LOCAL TALENT
In January, Alex Christine debuted in the Viki.com documentary “LEGENDARY: Making of a K-POP Star” and released her first single and music video. Find her on Instagram: @thealexchristine.
POP START
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Alex also was a member of Jenks Varsity Pom and ulsa might be an unlikely place for a risthe Jenks Trojanaires, a competitive show choir ing Korean pop (known as K-Pop) star that competes nationally. While attending Tulsa to hone her skills, but 21-year-old Alex Community College, she acted, sang and danced Christine Schneiderman has done just that. in multiple productions. Known professionally as Alex Christine, the Alex recently won the K-Pop news website Jenks High School graduate is a dancer, singer, acSoompi’s “Rising Legends: Season 2” tress and model. With her original talent contest for the second year in one-minute song and dance videos, What is K-Pop? a row. Her prize was a five-day trip she has built an impressive Instagram Pop music from South Korea to South Korea and a private audition following of over 52,000 people from that is catchy and upbeat, with the company Cube Entertainaround the world. with intricate choreography ment. “When I won, there was a lot The lively, seductive sounds of the and striking visuals. of crying and celebrating,” she says. upbeat tunes harken to ’90s American “When I heard I would actually be pop that Alex grew up listening to, going to Korea, that was kind of world-shaking.” such as Spice Girls. But “I don’t produce music at What’s next for Alex? She plans to relocate to all,” clarifies Alex, whose mother is Korean-PortugSeoul this year. “I want to pursue acting and dancese. “With K-Pop, I sing and dance because there’s ing, and I feel the best way to do that is to do audialways a dance choreographed for every song.” tions and attend workshops,” she says. “While I’m Although her K-Pop dancing is entirely young, I’m going to go out and do what I do and self-taught, Alex took dance lessons from 18 see what I can make of myself.” TP months old through the middle of high school.
ALBUM REVIEWS
BY LINDSEY NEAL KUYKENDALL
Endless Forms “IF THERE WERE WATER” A delightfully underground find for audiophiles who love the peaceful post-rock vibe of akin locally rooted acts Ester Drang and Other Lives, Endless Forms’ newest record is sure to satisfy. With soft but driving beats and alternating complementary male and female vocals, this gentle album is a mature and well-produced work. Distant electric guitars and synth pads create a soothing sense of shoegaze space with developed structural sensibility.
Sean Al-Jibouri “MEDITATION” Master guitarist Sean Al-Jibouri can be seen playing live throughout Tulsa with a variety of groups, but this album is a charming peek into his solo work. Seven easy-listening tracks of nylon-stringed classical, electric jazz guitar and acoustic, the album exudes a sophisticated romance. Reminiscent of Leo Kottke, Pat Metheny, Michael Hedges and Bill Frisell, Al-Jibouri’s forward-thinking playing and calm mastery shines through. His gifts enhance the Tulsa music community, and this recording is a particularly nice capture of his offerings. 16
TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2018
Kari Hackbarth, right, and Garden Deva employee Riley Englehart
Garden Deva
FORGES NEW PATH Since 1996, Lisa Regan has showcased her handmade metal artwork and the work of other Tulsa artists at Garden Deva Sculpture Co. Now the company has new owning partners and managers — Greg and Penny Hackbarth and their daughter, Kari Hackbarth — allowing Regan to oversee the creative aspects of Garden Deva. “We partnered with Lisa to help manage the business side of things … so that Lisa has the margin and freedom to be an artist and not get bogged down with running a business,” Kari Hackbarth says. Earlier this year, another change occurred: Garden Deva moved its primary location to 1326 E. Third St., where it will continue to sell art and host events and workshops. Teresa Knox, who owns the nearby Church Studio, Leon Russell’s former recording studio, bought the building at 317 S. Trenton Ave. that houses Garden Deva’s longtime location. Hackbarth says Garden Deva will maintain the shop as a smaller satellite gallery to sell work by Regan and other artists whose work “complements Tulsa’s music roots.” Despite the Garden Deva’s recent changes, Hackbarth reassures fans of the well-loved local brand. “Things will be bigger and more engaging than they’ve ever been while carrying on Lisa’s legacy of Garden Deva,” she says. — ASHLEY RIGGS AND MORGAN PHILLIPS
LOCAL TALENT: LINDA VANG PHOTOGRAPHY; GARDEN DEVA: GREG BOLLINGER
Young Tulsan is a rising K-Pop dancer and singer. BY LINDSEY NEAL KUYKENDALL