Named after a remote sanctuary in the Italian Alps, “Oropa” was formed when pianist Joe Thompson and harpist Seána Davey were brought together by a mutual friend and yoga teacher, Anna Ferla, to accompany her yoga class which focused on ebb and flow.

On hearing how readily and effortlessly the piano and harp married up, these versatile musicians from two very different backgrounds discovered they shared the same approach to writing and improvising (“which is basically the same thing”) and wasted no time in getting into the recording studio.  And Oropa was born.

The result is the super chill-out, meditative and contemplative “Into the Oasis”, an inwardly reaching, relaxing and reassuring album which features the remarkable flute playing of guest artist Eliza Marshall , and marks the first the first of many future Oropa collaborations.

Written and recorded in London, 2018.