But the one-on-one interview with the 6 tall, dark and handsome guys at the Esplanade Friends Lounge on Mar 10 was an affirming experience instead, given how these smooth- as-honey singers were overflowing with positive energy.

1st tenor McKnight (elder brother of R&B singer Brian McKnight) attributes the group’s success to their relationship with a ‘Higher Being’. “The positive energy that Take 6 feels, and the love that you hear from the music comes from our relationship with God, and it is because of that that it inspires our relationship with each other and our relationship to the people that we record this music for.”

This has been their hallmark since their first and eponymous album in 1988, and is in no less evidence in their latest release, last year’s Feels Good. The uplifting lyrics speak of embracing life, looking forward to the future and love for family, friends and most importantly, praise to God. Combined with a mixture of soul, jazz and R&B rhythm, the soothing voices exude positivity and joy in the form of harmonious melodies. Listening to the album provided UrbanWire with a rare 1-hour away escape from the dreariness of life (and boy did it feel good).

With Feels Good, being the 1st record produced under their own record label (Take 6 Records), 2nd tenor Dave Thomas shares that, “We make the call as to how we want to approach project by project, so I’m sure you’ll see in the future from Take 6 further expression and experimentation into other genres [of music].”

Musical Transfer

McKnight told UrbanWire that one of the group’s biggest challenges is being able to unselfishly and openly contribute experiences that happen in their lives to their music. “Something that we are trying to learn and what we tried to incorporate into the music is a sense of transparency – the experiences and things that have gone on in our lives and that outlook that we have and we share that with our listeners to try to inspire some hope in their lives as well.”

On that note, bass singer Alvin Chea chirped in that, “Music is a universal power that is about writing a song that’s in your head, finding a lyric that captures that emotion, getting onstage and singing to an audience that have never heard it before and connecting with them… that immediate affirmation is just a powerful thing to be blessed to do.”

McKnight added, “When you’re performing a song and other people feel the same way, there’s no better feeling.”

“Spiritual a cappella ecstasy,” Chea wrapped up, as the group roared in agreement.

Will Take 6 be back? McKnight said, on behalf of the sextet: “We would love to. We come when we’re invited.”

Is any concert organiser out there listening?

If you’ve missed out on Take 6’s performance at the Esplanade for the Mosaic Music Festival on Mar 11, you can grab a copy of Feels Good at all leading music stores.

All photos courtesy of the Esplanade.