is your perception of Denver as a culture and music hub?

OAKK: For me personally I’m always nervous going to new markets, new places I’ve never played before. But I’ve heard great things about Denver crowds, that they’re really warm and receptive and open to hearing a different kind of music that maybe they’re not used to. Which is always exciting for me, then I don’t have to cater as much to the crowd, I can go into styles that I would be more into listening to.

I grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Which is like right by the Rocky Mountains. I feel like Denver and Colorado is probably the most similar place in the states compared to where I grew up.

SV: ...Similar in music or culture in general?

OAKK: I would say the culture, mostly I would say the climate. Being close to the mountains and being colder in the winter attracts a certain type of person per se, and usually I can vibe with people that are similar in that way. I don’t know too much about Denver itself, I do know that a lot of great music has come out of there and a lot of great music travels through there.

SV: Does it make you nervous at all knowing Denver is the “bass capital”? Is it intimidating coming in to a place with that kind of reputation and trying to make your own mark?

OAKK: Those nerves and that kind of expectation doesn’t go away wherever I go. You know, you’ve got to go into a new city and prove yourself, but I want to be true to what I want to do and the kind of music that I make. But I’ll be honest, I’m nervous every show I play.

SV: How long have you been making music all together?

OAKK: I’m 26 now and I started when I was 15, so 11 years.

SV: Have you been performing for that long?

OAKK: Since I was 18 I’ve been performing in some way, either emceeing and rapping or DJing for rappers, and then I got into electronic music right about when I was 20. From there on I started making bass music. Within the last three years I’ve started really honing in and taking it more seriously and turning it into a career.

SV: Tell me about the origins of Discovery by Bassnectar?

OAKK: That was huge, it opened me up to a lot more people. Because of the scale of everything he does. It was in Denver, I forget the name of it, obviously has bass in front of it [Freestyle Sessions, night two, 6/9/2019]. Then it got cancelled on the second night, and I know on the third night they recouped and found a new venue to host it at, there were 10,000 people there. I woke up to a bunch of text messages and instagram messages of people sending me the track list, or them listening to it. What happened was he airdropped a mix to everyone that was at the show while they were leaving, so they got it on their phones, and then it was a remix of a tune I did with Rider Shafique. [Listen to that track below]. He bootlegged it, which is kind of wild.

SV: Makes it kind of cooler, that Bassnectar “stole” your music.

OAKK: He did reach out to me after. It was kind of cool that he just decided to bootleg it, which is something that we all grew up doing.

SV: Once your name was out there, did you notice more attention?

OAKK: I noticed the streams in the song went up, more followers, more people on instagram. It was a definite boost but not a crazy, monumental thing. I did have a lot of people on my team thinking ‘how could we use this?’ but I didn’t want it to be disingenuous, so I just kind of let it run its course.

SV: I know that this is your first time in the US. Was it you pushing for a US tour or based more on demand?

OAKK: It was kind of 50-50, living in Canada, it’s such a huge country and its so spread out so it’s a little difficult to be a traveling musician and to only play here. The market in the states is so much bigger and there’s more pockets around the country, so that was the logical next step after this summer when I played Lightning in a Bottle. There was more interest for me in the states, and obviously I wanted to play in places like Portland, LA, all over California, Denver, Seattle...

SV: How many parts/stops are on this tour?

OAKK: I think there’s 16 stops on the tour. It goes right into the new year.

SV: How’s the reception been so far?

OAKK: There’s definitely some skepticism being on my first tour in these places I’ve never been before, but each show has been not surprising but totally surprising, people have been really receptive. It’s been great for my first time, makes me excited to come back for sure.

SV: I will leave you with this last question: Why should Denverites make it out to your show this Thursday?

OAKK: That’s a tough question. I don’t really plan any of my sets or anything. I like to make sure I have avenues to take the crowd depending on how they’re feeling. I like to be as open to anything as possible. On this tour I did make a lot of music exclusive to these shows and edits of my older stuff that I’ve been playing for the first time, and also a ton of music from producers I enjoy, a lot of unreleased stuff. Stuff people have never heard before is always tight.

AudioCulture Brings the Bass - Get To Know OAKK Leading Up to Thursday's Show at Black Box w/ Exclusive Interview