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For 100 years, the student voice of the University of Oklahoma
JULIA HARTH/THE DAILY
Kalyn Fay Music preparing to play behind STASH boutique on April 22, 2016, during the 2016 Norman Music Festival. The 2017 Norman Music Festival is this weekend, April 27-29.
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YOUR GUIDE TO NMF One headlining band finds song inspiration in people
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MARY SMITH • @MARYSMITT Y21
atin-inspired and crossgenre performer Lincka Elizondo, known as Lincka, will take the main stage with her band with technicolor lights, visuals, dancers and pulsing Latin pop rhythms at this year’s Norman Music Festival. Lincka is comprised of lead singer Elizondo, lead guitarist Salvador Chavez and Dan Ashford, Elizondo’s boyfriend, producer and guitarist. A primary theme in the band’s songwriting has been political messages about Mexican people and immigrants, Ashford said. The band is always looking to improve and experiment with its sound. Just in the past year, Lincka has come a long way, Elizondo said. From starting with simple, acoustic songs and a five-person band, Lincka has downsized to a three-person band and incorporated more pop melodies and The Strokes-inspired guitar riffs. “It’s been a big journey,” Elizondo said. “We realized with time who was essential and who wasn’t.” Two years ago, when she started working on material, it was just her and friend-turned-producer and later boyfriend Ashford, whom she met while attending the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma. They started having jam sessions and writing music together, and from there a partnership, both professional and personal, began. The first song they ever wrote, “Big House,” will be featured on the band’s next EP, Elizondo said. “Sometimes it’s a little too good to be true. People tell me, ‘don’t mix your love life with professional life,’ but so far it’s been great,” Elizondo said. She and Ashford met Chavez through a mutual friend and then added two more band members to help give Lincka a fuller sound, something that Elizondo had always wanted. However, the two extra members weren’t involved in the music creating process. Teaching them the material when they didn’t have any personal connection to the music was draining for both parties, Ashford said. “I think it’s lame to tell someone what to play. It was just kind of lifeless for them, and it was a bit of a drag for us, so we just decided to cut (the bassist and the drummer) out,” Ashford said. Sacrificing a bassist and drummer has caused Lincka to rely on
backing tracks for different beats and sounds. At first, Elizondo wasn’t too thrilled with the change, but a few weeks ago, when Lincka played at Opolis in Norman for the first time with a smaller band, she realized how positive the change was. “I was kind of nervous for it because I’ve always loved a live feel, but it was so fun. The three of us were bouncing the energy off of each other,” Elizondo said. Ashford, who goes by Rat Fink when he produces, was thrilled about the transition to using backing tracks. “From a production standpoint, it’s exactly what I want because it’s very live still, and Lincka can go off and do whatever she wants, so it’s still very real,” he said. The Opolis show was small and intimate but still had many dancing and pulsing to the music. Elizondo loved getting to interact with the audience and often told a short story between songs or sang and held hands with audience members.
“Sometimes it’s a little too good to be true. People tell me, ‘don’t mix your love life with professional life,’ but so far it’s been great.” LINCKA ELIZONDO, LEAD SINGER
The music Lincka performed at Opolis was from its newest EP, entitled “Para Ti.” It also sold individually burned copies, each emblazoned “Para Ti.” Norman Music Festivalgoers can expect to hear songs like “No Shoes” with an electric twist, along with music from “Para Ti.” Elizondo enjoys the DIY aspect of creating music, such as burning CDs and making mixtapes for friends, she said. While Lincka won’t be able to have as intimate of an environment during Norman Music Fest, Elizondo hopes to always maintain a hands-on and personal relationship with her audience. A short term goal of Elizondo’s is to make it on the NPR Music Radio at some point this year. She’s also working on getting a degree in Contemporary Music Production from ACM so she’ll be able to handle the business side of the music industry, as well as help manage and promote the group.
