Live music and entertainment is a longstanding tradition along the Highland Strip, with venues like Newby’s and Juicy Jim’s.
Now, Oasis on S. Highland is looking to take on the tradition. The hookah lounge’s small and intimate space, which can hold between 70 and 75 people, hosted its first live performance on Feb. 25, with local indie artists Jayvee the Prince, Young Tyrant and Leon.
“It felt really good to be able to share my music with people, and the small setting was really chill,” Leon, local indie hip-hop artist, said. “Because I felt like the audience was as close to me as I hope my music made them feel they were.”
It may have been the first, but it’s something University of Memphis senior psychology major and manager of Oasis Rico Doss wants to happen at least every two weeks or every month.
Doss is a Memphis native, and he’s highly invested in the indie music and art scene in the city.
“I really want to highlight artists I know because I know a lot of indie artists in Memphis,” Doss said. “There’s a lot of talent in Memphis so why not give them the exposure.”
Before Doss began working at Oasis, he had already planned a number of artist showcases for a local indie music company. He’s booked shows at Oasis’ Minglewood Hall location and the Hi-Tone Café.
He’s also helped plan shows for South by Southwest and Atlanta Music Festival. Although the first show Doss booked at Oasis’ S. Highland location was a hip-hop listening party and concert, he isn’t limiting the space to just one type of artist, or just one genre of music.
Anything dealing with bringing entertainment to people, I want to be involved in it, Doss said.
“I know a lot of artists, a lot of musicians, a lot of painters and a lot of photographers, so I’m always trying to provide an outlet,” Doss said. “I’m a photographer myself.”
Doss plans to book entertainment that will appeal to a wide array of audiences, and he hopes to expose others to various types of artists and music.
“One type of music doesn’t fit everyone,” Doss said. “Just because I work for an urban music company doesn’t mean I don’t like the Adele-type music— I don’t mind hearing the pop acts and I don’t mind hearing the jazz acts either.”
Still, for Doss, it’s not just about the music. He wants to book all types of performers, like musicians, poets and stand-up comedians.
“If they’re musicians and they play guitar, I’m down for that— or if they play a saxophone and that’s what they do, I’m down for that,” Doss said.
One thing Doss is sure of is that he doesn’t want to host open-mic events.
He only wants to host engaging performances instead. Oasis hosted its latest show on March 13, which was another hip-hop show, this time showcasing artists performing at South by Southwest.
