18 February 2011 Naturally 7

Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 April – Playhouse at QPAC

Dazzling. Astonishingly versatile voices ... they are magnificent. The Guardian, UK

Beatboxing’ just isn't enough to describe how good they are. Superlative, magical … you just have to hear them for yourself. Barbican (London)

Naturally 7 call their talent 'Vocal Play', most people would call it jaw-dropping. IndigO2, UK

Naturally 7 is poised to take a cappella to the next level. They’re some of my favorite singers! Quincy Jones

One of the most original and captivating groups of entertainers I’ve ever seen. Michael Bublé

"He (Michael Buble) has found an equal musical partner with support act and guests Naturally 7, who are one of those rare opening acts able to draw a standing ovation. That never happens at Acer Arena, with that reception sure to move tickets for their own Australian tour in April." Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph (Feb 14th, 2011 - 11pm)

Following electrifying headline performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival and (NYC), touring the world as special guests of Michael Buble,(including his latest Crazy Love tour now in Australia) and sensational live TV appearances, Naturally 7 finally perform their own Australian tour in April featuring songs from their new album VocalPlay.

New York City’s Naturally 7 will take to the Playhouse stage at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 April, after wowing and audiences, at recent Buble concerts, with a taste of their unique talents.

Cont…

…2

So much more than an a capella group, Naturally 7 combine gospel, Motown, hip hop, rap, drum and bass, beatboxing and soulful R&B in a must-be-seen-to-be- believed style they've named vocal play. They lend their stunning vocals to some of pops greatest hits, not just singing the lyrics, melodies and harmonies, but also emulating all the musical instruments in every spectacular performance. Every instrument sound is created from the human voice, with each performer specializing in a particular instrument.

From singing as an a cappella gospel group in churches around the Bronx in the late 90’s, Naturally 7 now cover a huge variety of music including popular covers along with the band’s sensational original songs.

The group had capacity crowds at both Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Acer Arena concerts on their feet, hands in the air and jumping up and down, in response to their astonishing performance of their unique vocalplay.

While the stage was devoid of instruments, Naturally 7 performed a stunning array of material from self-penned originals such as “Wall of Sound" and "‘Can Ya Feel It’ to iconic classics by The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, as well as their smash hit cover of Phil Collins’ “Feel It (In the Air Tonight)”.

Audiences continued to show their admiration by queuing up in their thousands for autographs and photos with the group after the show.

Naturally 7 features Roger Thomas (Musical Director, arranger, 1st Baritone, Rap), Warren Thomas (Percussion, Guitar, Clarinet, 3rd Tenor), Rod Eldridge (1st Tenor, Scratching, Trumpet), Polo Cummings (4th Tenor, Electric Guitar), Dwight Stewart (2nd Baritone), Garfield Buckley (2nd Tenor, Harmonica) and ‘Hops’ Hutton (Bass).

Tickets to Naturally 7’s show on Thursday 28 April at QPAC virtually sold out in two days with second show on Wednesday 27 April added and now so sale. Don’t miss out. To book go to www.qpac.com.au or phone 136246.

QPAC Presents Naturally 7

When: Wednesday 27 April and Thursday 28 April at 8pm Where: Playhouse, QPAC, Cultural Centre, South Bank Tickets: $65.00 - $75.00* Bookings: www.qpac.com.au or 136 246

*Ticket price includes GST and Booking Fee. Please note transaction fees may apply

Media Enquiries: Please contact QPAC Publicity for CDs, images, bios and DVDs. Interviews available with Naturally 7 - AEST until 07 March. Cindy Ullrich, Publicity Manager, QPAC ~ 07 3840 7589 ~ 0434 366-038 ~ [email protected] or Inga Tracey Publicity Coordinator, QPAC ~ 07 3840-7984 ~ [email protected]

Cont… …2

THE NATURALLY 7 STORY

Naturally 7 came together in their hometown of New York City in 1999 when Roger Thomas and his brother, Warren, brought together five other talented singers they had come to know over the years from singing around the city. They had immediate success within the acapella and beatboxing network, creating original music with and without the sounds of real instruments. Unable to decide if Naturally 7 were going to be an a cappella group or a traditional band, Roger had a novel idea: they could be both, only they would create the sounds of all the instruments themselves, using only their voices.

"As we added more songs to our repertoire we wanted a rhythm section," Rod Eldridge says. "It was a gradual process - adding drums then bass - because we became the instruments. Bit by bit we added horns and harmonicas."

Now each member has a specialty instrument they mimic vocally. Warren Thomas opened the floodgates with his vocal percussion prowess, creating drum solos and wailing guitars with nothing but a microphone. One by one each of the singers found their instrument of choice.

Before long, they had established themselves as the pioneers of vocalplay, performing to standing ovations and leaving audiences stunned by their vocal range, musical versatility and sheer talent.

The group really hit their stride internationally after touring with Michael Buble as his support act, introducing a new audience to beatboxing and the vocalplay concept. During this tour, they teamed up with Coldplay's Chris Martin for an experimental jamming and recording session. Not only did they garner such fans, they were also invited to play in major venues and festivals around the world.

They performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, alongside artists such as Al Jarreau and George Benson, and soon after, made their national U.S. television debut on Ellen and joined Bublé for a guest appearance on The Today Show. They also opened for Jay Leno in Las Vegas and performed at his ‘Tonight Show’, were guests on Tavis Smiley, performed at NARM, helped celebrate Quincy Jones’ 75th Birthday in Montreux and greeted a hometown crowd at Madison Square Garden. They were then invited to perform at the renowned Royal Variety Television show in London, capping the evening off by meeting His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

Throughout their short but stellar career, the group has recorded four albums – “Non Fiction” (2000) the aptly titled “What Is It” (2003), “Christmas …It’s A Love Story” (2004) and “Ready II Fly” (2006). The latter contains the YouTube hit “Feel It (In the Air Tonight”). Naturally 7’s now famous Paris subway performance of the song has received over five million hits on YouTube. The song turned into a Top 3 chart success in France, Belgium and and made the Singles charts in other European countries Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal.

In 2009, the group released a special album, ‘Wall Of Sound’ exclusively for the UK and Ireland, to commemorate their participation at the ‘Royal Variety Performance’, entering the British album charts in the first week at #29. Later that year they appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, performing “Stardust” with Michael Bublé, then travelled to Bermuda to perform for the 3rd consecutive year at Quincy Jones’ Bermuda Music Festival.

In March 2010 Naturally 7 released VocalPlay featuring duets with Grammy winner Michael Buble (‘Relax Max’) and German superstar Xavier Naidoo (‘Wild vor Wut’ recorded for the new 3D Animation film “Animals United”). Last time they were in Australia in 2009, Naturally 7 played to capacity houses, including The Enmore Theatre in Sydney, and this next tour is

shaping up to be even bigger. Copies of VocalPlay are available upon request.