Oklahoma City can feel a bit segregated, especially when it comes to the music and nightlife scene. Growing up on the Eastside, I remember only following the DJs I grew up with. Wherever they went, I went. My perspective was limited to what I already knew.
But after heading to college and moving to the other side of town, I widened my lens. I started exploring more, listening to new DJs, and eventually reconnected with an old friend, Justin Mallory, while also meeting someone new through my wife: Alex Pham.
Those two did something different—something Oklahoma City didn’t know it needed.
When I found out about their duo, FACE2FACE, I had questions. How did this happen? How did two people I knew from opposite sides of the city, from completely different backgrounds, end up behind the same DJ table?
We met up at Barseo in the Paseo District for a couple of drinks and to talk it all through. The first surprise? I didn’t know Alex grew up on Dime Block, a neighborhood on OKC’s Westside. That explains his adaptability and why he seems so comfortable in every room he walks into.
“I was born and raised in OKC, on the Westside,” said Pham. “My older brother and cousin were both DJs in the ’90s. One was into EDM and raves; the other was all about breakbeats and hip-hop. So I grew up surrounded by music. I rapped and wrote a little in middle school, then got deep into dancing—freestyle, B-boying, and eventually teaching choreography at PC West.”
That creative curiosity led him to photo and video work, a hustle that lasted until burnout hit during COVID. That’s when DJing became more than just an idea.
Meanwhile, Mallory—who goes by C4—was discovering music through a different lens. Raised in a Nigerian household, hip-hop wasn’t exactly front and center. He explored whatever sparked his interest: swimming lessons, medical courses, coding. That led to engineering, which he still does today alongside DJing.
“My first real exposure to music came at seven,” Mallory said. “My mom took me to Nigeria, and when we got back, she told me to find something productive to do because I had too much energy. I chose piano. That was the first time I really got into music. But we didn’t listen to hip-hop at home—it was mostly Nigerian music.”
Everything changed in high school.
“One day I found a USB drive in the hallway. Plugged it into a computer and it had Da Drought 3, No Ceilings, and So Far Gone on it. That was my first taste of hip-hop. And I was hooked.”
Not a bad introduction.
As he got older, his love for music only grew. While studying at the University of Oklahoma, Mallory started DJing parties and developed an appreciation for throwback R&B. With academic scholarships and a packed schedule, he found himself in diverse circles—including Asian fraternity parties.
“They started inviting me to DJ their house parties,” he said. “That’s how I got connected with the Asian community—through music and showing up.”
Eventually, those worlds collided. Pham and C4, each bringing their own influences, merged into FACE2FACE.
The partnership wasn’t effortless at first.
“Being a duo comes with its own challenges,” Pham said. “We have completely different tastes. I’m more EDM and dance. He’s rooted in hip-hop. So yeah, there was some friction.”
But instead of pulling them apart, the contrast made them better.
“There were definitely sets where I felt like I was getting cooked,” Pham laughed. “But that’s what pushed me to level up.”
They also had to figure out the mechanics of co-DJing. Mixing from two laptops. Timing transitions. Reading the crowd. Knowing when to pivot. And learning how to course-correct without anyone in the audience noticing.
“The crowd doesn’t know your plan,” C4 said. “If something goes wrong, you keep it moving. Don’t flinch. They won’t either.”
They found a rhythm. Over time, that creative push-and-pull became their strength.
To avoid sounding repetitive, they built out themed nights—each with its own vibe. Soundwaves brings Afrobeat and global dance. Link Up leans into bass-heavy EDM. Heart to Hearts dives into R&B and deeper cuts.
Their collaboration became a friendly battle. “We call it a cook-off,” Pham said. “We’re constantly trying to one-up each other—in the best way.”
C4 sees DJing as a balance of preparation and flexibility.
“A lot of DJs show up like, ‘This is what I’m playing. Take it or leave it.’ But we watch the crowd. If they’re vibing, cool. If not, we pivot. Always have a backup.”
They trust each other’s instincts, even when it means playing something unexpected.
“He might throw out a track I would’ve never picked,” C4 said. “And it ends up killing. That’s what makes it fun.”
A New Kind of Celebration
Now, the duo is gearing up for their most ambitious event yet: ROOM2ROOM, taking place June 22 at Santos Nightlife in OKC’s Bricktown.
Inspired by their name, the event features two separate rooms, curated by FACE2FACE and friends—a mix of rising talent and seasoned vets from the B-boy scene. The vibe? Unexpected, genre-fluid, and intentionally inclusive.
“We’re creating something that reflects all the different worlds we come from,” Pham said. “Two rooms. Two energies. One community.”
Set during Juneteenth weekend, the event also serves a deeper purpose.
“House, R&B, hip-hop—these are Black spaces,” Pham said. “Even though I’m not Black, I was raised around this culture. It shaped me. This is our way of honoring that.”
C4 added: “I didn’t grow up celebrating Juneteenth, but now I understand the weight of it. I don’t do the Fourth of July anymore. This is the culture that matters to me.”
FACE2FACE is using the moment to challenge the norms of OKC nightlife, where clubs often stick to familiar playlists and predictable formats.
“Most spots want the same thing every weekend,” Pham said. “But what if people want more? What if they just haven’t heard it yet?”
Their genre-bending style—which they jokingly refer to as “Cocomelon”—jumps from trap to house to Afrobeat to classic R&B, sometimes in a single set.
“People might come for the vibe and leave as fans of a whole new genre,” C4 said. “That’s the point.”
At the core, they want people to feel something deeper.
“I want people to walk out like they just took a breath of fresh air,” Pham said. “Not just another night out, but something they’ll remember.”
What’s Next for FACE2FACE?
ROOM2ROOM is just the beginning. The duo is also launching an I-35 tour, with confirmed stops in Oklahoma City, Norman, Dallas, San Marcos, San Antonio, and more. On top of that, they’re working on original music.
“We’ve got the production skills,” C4 said. “Now it’s about creating something that’s fully us.”
In a city still finding its cultural footing, Face2Face is doing more than making noise.
They’re building bridges, one beat at a time.
