Oka cannot be simplified into any one genre of music.
They'd prefer you think of them as a celebration of all that it is to be alive and free in the world today. They’re the little Sunshine Coast band — born from a relaxed street jam over ten years ago — who have since gained a devoted worldwide fan-base from mostly word of mouth. They've sold over 140,000 albums, shared the stage with major music giants like Arrested Development and Xavier Rudd, and this year they’re ready to take on the world.
“This year is going to be pretty rock solid. In May we head to North America then over to Europe for a couple of months before heading to Canada,” says Stu Fergie, the creative heart of Oka's four-man band.
The beginning of 2014 saw them bring in the new year with a show near Margaret River in Western Australia, and this month they’ll release their seventh studio album 'Free Spirit', as well as touring Queensland in mid-February.
Stu says the record came out of a 'tight' situation, in which the band was trying to support a young girl in their community whose parents had been murdered — the parents being close friends of the band. They’ve since decided to put all the funds gained from 'Free Spirit' towards providing counselling for the girl in their hometown, Coolum Beach. “For us it just seemed really logical, because the peopple that passed were really big supporters. So we just had to do our thing — put music out.”
Stu explains further that the initial inspiration for the album was in fact 'Lou', the girl's mother. “She was a free spirit — that really brought it home. We travel the world and you see some people, when they are listening to music, who will take awhile to let go then really enjoy it. I love watching people that have no inhibitions, that enjoy the freedom and listening to music. So that's kind of what the album is all about. The tree huggers, the bohemian travellers — we are all kind of the same.”
Oka's music embodies the ethos of being a 'free spirt', as an unpredictable melting pot of reggae, house, roots, jazz and indigenous beats that can transform any atmosphere. “We have a reputation for a high-energy show where people are ready to dance straight away, which is awesome. But there is also the chilled-out stuff which is really important to us.”
'Free Spirit' communicates the freedom, love and beauty that defines every Oka album – the high-energy fever and the moments of peace and tranquility. There are multiple instruments present to capture Oka's diversity, with didgeridoo, a woodwind section, flutes, saxophones and too many types of guitars to name. But what really makes 'Free Spirit' a true Oka album is the distinct influence on its character: from the exotic surroundings they’ve encountered in their travels, as well as the people, such as Swedish musician Marcus Berg who collaborated on 'Free Spirit'. “It was a walking across the street kind of moment, actually, in Bali,” says Stu of how the band met Marcus. “He saw us in a concert two nights before and he was coming out of a studio. He had a burnt CD of stuff he had been working on. He thanked us for the recent gig and gave us his CD. We kept in touch and compiled over the internet.”
With such immense widespread acclaim and a busy schedule of global gigs, it's important for Stu to always remember what matters to him the most about making music. “We named an album ‘Music Makes Me Happy’, and that really is the key to our music, to just enjoy playing and if that opens up avenues for us to travel then even better.”
OKA Tour Dates
Jan 26 - Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads (NSW) Jan 30 - Mojo's Bar, Freemantle (WA)Jan 31 - INDI Bar, Scarborough (WA)
Feb 01 - Settlers Tavern, Margaret River (WA)
Feb 02 - Mojo's Bar, Freemantle (WA)
Feb 15 - Earth Frequency Festival- Ivory's Rock located near Peak Crossing, Scenic Rim (SE QLD)
Feb 22 - Sunshine Beach Surf Club, Sunshine Coast (QLD)
