artist Ox

Ox began in the smokey confines of East-side Vancouver’s Profile Studios- as songwriter Mark Browning’s project to remake Woody Guthrie’s ‘Dust Bowl Ballads’. What started as a musical history excercise and sonic experiment quickly transformed into an intimate expression of rambling folk soundscape mixed with indie rock. Browning’s 2003 debut, ‘Dust Bowl Revival’ bridged the burgeoning roots alt-country scene into indie cult status coming out of nowhere to eventually reach #1 on Canada’s national college radio chart- the first time an independent record has achieved such an honour.

Following this, thousands of miles of touring across Canada, the USA, UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands crystalized Ox’s underground cult status. Never quite breaking into the mainstream, but rather, lurking on the fringes- Ox moved through 3 subsequent albums- each gaining new fans- each generating critical acclaim- each taking the Browning led ‘collective’ lineup to new musical levels.

After 7 years and 4 albums, Browning moved the Ox homebase to his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. There, with support from longtime Ox collaborator Ryan Bishops, and part-time sideman Brian Dunn, he founded Cosmic Dave’s Sound Emporium- an atmospheric analog equiped recording studio and vintage music store situated in an iconic old-time Sudbury diner. Here, Ox continues the tradition begun in Vancouver combining haunting dust bowl soundtracks with reverb-soaked garage folk- either providing late night playlists for all night prairie drives.