Angel Ocana
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
Brooklyn / Philadelphia singer-songwriter Angel Ocana returns home tonight for an appearance at The Fire. His thoughtful acoustic stylings hearken back to Bookends-era Simon and Garfunkel, while his warm harmonies with singer Tiffany Foster recall the more tender moments of Everything But the Girl. - WXPN The Key
Discography
White Roses (2013)
Photos
Bio
Angel Ocana is one of the purest singer/songwriters to arrive on the Philly music scene in recent years. His crystal-clear tenor and melodic, lyrically direct songwriting present a remarkably simple packaging for music so engaging. But sometimes, the greatest beauty lies in the simplest things.
A Brooklyn native, Angel grew up with a deejay for a father and was thus raised on legends including Michael Jackson, Roy Orbison, and Simon & Garfunkel; these artists’ emotional honesty and musically accomplished compositions have surely influenced Angel’s own songs. But before he traveled the singer/songwriter road, he played drums in various bands. Weary of life behind the kit, Angel took up the guitar; his lack of formal training led him to employ non-standard tuning and chords, which he has used to great effect since moving to Philadelphia in 2010. That’s when Angel began pursuing his solo career, making home recordings, hitting open mics, and meeting many important people in the scene. His 2013 EP “White Roses” includes two such people, Anna K Jarosz on piano and vocals, and Christopher Davis-Shannon on bass. It’s fitting that the three should collaborate, as they are all year-end finalists in the Philly Rising open mic competition.
Angel Ocana has performed at venues including The Legendary Dobbs and World Café Live Downstairs in Philadelphia and Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn and can be seen around these areas frequently. Whether you see him in person or listen to his recordings, Angel is one of the most sincere singer/songwriters you will find today.
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