Oklahoma

Oklahoma:

Fiawna Forté

CITY: Tulsa
SONGS THAT GOT US: "I'd Rather Die," "No"
MYSPACE ADDRESS: myspace.com/fiawnaforte
RECORD LABEL: Unsigned

WHY THEM? This is why we watch the fringes. Fiawna Forté is at that point in her career where she could careen into the world with raw heat and emotion, or go overboard on the stylistic second-guessing. Our fingers are crossed that she relies on the former, because this 22-year-old banshee's gloriously nasty growl deserves a big, loud crash-landing on the scene. Her brand new debut, Transitus, precariously walks the line between elemental roar and radio-ready hits, which should thankfully put her on somebody's map. But as long as Forté's tattered lungs keep moaning like PJ and bellowing like a honky-tonk Corin Tucker, you'll never want to accuse her of pulling punches.

BONUS BIT! Yeah, that's a verse of "Folsom Prison Blues" tacked onto the beginning of barroom brawler "No."

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Ohio