ABOUT THIS ITEM

After great reactions to ‘On Claws’ and ‘Oasem’, the new I am Oak album will be released on Monday 2nd July. The album, ‘Nowhere Or Tammensaari’, will be released on Heist Or Hit Records in the UK/Ireland, and is celebrated with a shows at The Great Escape 2012 and a headline London show.

They have been called night songs. Music that takes you on a journey, that’s what the judges of the 3VOOR12 Award 2011 wrote. That prize was for Oasem (pronounced as awesome) by I Am Oak, according to the judges the best Dutch album of that year.

Thijs Kuijken from Utrecht wrote the folk album alone and performs it with I Am Oak. A trip to Finland was a huge inspiration for the music, lyrics and whole idea of the album. Those big thoughts come in small songs and just because Kuijken is holding back, the album is full of tension. Oasem is the next step in a career that slowly but steadily unfolds. The album before Oasem was more acoustic, now the guitars are plugged in, although every song would hold its strength when played acoustic.

Kuijken made an album to listen to, not just a collection of singles with some fillers, it’s a listening experience. In shows it’s the same thing. At that time there is also a big chance that the music takes you away, wherever your dreams want to take you.

This is the first I am Oak album that Thijs Kuijken has made together with his band, in contrast to previous albums where the Utrecht based songwriter worked solo. For the recordings I am Oak traveled to snowy Finland. A journey of two weeks brought them to a beautiful house in the south of Finland, where the band arranged and recorded twelve new songs.

Kuijken explains the album title: ‘A place that is constantly changing and moving; that is ‘Nowhere’. This title refers to the place where I am Oak songs originate. An alternative for this 'Nowhere' is 'Tammensaari', which can be translated as 'Island of oaks'.

The special location and circumstances led to a more dynamic and darker album than before, without affecting the rich vocal harmonies and characteristic themes.

1. Famine
2. Grown
3. Boulders
4. Palpable
5. Roam
6. Drooom
7. Marrow
8. Cluster
9. I Am Forest
10. Reins
11. Vares Varas
12. Everything In Waves