LINCKA ELIZONDO “I feel like we have really dope material and really good stuff, but I feel like I haven’t done a good job of putting our music out there,” she said. “That’s a big goal, but I think we can do that by the end of this year.” One of the band’s biggest inspirations at the moment is Chance the Rapper — not only for his work but how he handles his work: by himself, without a label. Elizondo and Ashford both agree that they would like to remain independent now and in the future. Regardless of where the band’s music takes them, Elizondo’s family and the band’s close friends have always been by their side. Elizondo’s mother and brother not only provide emotional support but also advice for the trio in many areas. For example, Elizondo’s older brother, Dario, has designed the posters that will be used to promote Lincka at Norman Music Festival while her mother, Lurdes Elizondo, often provides help with outfits and appearances. “I usually am so busy with everything else that I forget to think about what I’m going to wear, but when we start playing and a show starts, I realize how important it is, so I’m very grateful for her help,” Elizondo said. Lurdes expressed how proud she is of her daughter and is overjoyed that she is using the gifts that God has given her, she said. “She has success, but I hope that God wants her to do this. If he has planned for her in this kind of career, then I’ll be very happy, and I know that she will be successful,” Lurdes said. Mary Smith
NMF HEADLINERS Who: The Daddyo’s What: Grunge, punk Where: 3 p.m. Saturday on the Fowler Automotive Main Stage. Song to check out: “Crop Top”
Who: Cherry Death What: Indie Rock Where: 4 p.m. Saturday on the Fowler Automotive Main Stage Song to check out: “Cool Rush”
Who: GGOOLLDD What: Electro-pop Where: 6 p.m. Saturday on the Fowler Automotive Main Stage. Song to check out: “Undercovers”
Who: Jabee What: Hip-Hop Where: 10 p.m. Saturday at the Coop Ale Works Opolis Stage Song to check out: “Tried so Hard”
Who: Low Cut Connie What: Rock ‘n’ Roll Where: 8 p.m. Saturday at the Bud Light Depot Stage. Song to check out: “Shake It Little Tina”
Who: Cat Clyde What: Blues, Jazz Where: 7 p.m. Saturday Bud Light Depot Stage Song to check out: “The Meadow”
Who: Israel Nash What: Indie Rock Where: 9:15 p.m. Saturday on the Bud Light Depot Stage. Song to check out: “Rain Plans”
Who: Sweet Spirit What: Island Music Where: 7:15 p.m. Saturday Fowler Automotive Main Stage Song to Check out: “Baby Doll”
Who: Sammus What: Hip-Hop Where: 10:30 p.m. Friday Bud Light Depot Stage Song to check out: “Childhood”
Who: Oddisee & Good Compny What: Hip-Hop Where: 8:30 p.m. Saturday Fowler Automative Main Stage Song to check out: NNGE
Who: Ringo Deathstarr What: Grunge Where: 11 p.m. Friday Jack Daniel’s Gray Street Stage Song to check out: “Heavy Metal Suicide”
For festival coverage all weekend, visit oudaily.com/nmf
WHATS IN THE FORECAST: There is a chance of rain during Norman Music Festival this weekend, April 27 through April 29. Keep up with the latest weather updates at oudaily.com. Thursday (cloudy with wind): High of 71, low of 53, 10 percent chance of rain and 20 mph winds with 58 percent humidity. Friday (partly sunny with rain): High of 78, low of 53, 50 percent chance of rain and 8 mph winds with 64 percent humidity. Saturday (thunderstorms): High of 57, low of 40, 90 percent chance of rain and 16 mph winds with 94 percent humidity. Source: The Weather Center
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Four arrested in connection with shooting OU sophomore victim of attempted armed robbery Sunday night STAFF REPORTS
The Norman Police Department has arrested four people in connection to a shooting that led to the death of an OU student at Willowbrook Apartments in Norman. Police arrested 20-year-old Tyrek Ladarius Turner, 19-year-old Armani Ashanti Morgan and two unnamed 17-year-old males on a complaint of first degree murder. Sarah Jensen, NPD public safety information officer, said in an email
that it is up to a judge to determine if the two 17-year-olds will be charged as adults, and until that time, their names will be withheld. According to his Facebook page, Turner was an OU student in March 2015, though he does not appear to be a student anymore. Police found Nathaniel Ewing, a 20-year-old sophomore at OU, just before 11 p.m. Sunday night in the parking lot of the apartment complex with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Ewing died at a local hospital Monday — on his birthday. Witnesses said he and another person were the targets of an attempted robbery at the apartment complex. OU President David Boren said the university offers condolences to
Ewing’s family in a statement. “We are saddened by the tragic loss of one of our OU family members. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the student’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time,” Boren said in the statement. “The Norman Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding his passing, and the university has asked to be kept informed.” According to an obituary for Ewing, his funeral will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at the Faith Baptist Church in Iowa Park, Texas. PROVIDED BY NORMAN PD VIA TWITTER
Staff Reports
dailynews@ou.edu
Two men, 19-year-old Armani Morgan and 20-year-old Tyrek Turner were arrested in connection to the murder of Nathaniel Ewing, Wednesday. Two 17-year-olds were also arrested.