ost 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

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the first cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2024. In this episode, we get to know Mark Joshua. Mark is a Filipino-American singer/songwriter from Hamilton, OH, and has been writing original songs for 14+ years and performing live for 13+ years. He has released three EPs and his influence ranges from country/folk to pop and R&B.

We discuss the art of songwriting and so much more as well as share a candid moment about the ugly side of beauty standards when it comes to making great music. Artist info:

https://linktr.ee/markjoshuamusic

Acknowledgments:

Host and producer - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mike Muema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Devon Hartless, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University Scripps College of Communication MFA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University MDIA - School of Media Arts and Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Andie Walla

Josh Antonuccio

OHIO Music Industry Summit:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the first cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2024. In this episode, we get to know Jillian Kay, an independent singer/songwriter located in Cincinnati, OH, and Athens, OH. Jillian creates pop/alt music that dives into the story of her life. A new artist unafraid of the road that lies ahead, Jillian invites us to start this journey with her. Artist info:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jillian-kay/1693502532

www.youtube.com/channel/UCPLIlkBX5wNZkKgTLn6TERg

Acknowledgments:

Host and producer - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mike Muema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Devon Hartless, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University Scripps College of Communication MFA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University MDIA - School of Media Arts and Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Andie Walla

Josh Antonuccio

OHIO Music Industry Summit:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠

Host David Oyuke sits down with 8 of the first cohort of new and emerging artists for The Launchpad 2024. In this episode, we get to know Huey Slims, an artist who makes experimental, avant-garde hip-hop with an emphasis on poetry out of Cleveland, Ohio. We discuss what it means to be a logophile (lover of words) in today's world and how that influences his listening choices and creative expression. Artist Info:

https://linktr.ee/hueyslims

Acknowledgments:

Host and producer - David Oyuke

Intro and outro music - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mike Muema⁠⁠⁠⁠

Videographer - Chris Joecken

Engineers: Avery Appino, Devon Hartless, Robert Schrembeck.

Special thanks:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University Scripps College of Communication MFA ⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Ohio University MDIA - School of Media Arts and Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠

Andie Walla

Josh Antonuccio

OHIO Music Industry Summit:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