Meet Escala, the newest U.K. pop classical sensation

Pop classical music can sound like a day at your local mall or department store. It sounds pleasant enough to listen to while shopping for chinos but not so exciting to listen to on its own. Try and see if you can make the distinction of one crossover classical pop act to the next. Would you really be able to tell Vanessa Mae`s rendition of Bach`s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor with another by one of her contemporaries?

It was she who first pioneered the idea of mixing classical music with pop armed with an electric violin while sexing up the genre clad in devilishly revealing attire. She knew what was up and that was over a decade ago when she stormed into the spotlight wearing see-through dresses and 4-inch heels that practically changed the career trajectory of countless aspiring classical musicians everywhere.



Those in the classical music game aching to become the next big thing had to get with the times in a sexed-up atmosphere of the pop classical music genre. They had to look as good as they sounded and quite simply, the days of being able to carry on a successful career while appearing in long black skirts and demure blouses were no more.

Now, meet Escala, the newest pop classical string quartet from the U.K. who fits oh so well into this "sexed-up" world of pop classical crossover music.

Interestingly enough though, they claim they are quite different from other crossover artists.

"Our music is not that electric as the other groups, we`re more orchestral. Everything is recorded acoustic at first," said Tasya Hodges in an email correspondence with The Korea Herald.

Though she is reluctant to acknowledge the group`s glaring similarity with other similar acts that have come before them such as Bond and Mae, she added that it is in the band`s live performance and stage presence that would show people how truly different they are.

"We like to put on shows, so all of our music is choreographed. So, as we do more shows and go on TV, we`ll get better at the choreography. That is probably the biggest difference."

It also helps a great deal that all of its members have runway model looks and killer bodies to boot. The four routinely perform live in stilettos while donning form-fitting sequined mini-dresses which show off their vast real estate of leg and booty.

The group is made up of Victoria Lyon, Chantal Leverton, Tasya Hodges and Izzy Johnston.

Izzy is the blonde, sweet-faced, shorter violin player. Chantal is the tall blonde on the viola, who looks as if she`s gone to one too many tanning sessions, Tasya is the half-Croatian cellist with refined chiseled features who can speak four languages, and lastly, Victoria, is the svelte red-headed violinist.

The group is yet another product of the Britains Got Talent machine. They got on board Simon Cowell`s record label Syco Music after finishing second-place on the popular British television show last year losing out to a dancing dog and a young boy dancing in the rain.

They are joined by fellow alumni of the show like Paul Potts and Andrew Johnston.

Before the formation of the band, Izzy Johnston and Chantal Leverton were part of Wild, a similar five-piece classical group who were signed to EMI. They released an unsuccessful album in 2005 and later that same year all four met when they were part of the string section in an arena tour with English pop-rock band, McFly.

The foursome has gotten on well since the band`s formation and now their new found fame looks to provide them with the potential to become the next classical crossover act to enjoy mainstream success like the previously mentioned pop classical pioneers Bond and Vanessa Mae.

"There are four girls, and all of us are very opinionated, we each have opinions about music and we can`t always have the same opinion. But among all the groups I`ve been in, there was never a group like this. All four of us deserve a place in the group," said Hodges.

"If we bicker about something, which is rare, it`s because we`re tired. We`re on the road, and sometimes we have a 21 hour day. So we get tired and that makes us sensitive. But arguments are rare in this group."

The group`s self-titled debut album boasts a collaboration with ex-Guns N` Roses guitar legend Slash on a cover of Led Zeppelin`s "Kashmir" along with their rendition of Robert Miles` "Children" and Wings` "Live and Let Die."

(kws@heraldm.com)

By Song Woong-ki