Studio time with an American producer has NZ choralists whooping for joy

By Calida Smylie

AUCKLAND, NZ — Bob Power’s deep American drawl booms out from
the laptop. “Okay, once more girls, once more … make it super
sweet. Like, mellow.”

The New York-based producer, who has worked with De La Soul,
Erykah Badu and Miles Davis, is directing a bunch of New Zealand
schoolchildren via internet on Skype.

The project which attracted him?

A collaboration between Variety Voices children’s choir and
Cadbury, which will use the recording in its “Share the Joy”
campaign.

Admittedly, my reaction at hearing of the campaign was
scepticism. Ha, I thought to myself, the only “sounds of joy” being
heard will come from deep within Cadbury’s coffers. It all just
sounded like a sugary sweet marketing ploy.

But in the recording studio, after hearing the dulcet tones of
Kate Riegel and Mele Fangaloka, both 17, I was feeling pretty sweet
myself.

The girls are part of a 40-strong Variety Voices choir formed
six weeks ago on the initiative of Variety, which is a children’s
charity supporting sick, disabled and disadvantaged Kiwi kids.