This past weekend February 24th ended with a bang with Oklahoma Fashion Alliance Season 3 ‘Is The Earth Just A Body Too?’ I modeled for a local designer named ‘Rayven Anandalio’ an early 2000’s look that reminds me of a ‘Camp’ and ‘Grunge’ style. The venue is called ‘Artisan Hall’ a planned adaptive reuse project of the historic Second Presbyterian Church at 76 N Zunis in Tulsa’s Kendall-Whittier district, intended as a community hub. This was my third fashion show with Oklahoma Fashion Alliance, and one out of many fashion shows I’ve done in my life in the books. Oklahoma Fashion Alliance created a space where there was none for models, designers, stylist, makeup artist, and creatives in the fashion industry to put on fashion shows for Tulsa, and the surrounding areas, as well as networking. Let’s discuss my modeling journey.

I’ve been modeling professionally for over 10 years, but I’ve been modeling as a hobby since I was a little kid in church fashion shows. Modeling, and fashion are a big part of my brand as an artist. Here are my most memorable achievements on the Runway:

Model for Designer ‘Ken Shep’ Underground Collective Apparel in ‘Brooklyn Fashion Week.’

Model for Designer ‘Joshua Christen’ (Project Runway Winner) ‘Runway Tulsa’ Fashion Show

Model for Designer ‘Posh Boy’ XOL Modeling Agency presents ‘The Marble Experience’ fashion Show at ‘Living Arts Tulsa.’

Model for Designer SB Shades aka Stevie Boi for his ‘Pink’ Collection at Utica Square

Model for Stylist ‘Lonny McQuarters’ in the ‘Cultural Expo Fashion Show at Mother Road Market

Model for Designers ‘Code Fresh’ and ‘Mother road Dispensary’ in the Kushmas Fashion Show.

Model for ‘Sophia Guajardo’ in Oklahoma Fashion Alliance Fashion Show https://oklahomafashionalliance.com/ Theme: ‘People of the Prairie‘

Model for ‘Sophia Guajardo’ in Oklahoma Fashion Alliance Fashion Show https://oklahomafashionalliance.com/ Theme: ‘Oklahoma Futurism’

Model for ‘Sophia Guajardo’ in Oklahoma Fashion Alliance Fashion Show https://oklahomafashionalliance.com/ Theme: ‘‘Is The Earth Just A Body Too?’

In this blog post I will be breaking down the samples, covers, and inspiration of each song on my new mixtape #OnAJourney🐫 which has been out for 5 months now on Soundcloud, YouTube, . What are your favorite songs so far from my new project:

1. Rising Sun (Poem) 🌞

2. On A Journey (Original) 🐫

3. Karaoke 🎤

4. The Juice Radio Show (Interlude)📻

5. Strawberry Swing 🍓

6. Same Ole Mistakes 🪕

7. The Healing Place Interlude 🌱

8. The Healing Place (Poem) Rising Sun Reprise 🎹

9. James Joint 🍃

10. HBCU Pep Rally/North Tulsa Love Letter (Interlude) 🥁

11. Rising Sun Reprise II (Outro Spoken Word) 🌴

The alternative r&b movement in the early 2010’s (mixtapes Nostalgia, Ultra, Sailing Souls, and Thank Me Later) is heavily inspiring this project. I wanted to pay homage to the current artist that have inspired me, and my sound by covering songs by them that tell the story of my journey, as well as some original poetry, interludes, and original songwriting as well on several tracks.I recently went to ‘Starship Records & Tapes’, and caught a glimpse of some of the albums by artist that inspired the songs on this mixtape like Tame Impala’s ‘Currents’, Jhene Aiko ‘Sailing Souls’, Frank Ocean’s ‘Channel Orange’/‘Nostalgia Ultra and much more. Let’s break down each song and the samples, and inspiration of each

