Mighty Oaks (band)

Not to be confused with the psychedelic rock group from Canada.
Mighty Oaks
Background information
Origin Berlin, Germany
Genres Indie folk, folk rock
Years active 2010-present
Labels Astralwerks, Vertigo, Capitol
Website www.mightyoaksmusic.com
Members Ian Hooper, Claudio Donzelli, Craig Saunders

Mighty Oaks are an alternative rock trio made up of Ian Hooper (US), Claudio Donzelli (Italy) and Craig Saunders (UK). They formed in 2010 and are based in Berlin.[1] According to Allmusic, the group releases "tight, three-part harmonies and effusive, largely acoustic-driven folk anthems."[2] In early 2014 they released their first LP, Howl, on Universal Records.[2] The album peaked at No. 10 on the German Billboard chart, with several singles charting as well.

History

2010-12: Founding, first EPs

Vocalist and guitarist Ian Hooper

Mighty Oaks was formed in early 2010[3] by instrumentalists and vocalists Ian Hooper (United States), Claudio Donzelli (Italy), and Craig Saunders (United Kingdom).[2] Hooper had moved to Hamburg after college some time before, and had befriended bassist Saunders when both were working on solo material as singer-songwriters. Several months later they met Donzelli at a small acoustic festival, and kept in touch afterwards.[4] All three members had an interest in indie rock and folk rock,[3] and together began focusing on guitar and instruments such as mandolin. The group self-released an EP on March 21, 2011, recording it themselves[2] in Donzelli's apartment.[1] Though never officially released on a label, the EP garnered several hundred thousand hits on SoundCloud.[1]

2012-14: Studio releases

The group began focusing fully on their music in the middle of 2012, beginning to record in a studio.[1] In the summer of 2012 they self-released their first studio EP, Just One Day,[2] distributed through Rough Trade Records. In support of the EP they toured with Shout Out Louds in Europe, opened the Waldbühne in Berlin for Kings of Leon, and joined bands such as Chvrches on the 'Introducing!' tour of Germany put on by Intro Magazine.[1] The band later played a sold-out tour of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in the fall of 2013.[1]

2014-present: Howl and "Brother"

External video
Mighty Oaks "7 Days" /// Berlin Sessions #64 (Aug 2013)
Mighty Oaks "Brother" Official Music Video (Jan 2014)
The band at 1Live Krone 2014: L to R, Claudio Donzelli, Ian Hooper, and Craig Saunders

In early 2014 they released their first LP, Howl, on Universal Records in Europe.[2] The album peaked at No. 10 on the German chart, with several singles charting as well. It reached the top 10 on the charts in Switzerland, also charting in several other European countries.[4] In early 2014 the band released the single "Brother," releasing a music video which was filmed in Washington State. The band stated that "‘Brother’ is based on Ian’s relationship with his best friend in the States, and their adventures and maturation in the...Pacific Northwest of America."[5] They released the EP Brother in the United States in October 2014.[6] About the EP, the band exlained that "each song represents a different excerpt from a point in Ian’s life and, in such, we treated each track as a different scene in a movie, or chapter in a novel, hoping that each one would carry its own meaning and be surrounded by its own world and emotion."[5]

Major festival performances from 2014 included events such as the Melt! Festival and Dockville in Germany, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Latitude Festival in the UK, Slotsfjell in Norway, Way Out West in Sweden, Exit Festival in Serbia, and Valkhof (NL). As of December 2014 the group was touring Europe on The Golden Road Tour.[7] Their debut album will be officially released in the United States in the spring of 2015, with the band set to perform at festivals such as SXSW in Austin, Texas in support of the release. Their debut album will be officially released in the United States in April 2015, with the band set to perform together with Milky Chance.

Style and influences

Donzelli (L) and Saunders (R) both handle vocals and variety of string instruments, as does Hooper (not pictured).

According to Allmusic, the group releases "tight, three-part harmonies and effusive, largely acoustic-driven folk anthems."[2] The band's lyrics are mostly autobiographical,[4] often focusing on themes such as nature,[3] family, friendship, love, loss, and beauty.[5] Songs periodically reference the Pacific Northwest of North America, where Hooper is from.[1] All members contribute to the songwriting process.[5]

Members

Awards and nominations

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2014 1Live Krone Awards Mighty Oaks Best Band Nominated
European Festival Awards Newcomer of the Year Nominated

Discography

Albums

Albums by Mighty Oaks
Year Album title Release details Chart peaks
GER
[8]
2014 Howl 10

EPs

EPs by Mighty Oaks
Year Album title Release details
2011 Driftwood Seat
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Self-released (GER)
  • Format: Digital, CD
2012 Just One Day
  • Released: Jul 5, 2012
  • Label: Self-released (Rough Trade distro.)
  • Format: CD, digital
2014 Brother

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
GER
[9]
"Just One Day" 2014 87 Howl
"Brother" 66

Further reading

Interview and articles
Discographies

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Windish Agency: Mighty Oaks The Windish Agency
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mighty Oaks | Biography | AllMusic Allmusic.com
  3. 1 2 3 Maier, Rike (May 27, 2011). "Wired in #14: Mighty Oaks". Europe and Me. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  4. 1 2 3 Nilsen, Alyssa (May 8, 2014). "Interview: Mighty Oaks". musikknyheter.no. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Mighty Oaks Interview". The Seventh Hex. September 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  6. ↑ Shelburne, Craig (November 17, 2014). "Mighty Oaks Would Like You to Meet Their "Brother"". CMT Edge. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  7. ↑ Jones, Erin (December 1, 2014). "Live Review: Mighty Oaks travel 'The Golden Road' to London". iammusic.tv. Retrieved 2014-12-20.
  8. ↑ Billboard Charts for Mighty Oaks
  9. ↑ German peak
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