Oxford Town
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Music
Press
Brothers look to leave mark in music world
By?Anne Schmidt
There is something about music that is played from the heart and from the soul. It’s that kind of music from the “good ole days,” with lyrics that have meaning and a sound that is timeless. Brothers, Sam and Daniel Ashford (from Edmond) are hoping to bring rock and roll music back into the spotlight.
Sam just recently graduated from OCS and will be attending The ACM@UCO in the fall. Daniel will be a sophomore at OCS. They have recorded one CD already, “Blood and Water” and are currently working on CD No. 2.
In the beginning Sam worked as a solo act, but it didn’t take long for Daniel to begin collaborating on the music and ideas of where their talent could lead them. They agreed on the band name, Oxford Town, from a Bob Dylan song title. “We didn’t pick that song for a specific reason, it just sounds good.”
Sam plays guitar and sings lead, while Daniel plays the drums and sings back up. Sam look guitar lessons early on, but both boys are self taught on the piano and other instruments. Sam has been writing music for about 5-6 years and draws from life experiences for their lyrics. “It is a very emotional process.” One of his favorite lyrics is Run, Juliet, it is a ballad about a runaway being chased by her past.
The boys have always been pretty close but this experience has brought them even closer. “We are best friends,” they agree. Oxford Town gets inspiration from The Beatles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Nirvana, Kings of Leon, Bob Dylan and The Strokes.
If you were lucky you might have experienced Oxford Town at the Oklahoma City Arts Festival, Battle of the Bands or the Edmond Art Fest. Currently they play most Saturdays at Jazmoz Bourbon Street Café in Bricktown. They play about 60 percent covers and 40 percent originals.
They both enjoy reading and watching movies. Daniel enjoys little projects in making short films and editing. Sam loves OU football and is a huge fan. Their main focus is music Creating music is their life. It’s not really about being famous, but about getting paid for something they love to do. Music, it is in their heart and soul.
- Edmond Life and Leisure (by Anne Schmidt)
Discography
Between Your World and Mine EP (2011) available on iTunes and CD Baby
Photos
Bio
Oxford Town are brothers Sam and Ray Ashford.
“There is something about music that is played from the heart and from the soul. It’s that kind of music from the “good ole days” with lyrics that have meaning and a sound that is timeless. Brothers Sam and Ray Ashford are hoping to bring rock and roll music back into the spotlight.” May 26, 2011, Edmond Life and Leisure interview with Oxford Town.
Sam, 20, plays guitar, sings lead and writes songs. He presently attends ACM@UCO. Sam started at 6 years old with a $250.00 guitar that he bought with his own money, playing Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
Ray, 16, never could stop moving around and that restlessness flowed naturally into drums. This morphed into the desire to play music with his brother. The songwriting gene is in his DNA as well as playing the guitar.
Both Sam and Ray were born and raised in Oklahoma, and currently work out of their studio in east Edmond, Oklahoma.
Their musical influences range from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Lou Reed, the Beatles, Nirvana, the Black Keys, Counting Crowes, The White Stripes to The Strokes.
They have played regularly at Nonna’s and Jazmoz in Bricktown (near downtown Oklahoma City) and at various other venues in the Oklahoma City area. They have entertained at private parties, performed at the Oklahoma City Arts Festival and the Edmond Arts Festival, played at the Oklahoma Heritage Museum Battle of the Bands, and “Edmond has Talent”. They took second place at the UCO Battle of the Bands in 2012. They are regularly called to perform for ACM@UCO events.
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