1. Rising Sun (Poem) 🌞: The inspiration behind this song was largely based around how I opened up my first mixtape ‘Days In The Midwest.’ Poetry is a big part of how I express myself as an artist, and approach songwriting. I also think as an artist the opening track album/mixtape/EP sets the tone for the project. The poem ‘Rising Sun’ as written during the 2020 pandemic and speaks to where I was at that time in my life when I wrote it. In the background you can hear the sounds of nature, a black panther, and a sample by Tame Impala’s song ‘Gossip from their album Currents. I was inspired by their Psychedelic sound, and wanted to take inspiration from it to build my alternative R&B sound. The song speaks to spirituality being a vibration, a frequency, and a complicated journey of emotions, experiences. But ultimately like the ‘Rising Sun’ I’ll fall, and rise again. The transition from poetry, to melodic singing is my fave outer part of this song. I hope you enjoy it, and catch my vibes, and feel my intentions. I think of Jhene Aiko ‘Sail Out’ that inspired my curiosity to expiring new styles of R&B.

2. On A Journey (Original) 🐫: This song is by far a stand out song on my mixtape because it’s the title track and originally produced by ‘Hit Boy.’ On the original song ‘What You Like’ by artist 24 featuring Wiz Khalifa, and Ty Dolla Sign, I wanted my fans to go on a journey not only with my lyrics, but with the sounds of the beat that sound magical, adventurous, Psychedelic, hypnotic, and mystical. The lyrics take you to Egypt, Petra, Jordan, and 2000 BC. This song makes me feel like a Disney Prince, on a 90’s soundtrack. It captures my Carefree soul so well, and I can already see the music video in my head. When I heard the original song I was mesmerized by the beat, I couldn’t resist an opportunity to put my spin on the instrumental. I see the sand, I see the desert, I see me riding a camel pretty with my turban on into the sunset like Aladdin in Agrabah towards the cave of wonders. This song speak to my love for traveling, and exploring what the World has to offer.

3. Karaoke 🎤: This track is directly sampled from Drakes album ‘Thank Me Later’ on the original song ‘Karaoke.’ When I first heard this one years ago I was captivated by Drakes flow on the lyrics, how relatable the song was, and the transition from singing to rapping. ‘The Weekend’ is another artist I have an appreciation for in terms of his ability to create alternative R&B around his vocals, and spoken words. His mixtape ‘House of Ballon’s’ he’s I’ll inspired my mixtape ‘On A Journey.’ On this Drake cover I switched up some of the originally lyrics to include my own experiences, and my raps are originally wrote by me. I also find it ironic that I recently started a Karaoke event series with my organization ‘Carefree Queer’ called Queeraoke. It’s crazy how life can imitate Art.

4. The Juice Radio Show (Interlude)📻: This track is one of my favorite interludes I’ve created so far. The track is a direct audio of my first radio interview I’ve ever done on ‘The Juice Radio Show’ talking about how Frank Ocean inspired me to be an artist on his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. The original track of inspiration is titled ‘Bitches Talking’ and Frank Ocean sampled it from the band Radio Heads’s song called ‘Optimistic’ on their album ‘KID A MNESIA.’I lived that Frank made a track so simple, short, and creative and I was excited to bring this idea to life on ‘On A Journey.’ Frank Ocean album ‘Channel Orange’ also has had a big influence on me as a music artist, and I wanted to dedicate that love to my favorite artist on this interlude.

5. Strawberry Swing 🍓: This song is directly sampled from ‘Nostalgia Ultra’ as well. The original track of the same title ‘Strawberry Swing.’ Frank originally sampled this track from ‘Coldplay.’ This song is life imitating art because the lyrics directly speak to how I was feeling at the when I first developed this project on paper. As you all know Frank Ocean has had a huge inspect on me as an artist and this song was so majestic, and alternative when I heard Frank song it for the first time. I was in love, and inspired. I am honored to have covered this song, and showcase my goal abilities in compared to Franks. This song truly makes me feel like a ‘Carefree Black Boy’ when I perform it. I will never forget when I saw Frank Ocean perform live in 2012 at the 9:30 club in Washington D.C for his ‘Channel Orange’ tour. This song was also the first single I put out from ‘On A Journey’ before it was released.

6. Same Ole Mistakes 🪕: This track is directly sampled from Tame Impala’s album ‘Currents’ on th me track ‘New Person Same Old Mistakes.’ I first heard Rihanna cover this song and was absolutely in love with it. It perfectly captures the alternative R&B influence I was going for on this project. Do to copyright restrictions you can only listen to the song exclusively On my YouTube channel. Including my ‘Slowed & Reverb Anime Playlist’ on YouTube as well. But it was definitely a song I felt necessary to tell the story of my journey, and include on the tracklist.

