Fierce and fervent, Washington D.C.’s, The OSYX, named for Yellowstone Park’s famed alpha-female wolf, brings a fresh face to fuzzed out post punk, timely lyrics, and community-based activism.
Picture a rock band. What do you see in your mind’s eye? A bold and brash frontman, the one who writes the lyrics? A backing band? An aloof and mysterious bass player maybe? Perhaps the drummer is the cute one and the guy shredding the guitar is the “bad boy”.
Oftentimes change comes by rethinking the rules, tropes, and systems that make up, “the way we’ve always done things”. Enter, The OSYX. These five women/non-binary musicians create heavy, soulful and haunting music outside of the framework of the expected. They accomplish this by using a shared power model, which allows the band to slide easily between songwriters, lead singers, collaborative music making, and the melding of a wide array of influences.
Like the classic juxtaposition of leather and lace, The OSYX combines power and melody, tucking intelligent musical lines and three-part harmonies into wall of sound distorted guitar punctuated with organ, banjo, and slide guitar. A rugged yet harmonic version of post-Riot Grrrl imaginings, OSYX songs tap into anger, anguish and politically driven topics with a wit and lyricism that at times draws as heavily on folk and classics like Janis Joplin and Fanny as it does on Sleater-Kinney, L7, and Mary Timony.
Singers/guitarists, Selena Benally (More AM Than FM) and Ara Casey (Honey Kill), along with singer/multi-instrumentalist, Erin Frisby (Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray, FuzzQueen) first got together to jam and to blow off some steam in 2017 following a several day “Anti-inauguration” fest held at Frisby’s home. They quickly became hooked on comradery and complimentary writing styles. After recruiting Robzie Trulove (Radar) on drums and Maya Renfro (Pagan Reagan) on bass, the band hit the ground running gathering enthusiastic crowds in D.C.’s backrooms and house venues.
It’s difficult to make a stir, much less blow minds in the saturated world of indie rock. Yet that’s exactly how noted music critic, Jim DeRogatis of Sound Opinions described his first encounter with The OSYX’s debut record, calling it “One of the best heavy albums I’ve heard all year.” Live audiences have reacted similarly whether attending the band’s stunning sunshine-soaked outdoor performance for The Smithsonian’s “The Social Power of Music” or howling along and screaming “Dog Fight” in time to the music at one of D.C.’s best known stages: The Black Cat, Union Stage, Pearl Street, Fort Reno, or Comet Ping Pong. The OSYX have shared the stage with Bad Moves, Bacchae, Cool Moon, American Television, The Yawpers, Washington Social Club and Radkey.
Sharing a commitment to DIY ethics and grassroots action, the members of the band decided to use a crowd-sourced fundraiser for their debut album to create something that would have a longer lasting impact. Together they launched the volunteer-led non-profit organization, This Could Go Boom! with the mission of providing resources, support, and advocacy for musicians identifying as genders long marginalized by the music industry. This Could Go Boom! has presented more than 100 acts in paid performance, participated in the Smithsonian Folkways Festival record label fair, has given a gallery talk at The Hirshhorn Museum, spoken at The Kennedy Center, and is piloting its TCGB! Collective with 11 participants as well as releasing Realm of the Warring Gods by Rosie Cima and What She Dreamed in the coming months.
The OSYX is currently writing and rehearsing new music with latest member, Hester Doyle on bass. Look for new releases as well as tour dates in 2021-2022.
