Open Mic Night at Factory Obscura Spotlights a Variety of Local Talent

On the first Thursday of every month, Factory Obscura partners with Make Oklahoma Weirder to put on their monthly Open Mic Night.

The night is hosted by Jarvix, musician and founder of Make Oklahoma Weirder. 

Mic Night takes place on the Wonder Stage inside the Mix-Tape immersive art experience. It’s currently decorated resembling a whimsical, Seuss-esque ocean floor with plenty to keep your eyes busy. 

Jarvix kicked the night off with a cover of “Reflection” from Disney’s “Mulan” on a French horn as a nod to the theme of this month’s Mic Night was “reflection”. 

A wide variety of talent was on display for this month’s showcase. Performers are carefully vetted and are free to put anything on display.

The performances ranged from original music to covers to spoken word. After reading an original poem, a talent drew a turkey on a poster board. Another performed an original song but requested a random word from the audience to work into her song.

The word was “pickle” and made its way seamlessly into a verse. One of the most polarizing acts was a compelling lecture about how many types of foods actually fall under the umbrella of “sandwich,” including lasagna.

The artists who wrote their own music covered an array of genres like folk, indie rock, and alternative.

“By creating an atmosphere that celebrates diversity and weirdness, we create a more accepting space for folks who might not feel as welcome in more homogeneous third spaces, and since Factory Obscura already prioritizes safety, empathy, and expression, this has resulted in some of our most vulnerable creators finding the courage to not only take the stage for the first time but to also grow as they continue to experiment from month to month,” said Jarvix. 

Many of the acts shared that this was their first time performing for people in many years or, in some cases, their first time ever. 

Jarvix stated, “When an artist shares a part of themselves and an audience is fully present to receive it, there is an unspoken interaction there, and when that interaction becomes mutual validation through shared taste, belief, or interest, you get a positive social connection.” 

Factory Obscura is an Oklahoma City-based collaborative company creating immersive experiences that awaken wonder, build community, and make the world better.

Make Oklahoma Weirder is an independent online multimedia platform dedicated to covering original local music in the state of Oklahoma. Using a written blog, a YouTube channel, social media apps, and a forthcoming podcast, Make Oklahoma Weirder covers and curates local artists and music events through original content.