
This week's mixtape Friday Mixtape was curated by yours truly... @thelastminute aka @FridayMixtape aka duncan.co . Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to go buy some music, attend a show, or buy some merch. Please support the artists. Play Friday Mixtape 141: Download Friday Mixtape 141 Tracklist: oops! I left the tracklist on another computer. I will update this post later today with the tracklist in the right order. For [...]

♫ "On Trees and Birds and Fire" - I Am Oak "i can still feel your warmth..." ♫ "Bella" - Angus and Julia Stone "that made you feel real..." ♫ "Let It Go" - Fossil Collective "longest night i've ever known..." ♫ "Help You Breathe" - Oliver Tank "music is like air to me..." ♫ "Alone" - Trampled By Turtles "the days [...]

"Chateau" (Mickey Remix) from Housse De Racket "Gliss" from I Am Oak "Afria Talks To You" from Delicate Steve "Take Me Out To The Coast" from WATERS "Ghost Ship" from Christopher [...]

Sea+Air @ The Painted Lady: photo by Michael Ligon Another year's edition of Canadian Music Week / Canadian Musicfest has come and gone and one of the most striking aspects of this year's edition as how mild the weather was. It was pretty much the mildest weather for Canadian Musicfest I've ever experienced to the point it almost felt like NXNE . Consider that, in stark contrast several years back, The Breeders, who were on their reunion tour stopped in during Canadian Music Week to play a show at [...]

I wish I could say that it's nice to meet you, Oak. Read more »

This year was my fourth South By South West and before I left for Austin, I was apprehensive about the festival's status as a relevant music event in its 26th year. Over 2,000 bands visit the Texas capital to try and advance their careers and I wondered why they bothered anymore? Was there actually worth in them playing? Any band who travel the large distance must have a profile, a buzz or are there to strike a deal on Texas soil to make it really worth their while. Bands that travel on blind faith and hope that something [...]

Every Friday I write a column about internet-related things for Irish Independent's Day & Night . Every week, I pick out four great music picks from the best of the music blogosphere. Follow Day & Night on Twitter or Facebook . Out today in print. Also this week, see the best of SXSW downloads . Mirel Wagner Ethiopian born Finland raised singer songwriter Wagner sounds like she was influenced by mean and moody singers like Nick Cave. This is stark fingerpicking night-time music for dark hearts. [...]

Tweet I Am Oak . Sounds like some sort of Entish greeting from Lord of the Rings doesn't it? Well it's not, don't be so silly. I Am Oak is not Entish, Elvish or some other Tolkien obscurity, it's actually the band and vehicle of Thijs Kuijken from The Netherlands and Oasem is his folkish debut album. If you like Folk you'll be all over Oasem like a herbal remedy treating a rash. I'll be straight with [...]

DUTCH FOLK/EXPERIMENTAL ARTIST I AM OAK PREPARES FOR NORTH AMERICAN PERFORMANCE DEBUT AT SXSW 2012: 3/16 | Bar 96 (Dutch Impact Party / FILTER Party) | 3pm 3/16 | St. David's Bethell Hall | 9pm STREAM/DOWNLOAD " GLISS ," THE SECOND SINGLE FROM THE SKULK EP SOPHOMORE LP OASEM WINS "ALBUM OF THE YEAR" AT THE 3VOOR12 AWARDS IN THE NETHERLANDS "Bedroom pop rarely sounds this accomplished. The often sad, pensive songs have a distinct sound that lures the listener in with immediate intrigue, leaving you wondering how I Am Oak [...]
Every day, Daily Downloads offers 10 free and legal mp3 downloads, plus free and legal live sets from around the internet. Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Drunken Prayer : "Always Sad" [mp3] from Into the Missionfield Drunken Prayer : "The Missionfield" [mp3] from Into the Missionfield search for more [...]

I finally got around to sifting through my FWBA inbox, and after reading through about 200 emails, I only found 2-3 artists that I was intrigued by. I don't know whether that speaks more to the current state of music or the accessibility of the internet, or maybe my musical preferences have become narrow. I Am Oak was an artist that really caught me, his music is uncomplicated, unintrusive- which must be what I'm in the mood for. Too many elements to battle these days, y'know? The winter is reason enough for some gentler [...]
As promised, the first in a series of mixes. (Stream-able on your smartphone) Dirty Beaches - Low rider I Am Oak - Ocyaan Amatorski - Soldier Le Pécheur - JESUS DE NAZARETH Pwin Teaks - Beach Bubble Alaska In Winter - Divine Miscalculations FORMA - FORMA 233B Youth Lagoon - Seventeen

I Am Oak is the creative vehicle for Utrecht-based (that's the Netherlands in case you were wondering) musician Thijs Kuijken. He released an album entitled On Claws last year and is back with a moody follow-up entitled Oasem. While On Claws was a notably creative endeavor, it still stayed true to the folk format. Oasem, on the other hand, explores new sonic territory while adhering to the same brand of melancholia exhibited on its predecessor. Primitive drums provide the fitting backbone for Kuijken's contemplative lyrics and haunting vocals while ambient flourishes and measured [...]

This weeks round up of the tracks that I haven't had the space to post... Miaoux Miaoux From: Glasgow, Scotland Scottish dance master Miaoux Miaoux is back with another racing tropical dancefloor smash . Go Try [...]
There's a kind of sadness to a band with a name like I Am Oak. Their moniker implies a certain lasting ability, but with that resilience comes a feeling that they've experienced a lot, even in passing. That sort of resignation to the elements certainly comes through in the Dutch band's music; "Curt" - off...
I Am Oak is the creative output of Utrecht-based musician Thijs Kuijken. After the success of 2010 album 'On Claws', I Am Oak is back with new album 'Oasem', The slightly darker 'Oasem' resembles... Download your favourite album at The Mood Indicator
The Netherlands is a wonderful country. Amsterdam would definitely be a city I could live in, and not for the normal reasons, but rather because it's a vibrant, fun and beautiful city. I Am Oak represent their country well, with a sweet melancholy sound similar to their compatriots, The Black Atlantic. Their new album Oasem, comes out [...]

I envy lyrical geniuses. There are certain musicians who have a remarkable way with words, and their songs are brilliant because they're pure poetry - poetry with a beat. Whatever the genre may be, I've always been the type of person who listens to the words and then the rhythm when I first hear a song. I think it says a lot about the artist and their music, and their ability to find the right instruments to compliment the lyrics is just as crucial. So for this week's Fresh Meat round-up, I'm featuring some talented new [...]

New album from I Am Oak "Oasem" is due out in about 3 weeks or so and it is one of the most beautiful albums I have heard this year. I have only been listening to I Am Oak for about a year or so since Geert from The Black Atlantic recommended it to me. When that happens, you listen and I have been listening ever since. His 2010 album "On Claws" was/is also fantastic with tracks like "On Oxen & "On Trees and Birds and Fire" - but with Oasem, he even extends on the aura oozing [...]

Als je wel eens een concert bezoekt in ons land is de kans groot dat je het Utrechtse I Am Oak live aan het werk gezien hebt. De band was op festivals als Noorderslag en Crossing Border te zien en deed voorprogramma's voor acts zo divers als de Isbellls, Junip en Dirty Projectors. On Claws van I Am Oak is voor mij een van de muzikale verrassingen van vorig jaar. On Claws klinkt verstild, intiem, ontroerend. Thijs Kuijken, de man achter I Am Oak, zet deze sfeer door op zijn nieuwe album met de mooie titel [...]