Oxford & Co

You could be forgiven for thinking you already know Oxford & Co; the melodies recall a familiar, yet original, sound. You may also recognise the voice in its husky, raw delivery. And, it's no wonder – these guys aren't newcomers, but rather accomplished artists who have earned the following of fans all over Australia. Oxford & Co. is the lovechild of Sam Stephenson, Fisherking's lead singer and songwriter, and producer Cameron Potts of Dead Letter Chorus fame.

The pair met in the twisting corridors of UNSW's music department 10 years ago. They were familiar with each other's bands, and had even shared stages at local bars, pubs and some of the nation's premier festivals. As the years passed, they kept in touch, and would often meet to drink scotch and discuss new and old music, performances and, eventually, the possibility of collaborating.

When Stephenson brought a collection of songs to Potts in 2012, they began crafting an album. Recorded largely in a beach-front house on the NSW south coast, the music was produced and mixed by Potts, awarding it an authentic, hand-crafted feel. It's a unique partnership and a refreshing alternative to the singer-songwriter genre.

At its most basic, the Oxford & Co. EP is indie-folk, laced with electronic undertones accompanied by a little good ol' country flair. The discerning ear may also detect heady notes of blues and old-school R&B.



Written with the intention that they can be revived simply with Stephenson's voice and an instrument or two, the tunes are laden with electric guitars and altered keyboards, while heavy, pounding drums add a distinctively sexy edge.

It's a mature sound, and one that's grown from a lifetime of music appreciation. As a six-year-old, Stephenson's champions were Stevie Wonder and James Taylor. By the age of ten, he was enamored with The Beetles and such classical stalwarts as Bach and Beethoven.

"Dad had every Beatles record ever released," he tells me. "And, it was all on vinyl. I loved getting them out of the box set – it was all crisp and clean – and setting them up all by myself. Part of the attraction was the process."

Today, Stephenson's interest extends to the process of constructing his own material. As is the way of many musicians, he and Potts tend to pick at the bones of songs, searching – literally – for rhyme and reason. But, on the rare occasional that a melody catches them unawares, forces them to stop, to listen, they know they're onto a good thing.

At its most complicated, the Oxford & Co. EP is an anthology of Stephenson's life. It grapples with themes of love, relationships, religion and wanderlust in a remarkably light-hearted way. They're songs that speak of men who were once weighed down by the troubles of the world, but who now seem to have found their way home.



"This collection of songs is my emancipation," Stephenson admits. "It's very free and I think that makes it fun to sing and to play – and to listen, too, hopefully."



The soaring melodies and big, anthemic chorus lines embedded in tunes such as the first single, Love is Gone, make you want to, unashamedly, stamp your feet and sing out loud. "Recording this track, it just grew and grew, unintentionally taking on a country vibe," Stephenson says. Although the title hints at a dramatic farewell, the song is, like much of Oxford & Co. music, a tongue-in-cheek kiss goodbye.



And, while Oxford & Co.'s sharp, classic 'look' is worlds away from the hippie, surfer aesthetic the pair were sporting a few years ago, their music retains the earthy, organic essence of good men who're inspired and invigorated by the wilderness.



Above all, the Oxford & Co. EP is music to share; an anthem for epic journeys along sprawling, dusty roads; and, most importantly, a soundtrack for a generation demanding music that is pure, delightful and authentic.