Our 2026 programme of music is shaping up nicely, and our first gig of the season is set to be a fresh and exciting way to kick off the year!
A capella quartet Oaken provided online singing workshops during lockdown, bringing people together and forming a sense of community through song. Oaken continues to deliver music workshops today, and we’re delighted that they will be hosting a very special vocal performance for us.
We caught up with Oaken to talk about what songs they’ll be showcasing and how to get started if your New Year’s resolution is to give a capella singing a try!
Oaken came together to deliver online singing workshops during the pandemic, a scary, lonely time for many. Can you tell us a little about how people responded to the workshops and how they helped them through such a period of uncertainty?
The Covid lockdowns were a very isolating time for lots of people. We all ran community choirs before the lockdown took place, and many of our choir members told us that hosting online singing events was a real lifeline.
For some, it was the only contact with the outside world they had.
The first event we ran, SingFest 2020, had over 400 participants. We were able to meet in a studio and sing in individual booths in harmony, in real-time, and people could join in from home.
It wasn’t the same as singing together, but it was the best we could do at the time, and it was much appreciated.
How did you get into a cappella music as an art form?
All of us sang in choirs growing up, albeit in very different genres!
Camilo (Menjura) and Anna (Tabbush) came from the folk world (Colombian for Camilo and Northumbrian for Anna), while Emily (Barden) came from the world of pop and Dom (Stichbury) sang in chamber choirs and later, contemporary ensembles.
We all ended up teaching a capella choirs, as well as composing and arranging for them. It can be tricky writing for an a capella choir as all of the chordal harmony and rhythmic groove has to be covered by voices.
We all love a challenge though!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get started with a capella music?
Like all things, the more you do it, the better you get.
The wonderful thing is that there’s a choir for everyone as they’ve really taken off in the UK in recent years – we’d love it if everyone got the chance to sing in a community choir!
A good place to get started is the Natural Voice Network – they have hundreds of choirs and leaders not just in the UK, but all around the world.
And finally, can you give us a sneak peek of some of the songs you’ll be performing for us?
We’ll be covering lots of different styles and genres, so there’ll be something for everyone.
We’ll be doing a bit of trad folk like The Lark in the Morning, some Latin American songs like Rico Vacilón, and upbeat pop like I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
We’ll also be singing some of our original songs, like Anna’s self-penned Harbour.
You can find out about Oaken’s upcoming gigs and join their mailing list on their website: www.oakenharmony.com
Oaken take to the Live to your Living Room stage on Saturday 10 January at 8pm. Find out more about the gig, book your ticket and enjoy a truly joyous performance!