Oklahoma City-based experimental hip-hop group AUGMNTD is hosting a Halloween costume party Saturday, at Opolis.
This will mark AUGMNTD’s second time performing at Opolis. The group’s first show at the venue was a music video release party, where they premiered the music video for their song “MUT.” AUGMNTD frontman Kamau “Kid Kaziya” Myles said the group is looking forward to returning to Opolis’ intimate atmosphere.
“It’s not too big, it’s not too small, so everybody is right there feeling each other’s vibe,” Myles told OU Daily.
AUGMNTD is composed of Myles, who calls himself the group’s “designated screamer,” Ethan “the Avant” Taylor and Mason “Levit8” McDonald.
Myles and Taylor met in middle school and have been best friends ever since. After being introduced to McDonald and Joe “Joey Neptune” Nicolle, who manages “the beats and the booking,” the four combined forces with a goal to create hip-hop music that steps outside the mainstream.
Experimental hip-hop is a subgenre that blends various genres to create a nontraditional sound. The group’s members each bring their own unique style to the beats they create to push beyond the typical hip-hop formula.
“We all play instruments and understand how instrumentation works,” Nicolle said. “I feel like all of our beats are more formatted like rock songs.”
The Halloween event will feature artists from the Oklahoma City area, and two from Houston, Texas, including Tall Sheriff, Deadphntm, Atlas, YxngboiJT, Dakidlando and Sadboimello.
After playing a show with alternative rock band Atlas, AUGMNTD became connected with the other performers.
“They all had really good energy,” Nicolle said. “So we just asked every one of them if they wanted to do the show with us.”
Each group will perform its own set, and the event will feature a pop-up by airbrushed clothing and art shop OneLoveUni. AUGMNTD is set to release a new song, “Fight,” on the day of the show, and will be the closing performers.
“Come for the music, stay for the energy,” Myles said.
AUGMNTD frequently performs at the Resonator Institute in Norman, where they hosted a Halloween party last year. Beginning next year, the group plans to host monthly events featuring music, fashion and art, with a series they will call AUGFEST.
AUGMNTD Halloween will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday at Opolis at 113 N. Crawford Ave. in Norman. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door, and attendees are encouraged to wear costumes.
This story was edited by Emma Blakley and Karoline Leonard. Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
