When OG8 first formed as a band, it became immediately clear that all members were feeling overlooked and underappreciated. Rather than be jaded and take a negative approach, the industry veterans vowed to create music that entertained and healed. Listeners soon learned they rocked. Now with the new album Recognize, listeners will soon hear the band’s range and lyric sincerity. Founder and lead guitarist Troy Williver, who grew up traveling the country and winning championships in Quarter Midget Racing, felt a strong sense of connection to his youth creating the track “Finish Line.” “The whole song came together in like two minutes,” he said. “I had C & C Music Factory’s ‘Everybody Dance Now’ stuck in my head and about 2:52 a.m., I picked up my Les Paul and that guitar intro came to be. It had me thinking of all my youth and my rowdy friends.” “Wide Open” and “Return To Sender” encapsulate the Americana-canvas for the band; still at their core is the robust, emotive delivery from lead singer Jaime Lynch, a multiple winner of “Best of Las Vegas” for her powerful vocals and stage presence for Pussycat Dolls, Peep Show, Vegas The Show and more, and Williver’s encompassing riffs. Both singles further push the band’s evolving songwriting and immediate rapport. For OG8 equally paramount to the actual music is the recognition that they have a bond and a central mission, they can look in the mirror and see that they are doing meaningful work. They are unapologetically true to themselves.
Their origin story is rooted in decades of musical collaboration, friendship and a shared ideological belief system of love of music over pursuit of ego. Drummer Michael Thomas Underwood III, Renato Caranto on saxophone, George Mitchell on keyboard, bassist Phil Baker and sound engineer Drew Canulette round out the band.
