Steven Walker is best known for his guitar talents, and he showcases it both on the stage and in the classroom.
Walker provides instrumental instruction at the Zomac School of Music in both Tahlequah and Muskogee. He began playing instruments as a child, and today can play guitar, bass, ukulele, and the mandolin.
He is also a founding member of a pop punk band, When the Clock Strikes, which formed in 2014.
“I’d been playing music in bands for a few years but had taken quite a bit of time away from it to care for my mom and dad,” Walker said. “They both had fallen ill around the same time and needed quite a bit of help, so I dropped college and band life and focused on navigating that.”
After his parents passed away, Walker wanted to get back into playing music.
“I called some friends hoping to just play some music together, hoping to regain some humanity and claw myself out of the complex grief that just permeated through everything,” Walker said. “Daniel Basden obliged and we got to work; a few lineup changes and some years later, here we are.”
Basden is the other founding member of WTCS, and he sings and plays bass. Since then, they have added drummer, Blake Westerby, and another guitar player, Mike Cambiano.
The band is best known in Tulsa, having opened for groups like Bowling for Soup, and playing at venues such as The Vanguard and Cain’s Ballroom.
The band recently released a single titled “Sleeping on Me.” The music video for the song was directed by Cambiano.
“It’s easy all day long when we make time and lock in,” Walker said. “Nearly none of it is my fault; I’m just surrounded by an incredible amount of talent.”
Walker credits his bandmates, and audio engineer C.J. Cochran, for smooth writing, recording, and filming processes. WTCS is currently writing a new EP.
However, Walker has also been featured in many songs by other artists as a lead guitar player. He said that can be done without going to a recording studio.
“I’ll get a message asking, ‘Can you throw a lead guitar line over this section’ and a track?’” Walker said. “I’ll record it at home and send it to them.”
While his band is known for its pop-punk sound, Walker has played guitar for musicians across the spectrum of genres, including rock, metal, pop, and hip-hop.
Walker said he takes pride in teaching others how to play instruments and develop their own musical talents.
“Every week, I get to check in on around 70 individuals and help them. Every single person’s needs are different, and I get to tailor and individualize each lesson,” said Walker. “Music has a near infinite amount of pathways that allow for self discovery and growth, and I get to be a part of their journey.”
Walker said he draws inspiration from everyone and everything around him.
“The player at the local show, or the 8-bit chiptune on the random NES game can be equally as inspiring as watching archival footage of Van Halen, who was probably my first real inspiration,” Walker said.