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ESCALA'S Izzy Johnston Mentions MCFLY IN MANILA TIMES

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Post  Dana Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:56 pm

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/july/07/yehey/life/20090707lif1.html

Tuesday, July 07, 2009


Intoxicating Escala

Sexy British string quartet ignites contemporary classical-pop music scene

By Paul John Caña, Contributor


Filipino audiences have yet to get acquainted with the ladies of Escala, but with the launch of their eponymous debut album, it shouldn’t take long before the British group becomes a household name in these parts.

Backed by no less than caustic American Idol judge Simon Cowell, Escala is comprised of four talented musicians who don’t look so bad either: Victoria Lyon and Izzy Johnston are both ages 25 and play the violin; Chantal Leverton is also 25 and plays the viola, and Tasya Hodges is 26 and plays the cello. Fusing contemporary sounds with classical instruments, the group offers a fresh and innovative sound.

They first attracted widespread attention in the second season of the TV show Britain’s Got Talent (where Cowell also serves as judge). They may not have won that competition, but they did get a lucrative recording contract with Sony, and an album produced by veteran Trevor Horn, responsible for such chart toppers as Pet Shop Boys, Paul McCartney, Seal and Cher. The album features an assortment of familiar pop tracks and classical pieces reworked for more mainstream listeners, including Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” (which they performed with former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash), Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars,” Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die,” and their signature tune, “Palladio.”

In this exclusive interview, Manila Times gets to chat with Escala violinist, the lovely Izzy Johnston. Excerpts:

The Manila Times: Where are you now and what’s outside your window?

Johnston: I’m in London, very much enjoying the English heatwave we’re having now. Outside my window . . . well I live in High Street so [there’s a] very busy buzzing outside my window.

TMT: Tell me how Escala got together

Johnston: Well, basically we were formed independently to tour with the British boyband called McFly. We realized we had actually gotten on really well as friends and musicians. And so we thought, ‘why don’t we do something?’ So we started gigging, doing weddings and corporate events. We used to dream of recording our album and amazingly four years later, we are really fulfilling what we’ve always dreamed about.

TMT: So you guys didn’t know each other before the McFly tour?

Johnston: We did know of one another. Its funny in the music world, it’s a very small place and we kind of knew of each other but we never really played together as a four-piece group before.

TMT: Tell me about your experience with Britain’s Got Talent

Johnston: It was a platform for us as a group to expose us to a wider audience who perhaps haven’t listened to a string quartet before. We are really passionate about our music and we wanted to get out into a big audience and Britain’s Got Talent was the perfect platform for us to perform. I don’t think we ever expected to get the outcome that we did. So we’re really, really happy.

TMT: Yeah, and I know Simon Cowell has some very kind words to say about you…

Johnston: Yeah, it’s amazing. He’s such a lovely man and it’s amazing to have his support. And for him to believe in us. We are very privileged to be on his record label, to know him and to have him supporting us.

TMT: Tell me about the album. How did you decide which songs to cover and what the overall concept of the album would be like?

Johnston: Basically when we started four years ago, we used to talk about what tracks we wanted to do for our record but could never afford to do ourselves. So we all kind of had a clear idea as a group what tracks we wanted to do. We got together for a meeting [with the label] and discovered that they ore or less have the same idea also, like “Kashmir” which we collaborated with Slash, which was amazing. The ones that we brought to the table was “Feeling Good,” “Live and Let Die,” “Palladio,” so it was really more of a collaboration between us and the label, which we’re really pleased about because everybody’s happy. When we do go and promote the album, it’s an album that we really believe in and we’re really passionate about.

TMT: Can you talk about the other members of the group?

Johnston: Well, we’re really, really good friends, the four of us, we’re very close. We’re like sisters. We know everything about each other, good and bad. Tasya who plays the cello, she’s very intelligent you would definitely go to her for advice. She’s somebody you can really look up to in the band. And she’s our fashion guru. She’s very, very stylish. Chantal is our very glamorous viola player. I’m very, very close to Chantal, she’s kind and thoughtful. She would never let anybody down. She is a really lovely kind-natured girl. And Victoria, she is incredibly funny. She’s never in a bad mood. She’s always the entertainer of the group and makes us all smile when we’re feeling a bit down. And she’s very thoughtful.

TMT: And you? How would you describe yourself?

Johnston: Me? [pauses] Oh I don’t know. [Giggles] You need to ask them . . .

TMT: So you have plans to tour for the album?

