BY KIYA VAN DER LINDEN-KIAN
There seems a growing push for the classical music scene to grow past traditional biases and break new ground. Barriers between classical and popular music are dissolving as young generations are shaping the industry in new and exciting ways.
Melbourne’s contemporary chamber group six-four is one such exciting initiative.
six-four is a contemporary classical collective with an “aim to demystify contemporary music for new and old audiences alike”. Its latest series of shows Radiohead Re-Imagined features acoustic covers of Radiohead songs, arranged for six-four’s unique instrumentation of violin, clarinet, flute, piano, percussion, and cello. The arrangements are all written by members of the ensemble and showcase the variety of interpretations within the group.
This concert captures a snapshot of a couple of growing industry trends: the dissolution of the divide between pop and classical music; and the push for classically influenced music to be performed in unconventional locations.
We have a chat with six-four about these ideas, following the group’s first Radiohead show at the Classic Cinema in Elsternwick (and ahead of its next at Wesley Anne this weekend).
Why cover Radiohead, and how has the band influenced you as an ensemble?
ALEX CLAYTON: We decided to cover Radiohead as a way of challenging ourselves in a new direction: how could we translate this amazing songwriting into a new medium? How can we make all of the details and intricacies work in a live ‘classical’ setting? As well as this, I guess we wanted to challenge our usual audience, bring something new to them, and draw in new listeners to something novel.
Radiohead has influenced us in more of an artistic excellence kind of way rather than something musical; for example, the sound of Greenwood’s string arrangements. They’ve never given up their responsibility to push themselves, experiment, and continually produce interesting music, without selling out or pandering to a general trend.
What are some of the other influences on six-four that might surprise us?
ANNA TELFER: As an ensemble, we take inspiration from some great mixed sextets – Eighth Blackbird, Syzygy Ensemble, and Rubiks Collective. We also admire musicians and organisations that present music in unconventional ways and increase accessibility to classical music, such as Melbourne’s Play On and New York/Chicago’s International Contemporary Ensemble. Our members come from classical, jazz, and contemporary music backgrounds. I believe it’s that big medley of individual influences that create a receptive space for new ideas.
How do you decide what works to play as a group?
OSCAR WOINARSKI: six-four decides our repertoire based on the vision we have for a concert. We aim to promote a musical program that excites the audience, and motivates them to further their music vocabulary with exploration that goes beyond sitting and listening to a concert. We aim to host concerts with music that is underrepresented in the mainstream. Whether it is a focus on diverse composers or Australian commissioned works from aspiring composers, six-four aims to establish itself as an ensemble that provides a wide range of repertoire.
Without giving too much away, can you tell us some of the things we might not be expecting from your next concert?
ANNA TELFER: We’re not confined to our usual instruments for Radiohead Re-imagined; Chloe, Oscar, Tom and I all get to have a go at various percussion. We’re also amplified for this concert, thanks to the hard work of our fantastic sound engineer Edvard Hakansson. It allows us to reach musical extremes and creates a rock band intensity on our classical instrument sound.
Something else people may not realise is all the arrangements are done by Alex, Chloe, and Ollie, so our audience will hear a wide variety of interpretations of the Radiohead tracks we’re performing thanks to their creativity and vision.
You’re performing in some unconventional locations for a classical concert, such as the pub Wesley Anne in Northcote. What made you decide to go in that direction?
CHLOE SANGER: Aside from the fact that the technical requirements for Radiohead Re-imagined – the drum kit, the PA system – were more accessible in a modern live music venue, we’re actually looking to move towards venues such as these in the future. A smaller, more comfortable and informal space where our audiences can sit together, buy a drink, and feel closer to the music feels important to what we are trying to achieve: creating accessible and engaging new music performances.
Our last performance was at Classic Cinema’s new music venue Classic Southside. It’s an incredible little cabaret style venue in Elsternwick that six-four actually book out for classical concerts. If you’re a classical ensemble in Melbourne and want to perform there, get in contact with us!
six-four will perform the next Radiohead Re-imagined event on 12 May at Wesley Anne.
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