OCA Meets Music
OCA Mocha is committed to creating space for artists to unite our community through creative expression. Music is an important part of this mission.
Whether it's barista-created playlists or providing a professional space for artists, everything is done with care. This gallery showcases photography, digital media, posters, and music to honor the community's passion for music.
- Curated by Karen Hayes-Karn, Biology and Social Welfare, UMBC 2024
Anne Watts and Boister
Goddess of Baltimore in Your Mind (left)
your wound is your crown (right)
Digital Media
The Baltimore-based ensemble Anne Watts and Boister explore themes of birth, death, transcendence, love, play, and war.
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube
Emily Bryant
Fetcher at Zissimos Bar (May 31, 2023) (left)
Soul Meets Body at Crown (July 19, 2023) (center)
Shelby Morgan at Crown (July 20, 2023) (right)
Photograph
Emcaptures (Em Bryant) is a freelance Baltimore photographer who started their career in the Baltimore music scene a year ago. Since then, they have captured over 40 bands, gone on toys to Fenway Park, and showcased at a local music festival. She can often be found in the dark basement of the alt-rock/punk scene with her camera in tow.
Artist Instagram: @emcaptures.photo
emcapturesphoto.pic-time.com/portfolio
Goctagon (Jason Jones)
Fetcher: So Long Small World
Digital Media
Fetcher is a four piece alternative rock band from Baltimore. Taking a mix of inspiration from anything that sounds good to them, their sound is a funky soup of everything they grew up listening to and have found along the way.
Digital Artist Instagram: @goctagon
Band Instagram: @fetcherband
withkoji.com/@fetcherband
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube
Kavya Rayathatha
Harry Styles (August 27, 2022)
Photograph
Siddharth Rayathatha
JPEGMAFIA (November 3, 2021)
Photograph
Siddharth Rayathatha
Kendrick Lamar (August 5, 2022)
Photograph
Siddharth Rayathatha
Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem (August 5, 2022)
Photograph
Siddharth Rayathatha
Yves Tumor (May 5,2023)
Photograph
Almost Ichabod
Lips (left)
Upgrade Me (right)
Digital Media
Almost Ichabod is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore whose music aims to create the feeling of what it is to be human by creating tunes that help us remember old times, inspire new emotions, or question life itself.
Music Artist Instagram: @almost_ichabod
Available on Spotify and SoundCloud
Globe Poster Printing Corp., Baltimore
Anne Watts & Boister: CD Release Party
Print Artist Instagram: @globeatMICA
globeatMICA.com
Globe Collection and Press at MICA
Dance and Show: Band and Revue
Print Artist Instagram: @globeatMICA
globeatMICA.com
Globe Collection and Press at MICA
Dance Camp 2018
Print Artist Instagram: @globeatMICA
globeatMICA.com
Globe Collection and Press at MICA
A Night of Cosmic Tones For Mental Therapy
Print Artist Instagram: @globeatMICA
globeatMICA.com
Sid
Alfheim
Digital Media
The local music producer’s second EP, following his first EP, Wasted Daze. Alfheim is an instrumental hip hop project.
Sid uses a variety of sounds such as jazz rap, experimental rap, and psychedelic/alternative trap.
Music Artist Instagram: @sidonthebeat1
songwhip.com/sid8
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube
Karen Hayes-Karn ’24, Biology and Social Welfare
Harmony
Photograph
Two years ago, I met Levi in my school’s apartment complex. During the school year, he was a neighbor with whom I shared wine and spoke about the future. We always looked ahead at how life could be better, pushing away the present like a burden. That summer, Levi and I attended a concert put on by his friend. As we swayed together under the red and blue lights, our cheeks became flushed, and our hearts became full. We accepted our present, finding joy in the bond that we shared within it. For a night, we found harmony. Though Levi and I have since moved out of our apartment complex, we are closer than ever. Levi is no longer my neighbor: he is my soulmate.
Devin Edwards
90.3 The Core Presents: Core Fest 2022 (left)
90.3 The Core Presents: Core Fest 2023 (right)
Digital Media
Founded in 1971, 90.3 The Core is a radio station that broadcasts live from the Livingston campus of Rutgers University. The spirit of the station is captured in its mission statement:
“We, the radio station of Livingston Campus at Rutgers University, extended the mission of the college to the airwaves as we work with our partners at Piscataway High School, delivering outstanding alternative programming that is responsive to the diverse needs of our listening community. Many voices… one station!”
Devin Edwards works as the promotional director of The Core, designing posters to advertise the station. He specializes in printmaking and sculpture.
Artist Instagram: @edw.dev
Artists website: edwdev.bigcartel.com
Radio Station Instagram: @thecorefm
Connect and listen to live at thecorefm.carrd.co
Devin Edwards
Frankie Cosmos (left)
Strikestock (right)
Digital Media
Flyers for daily music shows standing in solidarity with the 2023 Rutgers University strike.
In 2023, thousands of employees at Rutgers University went on strike in response to the school’s failure to resolve disputes over salary increases, job security, and student funding, among other issues. Devin Edwards, a Rutgers student and member of a strike planning committee, arranged events to draw attention to the strike and created flyers to promote them. The strike ended after unions approved new contracts.
Artist Instagram: @edw.dev
Artists website: edwdev.bigcartel.com
Laura Durington and Jessica Weber
Who’s Trading in his Headphones for a Ten-Gallon Hat?
Digital Media
Philadelphia City Paper ad for DJ Milky Way/Dr. Slover’s going away party
This farewell party was DJ Milky Way/ Dr. Slover’s last spin before his return to Texas to pursue his Ph.D. in anthropology. At this party, he proposed to his now wife and mother of his children, Laura Durington. DJ Milky Way/ Dr. Slover is now a professor at Towson University and planner in Baltimore City community research.
This print was submitted by his loving son, Wyatt.
VISH
DFFRNT
Digital Media
As a kid growing up in Uptown, Washington DC, singer VISH (Vishy Rathor) was very ambitious and goal-driven. From playing sports to visiting Temple every week, VISH still had a foot in the streets, requiring him to make a lot of decisions on who he is and who he wants to become. Although he was exposed to various traumas at an early age, VISH came out to be a very determined, pious, and inspiring artist in the DMV area.
Music Artist Instagram: @vishyrathor
Available on Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music and SoundCloud