Johnston: Oh I hope so. We’re really looking forward to come to Asia to promote the album. We’re hoping to do as many gigs as we can because that’s when we’re most at home. We absolutely love performing together. Hopefully we can tour the album because really that’s what Escala is about.

TMT: Do you have other plans way off into the future apart from playing and performing music?

Johnston: After world domination, you mean? [Laughs] I absolutely love teaching the violin. It was something I did that I had to give up when we got signed as a group. I’m very passionate about that. And I hope to go back to teaching the violin one day.
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Post  Kerstien Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:09 pm

TMT should also have an interview with McFLY!
Escala already have an album? That's cool... Razz
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Post  kaisthelimit Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:41 pm

Kerstien wrote:TMT should also have an interview with McFLY!
Escala already have an album? That's cool... Razz

ITA!
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Post  anika Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:38 pm

OOHH!! This is so cool!! Really. Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy
I'd loove to get that newspaper! Razz
Yeah. They SHOULD interview McFly too. cheers
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Post  jaschier Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:20 pm

HUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woot woot!
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Post  maia 8D Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:15 pm

Seriously, first the Saturdays. Now Escala.

McFLY NEXT, PLEASE Very Happy
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Post  anika Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:31 pm

maia 8D wrote:Seriously, first the Saturdays. Now Escala.

McFLY NEXT, PLEASE Very Happy

haha. Oh I know! Kinda frustrating that their girlfriends get to be on Philippine paper before them.
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Post  maia 8D Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:41 pm

anika wrote:
maia 8D wrote:Seriously, first the Saturdays. Now Escala.

McFLY NEXT, PLEASE Very Happy

haha. Oh I know! Kinda frustrating that their girlfriends get to be on Philippine paper before them.

I know, right? And how long have they been around compared to McFly? Tsk tsk...

Speaking of which, The Sats are coming here, yeah? Says this article. Imma look for it...
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Post  anika Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:44 pm

^ I know! But McFly's better. (obviously. Very Happy )
They are??? OMG! I wanna watch them!!!! Razz Razz
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Post  maia 8D Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:52 pm

anika wrote:^ I know! But McFly's better. (obviously. Very Happy )
They are??? OMG! I wanna watch them!!!! Razz Razz

OH YEAH. Course they are Smile)

Yehp. Except it's a mall tour. SM, I think, yeah. And I dunno about the tickets and stuff. So, yeah. SNIFF. HOPE THEY BRING DOUGIE ALONG! Haha. Smile)
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Post  Kerstien Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:57 pm

Boys Night Out even interviewed Mollie! =))
I only heard her though and they talked about the famous people that they already met then she started naming people like Enrique Iglesias and stuff and I was waiting for her to s McFLY but she never mentioned them!
McFLY are freakin' famous! Dougie is Frankie's BF but she never mentioned them!
Oh well, the boys asked her about Hayden Kho ad she said she doesn't know him though!
lol!

Mann, that was long! XD
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Post  maia 8D Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:07 pm

Kerstien wrote:Boys Night Out even interviewed Mollie! =))
I only heard her though and they talked about the famous people that they already met then she started naming people like Enrique Iglesias and stuff and I was waiting for her to s McFLY but she never mentioned them!
McFLY are freakin' famous! Dougie is Frankie's BF but she never mentioned them!
Oh well, the boys asked her about Hayden Kho ad she said she doesn't know him though!
lol!

Mann, that was long! XD

Really? GRRR.
Shame she didn't say McFly
They should interview Frankie too. Then for sure she'll mention McFly, or at the least, Dougie.
Hayden Kho? RANDOM! XD
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Post  Kerstien Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:12 pm

^ IKR? 'cause she said she'd like to be in a film.. chorba!
then the boys said Hayden Kho's a good director or something like that, it's so funny 'cause she had no idea who Hayden really is! =))

I've been waiting for Frankie! I sure she'd mention her lovely boyfriend or her lovely boyfriend's lovely, lovely band!
Rock On!
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Post  maia 8D Sat Jul 25, 2009 11:35 pm

HAHA. Good one. XD

Yeah. Sigh. Let's call Boys Night Out and demand that they interview Frankie. Kidding. Smile
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Post  Kerstien Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:24 am

^ Ooohhh that would be really awesome! But then I would be really jealous.
lol!
I'm not a tomboy or anything, but I just like The Saturdays soooo much, especially Frankie!
So bummed cause I know that I'm never gonna see them live. Living in Cebu sucks at times! grrr!
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Post  jaschier Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:36 pm

^ yah yah, i like her complexion and her sexy back! Razz
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