Hinder guitarist Mark Austin King channels '90s alternative rock with side project Caffeine Genius

Best known as the guitarist for the platinum-selling rock band Hinder, Oklahoma musician Mark Austin King has spent the strange days of the coronavirus pandemic getting caffeinated - or at least, getting creative with his side project, Caffeine Genius. 

Through Caffeine Genius, King channels 1990s alternative rock, especially music of the era by Ben Folds and Weezer, with tuneful and nostalgic results. 

A five-song EP titled "Look What My Computer Did" made its digital debut in spring, and King has released a few more songs and music videos since. 

In August, Hinder announced that its fall "15th Anniversary Extreme Behavior Tour," celebrating the release of the band's 2005 breakthrough debut album, was being postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. 

Along with creating new material as Caffeine Genius, King has found something else to keep him busy during the "stay safe and stay home" days of 2020: He and his wife Beth welcomed a baby boy named Jonas in August. 

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This post is part of Oklahoma Music Week here on BAM's Blog, a look at how Oklahoma musicians have been been handling the pandemic and some of the projects they've been working over the past few months. Please follow along and support local musicians and venues in whatever way you can. 

-BAM