![]() Everything was done live in one take - there are no overdubs. “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.TURTLE SHELL SESSIONS was recorded in Turtle Shell Studio in Guelph live off the studio floor in one night on December 4th, 2012. 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. He thanked us for the recent gig and gave us his CD. He had a burnt CD of stuff he had been working on. “He saw us in a concert two nights before and he was coming out of a studio. “It was a walking across the street kind of moment, actually, in Bali,” says Stu of how the band met Marcus. 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'. 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 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. “We have a reputation for a high-energy show where people are ready to dance straight away, which is awesome. 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. So that's kind of what the album is all about. I love watching people that have no inhibitions, that enjoy the freedom and listening to music. ![]() 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. “She was a free spirit - that really brought it home. 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. “For us it just seemed really logical, because the peopple that passed were really big supporters. They’ve since decided to put all the funds gained from 'Free Spirit' towards providing counselling for the girl in their hometown, Coolum Beach. ![]() 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. 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. 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. “This year is going to be pretty rock solid. 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. ![]() 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'd prefer you think of them as a celebration of all that it is to be alive and free in the world today. Oka cannot be simplified into any one genre of music.
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