Akasa (4)

Australian a cappella group from Melbourne, Victoria. Akasa (pronounced Akasha; meaning Cavity of the Heart/Ether, that which fills everything) were an all female a cappella group, formed in 1998, consisting of 4 vocalists and percussionists. Founding member, Melanie Shanahan, died in late 2003. However, the group continued to sing and record her compositions. Their first release was a self-titled EP (1999), followed by the albums World Citizen (2002) and Views From An Urban Jungle (2006). There were several line-up changes, with Diana Clark, Vicki King and Andrea Watson being constant, although both Watson and Clark left for a period, during which the World Citizen album was recorded. They were replaced by Mihi Rangi (who left shortly after World Citizen was recorded) and Heidi Bradburn. By 2009, members included Annemarie Sharry and Andrea Watson. With sophisticated harmonies, the group sang of social justice, world sounds (particularly Maori music introduced to the group by Rangi), and politics.