Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know the lead singer of the band ASAVA, Liam Brocious.

Liam led the alternative rock band, from Canton, Ohio, as they published their Demo EP 'Mantras & Mahjong' in 2024. ASAVA has performed at three of the US’s largest rock & metal music festivals including InkCarceration, Aftershock, and Louder Than Life.

We discuss chasing and finding “the high” as a performer, navigating depression, and sharing a magical moment featuring his wife.

Artist info:

www.asavaband.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6CQw6qt1rxEUH5aNQnCzta?si=QF0EHTiSRqWUuHHc37GHew

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIirIM7Hy13o74qew3wPyAw

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Joey Aich.

Joey Aich, pronounced H, is a full-time independent hip-hop artist based in Columbus, OH. The Woodmere Village, OH-born emcee is known for his electric stage performances and personal charm.

We discuss his recent recognition by Columbus Underground's reader as the #1 musician in Columbus, the conflict of coming from a suburban background in hip hop’s narrative as well as a sense of responsibility in his lyrics and performances to inspire and further push Columbus hip hop.

Artist info:

www.Joeyaich.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4LAP3lPQHAnrlyyCUXojFT?si=xUMmQGWnQbK309PwXat-UQ

https://www.youtube.com/joeyaich

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Riley James.

Riley James is an Athens, Ohio, based artist who grew up in the small town of Duncan, Ohio. They started learning the piano at 12 years old and guitar at 16 years old.

We discuss the role of theatre in honing their craft, the influence of The Beatles, Chappell Roan, and David Bowie in their style, as well as the process of working to create a sound unafraid to explore the potency of guttural music.

Artist info:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4a3QjZtD3AFMJiZzvw2JQH?si=MZzQcuk5QvOtK19_-GunIQ

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor- David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Ryan Sheppard.

Ryan Sheppard is an emerging rap artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Pulling sounds from boom bap, electronic, and modern rap, he has created a unique presence in the Athens, Ohio, community. Deeply inspired by Kendrick Lamar and his 2016 Grammy winning album, To Pimp A Butterfly, Ryan finds home in the story, the emotions, and the realness of rap.

We discuss the role his school librarian played in getting him into rap, his witty lyrics, technical flows, and what it means to be a masterclass in authenticity.

Artist info:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wTn7o1IdhfXoqHaYcyR8v?si=xXWgVrRLSEOhL0oQHhUgyw

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Minus The Alien.

Minus The Alien stems from Akron, Ohio, describing himself as representing the positive side of hip hop. He is a podcaster and producer who mixes passion, unique voice, creative lyrics, catchy hooks, soulful harmonies, and vocal arrangements with conscious subject matter that sonically provide a formula that can be embraced by all ages.

We discuss how he teaches youth about the positive side of hip-hop culture, opening up for legendary hip hop pioneers such as Rakim, Souls of Mischief, Whodini, Slum Village, and Casual. We also talk about his connection to legendary group Gangstarr as well as have a heartfelt conversation on fatherhood and its influences on his artistic direction.

Artist info:

https://onepagelink.com/minusthealien

https://open.spotify.com/album/0kV8axsKzTcCV0F9WQWJoV?si=0Irv9rIOTvSpYRvxDzNXsg

https://youtube.com/@minusthealien?si=4igxW-Izs7yP3Ph7

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor- David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Vincent Trocchia.

Vincent Trocchia is a Lancaster, Ohio, native with roots in Nashville as a songwriter and creator of Melodic Soul. Born into a musical family, he classifies himself as a musical nerd, intrigued by Dayton and Cincinnati 1970s funk and the works of Eric Clapton.

We discuss his decades of songwriting experience and his recent transition into performance. He vulnerably shares his fears, hopes, and plans for his future as a “late comer”, highlighting the age difference between him and younger, more tech-driven industry professionals today.

Artist info:

Reverbnation.com/vincentroberttrocchia

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know the band Deco Halo.

Deco Halo is an Ohio based band made up of Len and Renee who collaborate with musicians around the world to create songs that feel rich, emotional, and genre-defiant.

We discuss the complex nature of band roles, writing music that opens audiences to feel what they lack the language for as well as the intervention that saved the band and made it what it is.

Artist info:

www.decohalo.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/743Mt7sIkyrbmztcY2ZYiZ?si=aZSck4LFRdysfgXRUttHkw

https://youtube.com/@decohalo?si=8K4MlboIWIZoL1zV

Acknowledgments:

Host, producer and editor- David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the second cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2025. In this episode, we get to know Young King Noah.

Young King Noah is a Cleveland, Ohio, native deeply inspired by artists including Drake, MF Doom, the Wu-tang Clan, Earl Sweatshirt, and more. His cousins introduced him to Midwest Rock and Japanese Rock through Japanese anime.

We discuss the influences of Midwest Rock, Japanese Anime, classroom free styling and fashion as well as the words of his grandmother that put him on the path to create his musical identity.

Artist info:

https://linktr.ee/youngkingnoah

Acknowledgments:

Host and producer - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - Mike Muema

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

Josh Antonuccio

Andie Walla and Team

Rylee Roquemore: Marketing

OHIO MIS Team

Prince Amoa-Mensah: Photographer

Kweku Diaw: Magazine Creative Director

OHIO Music Industry Summit: https://www.ohio.edu/music-industry-summit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohio_mis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiomusicindustrysummit/

X: https://x.com/ohio_mis

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ohio_mis