VIDEO UPDATE: “on.” episode 15 Erin Austin (OK Sweetheart) Valentine’s Day Special

• JUST SOME OLD FASHIONED LOVE SONGS

Her band is known as OK Sweetheart, and that’s a fitting nickname for Erin Austin.

After a brief introduction at Stonewall Tavern, the OK Sweetheart gang followed “on.” upstairs into an apartment that sits above Cafe 88.

Austin broke into a duo of love songs, which make it hard not to feel all woozy. Maybe it’s Austin’s warm voice, or maybe it’s the fact Valentine’s Day is so close.

Nonetheless, she seemed like a fitting choice for the first “on.” Valentine’s Day special.

• GETTING TO KNOW ERIN AUSTIN

Listen to a couple Erin Austin songs, and it’ll take you a few moments to pinpoint what decade from your parents’ vinyl collection she came from.

Austin’s husband Rob Gungor said Austin, 27, recently adhered to a strict diet of The Beatles, The Zombies and early Randy Newman songs to avoid sounding like today’s popular artists.

The diet paid off.

Graced with a talent for stunningly simple songwriting, Austin can generate all the warmth of a dozen Beatles songs and add a carefree, soothing twist.

It’s no surprise her full band is named OK Sweetheart.

Before moving to Oklahoma in 2001, Austin grew up in Oriskany, N.Y., and would invent dances while her father played guitar. Austin has come a long way from performing talent shows for her parents, graduating from Oral Roberts University and moving to California. She said music always has been a part of her life.

“If I hear something or think of something (then) I have to write it down and develop it more,” Austin said. “It’s like a compulsion. If there was no music, I just wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

She said she began writing an album in 2007, and her work has attracted indie artists like Midlake and local Oklahoma musicians. Clay Welch of Tulsa’s Callupsie plays guitar when OK Sweetheart tours and Patrick Ryan of Tulsa’s Dead Sea Choir plays drums.

Ryan said he’s attracted to the drumming in Austin’s music because McKenzie Smith of Midlake and Gungor wrote the parts.

“It’s drumming 101,” he said. “It’s not about playing crazy, but playing simple really well.”

Austin said OK Sweetheart plans to visit the South by Southwest Music Festival in March to play shows to attract a record label.

If she has to settle for one label, then this OK Sweetheart might have to break more than a few hearts.

• SEE HER TONIGHT

Friday February 12 @ Opolis
Sherree Chamberlain
Samantha Crain
Erin Austin

9 p.m. | All Ages | $7 Day of show
*$2 surcharge under 21

• TOO FAR? THEN STAY IN STILLWATER

Saturday February 13 @ Vault
James Price
Satori
James McLaughlin

10 p.m. | All Ages | $5 Day of show

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