Val Lowry-Ortega’s latest project speaks of big dreams in small town America
Photo: : Hannah Marie Belisle
Good Morning!
Today we’re listening to Minneapolis-based Oceanographer
Over the last few years, our journey to find new music has taken us to some odd corners of the country. We’ve made stops in places as far afield as Bellingham, Washington; Bloomington, Indiana; Athens, Georgia; and Portland, Maine.
Today, we’re staying in flyover country and hopping over the border into Minnesota.
The upper Midwest is dotted with small towns full of people with big dreams. Growing up in rural Worthington, MN, Val Lowry-Ortega was no exception. Like many from small towns (or suburbs), most of their school years were spent counting the days to get out of town; they left right after graduation. After receiving a scholarship, Lowry-Ortega Initially channeled their energy toward acting, but quickly found their heart wasn’t in it. Playing the guitar to put off doing coursework ultimately became the genesis of their musician origin story. It was a much better fit.
After a stop in central Wisconsin, they moved to the Twin Cities, met up with some friends, and Oceanographer was born.
It’s probably good that it didn’t work out with NYU anyway, because going through my acting program made me realize how off-path I was. I didn’t want to be told what to do by other people. I wanted to write my own work that I had full creative control over. So, I honed in on my songwriting and started playing small gigs with the folk punk community in Stevens Point. I introduced my first iterations of my songs in grimey basements littered with beer cans, but I finally felt like I was heading in the right direction, oddly enough.
Deep Sea Diver taps heavily into those early years and the constraints of life in a small ton. Lowry-Ortega describes the sounds as “Midwest Dream Folk… a happy mix of Laurel Canyon Folk, 90s Dream Pop, and Midwest Emo.” The presser lists bands like Big Thief as comparisons, and even suggested The Sundays! Those are all apt, but listening I was reminded of KD Lang as well. Not everyone can nail that wistful sense of longing. Lowry-Ortega does.
When they sing His black eye swollen shut with shame/ Still half undressed in the window frame/He said that he had everything/But he gambled it away on “Midwestern Cowoby” you feel it.
The EP is three tracks full of guitars, lap steel, and easy beats, supporting her powerful vocals. It’s a bit folk, a bit country, and even a bit of pop- all with some gothic overtones sprinkled across the top. The lilting melodies belie the sometimes not-so-gorgeous stories of dreams unrealized and lives never fully lived. It’s the story of some people watching the big sky, yearning for something more, and of others destined to keep up appearances and settle for what they think they’re supposed to.
It’s the sound of something you’d hope to find on the AM dial while driving between Worthington and the Twin Cities, leaving the silos in your wake.
For readers in the Twin Cities area, the band has several upcoming shows!
- June 1st Grand Ole Days (Solo)
12:30PM-5:00PM - June 12th Kingfield porchfest
6-9PM - June 13th at The Mess’s Backyard Blend
With Skeleton Crew, Not Your Baby, and Modern Wildlife
6pm doors, 6:30pm show - July 2nd songwriter round at Greenway Recording (solo)
7:30PM Doors/ 8PM Music - July 8th New Band Night at The Green Room
6:30PM Doors, 7PM Music - July 16th at Pilllar Forum
With Finick and Natl Park Service
Load in at 5, Doors at 6 - July 26th Hot Dog Party at the Black Hart, St. Paul
With ?Watches?, Dollchaser, Lure of Lilith, Mystery Meat, and Splendid 12-6PM (Benefit in support of trans youth)
Deep Sea Diver is out now on all platforms.
Listen:
Oceanographer | Deep Sea Diver (EP) 2025
Click the record to listen via Bandcamp
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this record!
You can connect with the band via Bluesky, Instagram, or on their website.
Kevin Sent 
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