7. The Healing Place Interlude 🌱: This track is a simple, but powerful spoken word interlude from a person I came across on Instagram by the name of ‘Ajna Surah’ (IG:iamajnasurah) who is an author, and spiritual healer for the black community, and a social media personality. I first seen a clip of her talking about this concept/philosophy of ‘The Healing Place’ on actor Keke Palmers Instagram page. I screen recorded the video of what you hear on this track on my phone and Mel it saved ever since because it spoke to my soul so much. By the time I was putting this Mixtape together I was already considering doing an interlude with it, and making a song inspired by her raw statements of healing the mind, body, and soul. I’ve always felt like an under dog, and a black sheep. And this speech stuck a chord with me.

8. The Healing Place (Poem) Rising Sun Reprise 🎹: z this is by far my favorite track to sing, and perform from ‘On A Journey.’ 🐫 it starts if with an originally poem called ‘The Healing Place’ that’s very deep, self reflective. When I wrote this poem it’s as if the lyrics were downloaded to me from the Universe, and it was such an incredible way to release the past, and all the emotions that I’ve been attached to on my journey. Poetry has allowed me to truly find the words that speak to soul. The second half of the song is a piano version of the Tame Impala track ‘Gossip’ called Rising Sun Reprise, the them song of my mixtape which was first heard on track 1: Rising Sun. I love that different ways I can sing this song, and it reminds me of the reprise songs I’ve heard on classes 90’s Disney soundtracks. When I’m on stage and I sing this I feel beautiful, inside, abs out.

9. James Joint 🍃: This song is originally sampled from Rihanna album ‘Anti’ a song of the same title. It was a song originally produced and sang by James Fauntleroy. I love smoking weed just like the song boast, and I especially love the alternative R&B feel that it perfectly captures. I’ve recently became the brand ambassador for a dispensary called ‘Lakeside Dispensary.’ And I was also in a marijuana newspaper called ‘The Blazing Tulsan’ last year in 2023 discussing my new non profit ‘Carefree Queer’ and new music.

10. HBCU Pep Rally/North Tulsa Love Letter (Interlude) 🥁: This song is inspired by black people, black culture, black wall street, Greenwood, and Tulsa. I was inspired by HBCU Marching band, heavy drums, and pep rally sounds, and instruments. The song is sampled from the Jackson 5 called ‘Can You Feel it.’ Just the Shreveport MLK Parade in 2016 version with my vocals projected in the background like a Football Stadium. The second half of the song was sampled from Steve Lacey called ‘Outro Freestyle’ from his Apollo XXI album. My favorite actor Jonathan Majors is who you hear in the background reciting a poem by ‘Frederick Douglas.’ This song also remind me of my God brother Dukes Durant. A local comedian, entrepreneur, and influencer in Tulsa,Oklahoma who graduated from Booker T. Washington High-school, which has an HBCU culture at the school. Also most of my family members have graduated form there. Happy #BlackHistoryMonth✊🏾 to my city, and neighborhood! 🚨New YouTube Video Vlog 4: On A Journey 🐫In The Midwest 🌵(Greenwood & Black Wall Street Edition)

11. Rising Sun Reprise II (Outro Spoken Word): This Last Track on my mixtape is the same Tame Impala beat from the song ‘Gossip’ from the album ‘Currents.’ Just more remixed, turned up, and upbeat. This song, abs best absolutely takes me into a daydream that I don’t want to wake up from. It feel nostalgic like old school sonic video game soundtracks, it’s feels like paradise on a tropical romantic island car way. It’s feel like the ultimate adventure, and spiritual journey which is what I hope making music grants me on this journey called life.

My two mixtapes‘On A Journey’🐫, and ‘Days In The Midwest’ 🌵are available on SoundCloud, and YouTube.

My singles ‘Carefree Black Boy’ (and remix), ‘Four Wings’, ‘11:11’, ‘Days In The Midwest’, and ‘Black Wall Street’ are available on ITunes, Tidal, Spotify, and ALL streaming platforms!