It’s not every day you come across an artist who can seamlessly blend the raw grit of Seattle grunge with the soulful precision of B.B. King, but O.C. Hazel is doing exactly that. After years of honing his craft in the American Midwest, he has emerged as a formidable guitarist and songwriter with a knack for storytelling that feels both personal and universal.
His 2025 debut EP, ‘Fire on the Mountain’, has been turning heads—and for good reason. It’s a thematic journey that explores the highs and lows of the human experience, wrapped in a sound that is as melodic as it is guitar-driven. We sat down with the man himself to talk about his roots, the legendary performances that shaped his sound, and what’s brewing in the studio for the year ahead.
In this interview, we dive into O.C. Hazel’s early inspirations, the creative process behind his latest EP, and his exciting plans for a Midwest tour.
Thanks for joining us, O.C. Hazel! You’ve had a fascinating journey from picking up the guitar at twelve years old to releasing your first official EP, ‘Fire on the Mountain’. Looking back at those early days playing in middle school bands, what is the most important lesson you learned then that still guides your music today?
“The most important lesson that guides me is to never give up playing. Learning guitar or any other instrument is a journey that many people give up because there’s difficulty in learning, frustration in technique, so many styles to choose from, and etc.”
Your music is described as a blend of rock, blues, and African style. How do you approach weaving all your rhythmic influences into a guitar-heavy sound?
“I use the guitar tone my song concepts ask for. If I’m working on a more melodic happy record, it’s not going to have too much distortion on it for example. It always depends on the song I’m trying to make, the tension or lack thereof within the song, and the chord progression for the most part.”
Before stepping into the spotlight with your own EPs, you spent a lot of time doing studio session work as a guitarist. How has the experience of contributing to such a wide range of other artists’ projects helped refine your own “voice” and precision when you sit down to write your own material?
“The funny thing is, is that a lot of the material I made for other artists didn’t get picked up or used. I think I’ve always been in the state of trying to do something unique or technically difficult when people were looking for more simple work. I take all that work and experience as me “finding myself as an artist” lol.”
In ‘Fire on the Mountain’, you mention that you wanted to tell a “common life story” that people could relate to from beginning to end. When you are in the songwriting phase, how do you decide which parts of a story are best told through lyrics and which parts are better expressed through a guitar melody or a shift in dynamics?
“I think there are different ways I do that depending on how I write the song. It’s hard to have an answer because sometimes I start with the music, and sometimes I start with the lyrics/concept. Ultimately I don’t pick and choose what’s better expressed through song or lyrics. I just let what comes out come out.”
The central theme of your EP explores the journey of trying to control life, only to realize that you can’t. Can you walk us through the emotional transition between the “wandering” found in the opening track, ‘The Traveler’, and the “acceptance” found in the title track?
“Yeah, in ‘The Traveler’, someone is going around describing their journey. There’s no goal, it’s just about pursuit for the sake of pursuit. ‘The Traveler’ is traveling to experience things and ends up where he started. ‘Fire on the Mountain’ is about a natural disaster or any disaster someone may face in life. Be careful and aware of what’s going on, and face it as best as you can, but also accept what you can’t control.”
“The emotional transition lyrically and musically between the two songs is change, change, change in ‘The Traveler’, and centeredness and stability in ‘Fire on the Mountain’.”
You’ve mentioned that the reception to your latest work, including a high rating from a notoriously critical reviewer, surprised even you. How has that positive feedback changed your confidence or your approach as you head back into the studio for your upcoming project?
“It hasn’t changed me really at all. It felt good for a moment, but I try to stay centred and true to my work aside from critiques after I release something. Everyone has their opinions and preferences.”
Your next release has the working title ‘In the Moonlight’, and you’ve noted that you are producing sounds you weren’t sure you were capable of. In what ways is this new material pushing your boundaries, and how does it differ from the “diverse and guitar-driven” energy of your previous work?
“I feel like I’m reaching new levels musically, really, and have more to show musically and lyrically. There is some funk, soul, and faster-paced records on this upcoming project.”
As you look toward the end of the year and a potential Midwest tour, what do you hope stays with an audience member long after they’ve walked out of an O.C. Hazel show or finished listening to your record?
“I just hope the show is something they always remember. I always want to put on a great show for people who spend their time and money to come listen.”
Finally, is there anything you’d like to say to the fans reading this?
“Check out my music on all streaming music platforms and connect with me on social media. I appreciate the love and support! My website is www.ochazel.com and you can stream ‘Fire On The Mountain’ here. For booking or enquiries, reach out to primewebagency@gmail.com.”
As O.C. Hazel continues to refine his “musical lane,” it’s clear that his journey is only just beginning. With a new project already in the works and a potential tour on the cards, he is definitely an artist to keep on your radar. Whether you’re a fan of bluesy riffs or atmospheric storytelling, there is something in his catalogue that will resonate.
You can stream the new release now via Spotify, and for more, keep up with O.C. Hazel on Instagram and X.
