Sierra by Arjuna Oakes, John Psathas
Rising star Arjuna Oakes and renowned composer John Psathas return for a new
collaborative project ‘Sierra’ after their underground hit ‘Future Lullaby’. Fusing Greek folk instrumentation with modern Jazz and recorded live in Athens’ iconic Sierra Studios, this EP brings together electrifying musicians from New Zealand and Greece to experiment and express themselves through the lens of Oakes and Psathas’ compositions.
After creating the music in a remote beach town in New Zealand, Arjuna and John assembled an all star lineup of musical talent to bring the music to life, including New Zealand drummer Sam Notman, and renowned Greek musicians Harris Lambrakis (Ney), Kyriakos Tapakis (Oud), Vagelis Karipis (Percussion) and Dimitris Tsekouras (Upright Bass). Recorded by legendary audio engineer George Kariotis over two days, the EP is a testament to each player’s unique musical voice and their ability to forge a common language out of musical traditions found at opposite ends of the earth.
Tracks such as ‘Run’ and ‘Craving the World’ are bursting with a vibrant creative energy, only achievable by having a one-time-only gathering of these master musicians together in one room. More introspective tracks such as “Until You” have a raw honesty, a hallmark of Oakes’ and Psathas’ unique songwriting relationship. Lyrically, the EP explores themes of isolation and an ever-shifting global situation, exploiting Arjuna’s soaring vocals to express a sense of yearning for more from life and from the future.
The ‘Sierra’ EP is a unique capture, a snapshot in time for all those involved in its creation. For Arjuna and Sam, the EP marked their departure from New Zealand to live in London to pursue their respective music careers. For everyone else involved the EP offered a chance to create something different from their usual work, and express themselves in a different musical landscape. The excitement and creative freedom is an essential ingredient in what makes this EP work, and you can hear it all bubbling to the surface throughout the record.
Tracklist
| 1. | The Storm | 4:59 |
| 2. | Craving the World | 4:24 |
| 3. | Until You | 6:42 |
| 4. | Run | 7:03 |
| 5. | Twilight Fade | 3:53 |
Credits
Composed and Produced by Arjuna Oakes & John Psathas
Audio Engineered and Mixed by George Kariotis
Recorded at Sierra Studios, Athens
Artwork by Sarah Willis
Special thanks to Creative New Zealand
Musicians:
Arjuna Oakes - Vocals/Piano
Sam Notman - Drums
Harris Lambrakis - Ney
Kyriakos Tapakis - Oud
Vagelis Karipis - Percussion
Dimitris Tsekouras - Upright Bass
License
All rights reserved.
Arjuna Oakes, a New Zealand-born singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, and producer, has been making significant strides in the music scene since his debut EP in 2019. Currently based in London and with his debut album, While I’m Distracted, set for release on May 9, 2025, Arjuna continues to push the boundaries of his artistry, creating genre-defying compositions.