OVID, the self-proclaimed “punk rock pretty-boy," turns up the charisma with vivacious vocals and beats that bite, underscored by his grungy grooves, punk pop, and moody metal productions. His debut EP album Informal Introductions is a dare to step into his point of view and an invitation for you to experience a sound that has found order from the chaotic trinity that is punk rock, pop, and R&B. Whether he is wielding a guitar or a microphone, the Los Angeles singer, songwriter, and producer knows how to create songs that you will want to play on repeat. 

 

“I can be either side of the coin. I can be sweet and sassy. I can be vulnerable and aloof. I can be oxymoronic and that’s okay. I don’t want my music to sound like just one thing. I love everything and I want to do it all.” 

 

And he has done a lot already. OVID grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where his local newspaper once penned him as a “12-year-old musical prodigy.” Growing up, he studied classical piano and had won two piano competitions by the time he was 10 years old. He took on the role of piano accompanist for his middle school choir and wrote songs for the choir to perform, giving him his first credits as a composer in the choir program performances.  

 

At 13 years old, OVID wrote and produced an R&B pop track titled “Always Be Right Here” using a trial copy of FL Studio. He, along with his two best friends, performed the song in front of their entire school for their 8th grade promotion ceremony. This performance was what made his classmates and the people of his town truly accept him as a “musical prodigy” at the time. 

 

Since then, he continued to write and produce music while teaching and playing piano to make a living. Throughout his early 20’s, OVID shared the stage with artists such as Terry Bradford, The Von Trapps, and Kristin Chenowith. These opportunities allowed him to perform on various stages with a variety of music styles. Having been a piano accompanist for most of his career, he is now shyly but surely stepping out from behind the keyboard and taking center stage. 

 

“I like to subvert people’s expectations – it's almost an obsession. Whether it’s my music or my appearance.” 

 

Informal Introductions establishes OVID as the multifaceted musician starting with “Can I Just Be Me?”, a track that begins with smooth R&B synths and pop lyrics with a punk rock drop in the chorus. “Can I Just be Me?” is answered with the next song, a hip-hop rap track where OVID exclaims, he is a “Rock Star”. The transition to the full-on punk rock anthem, “White Mic”, comes at no surprise with the sudden wailing vocals and trailing distorted guitars. 

 

Although his lyrics may convey moments of doubt, Informal Introductions is unapologetically loud and in your face. “Can I Just Be Me” starts off with a chant saying “tired of the same old, tired of the same” to hint towards OVID’s experimental sound. He doesn’t like to stay in one place so he’ll move on to other instruments and sound as the EP continues. He will rap to trap beat and tell the world “That’s how I jam ‘cause I’m a Rock Star.” For OVID, there’s a struggle to break free from everyday life and the worry about sharing who he is that everyone can relate to. Despite these obstacles, there’s a happy-go-lucky in the end who “doesn’t really care” and would rather be “standing pretty with his shiny white mic” on stage.  

 

“Informal Introductions is meant to show people that I could do more than just be the guy in a suit sitting at piano,” he explains. “I felt stuck for a long time and this EP represents how I’ve been getting to know who I’m starting to become. It’s an on-going journey for me and I want to share it with the world.”