Soundtrack to Auckland’

Kids of 88, Luger Boa, Weird Together and APO record the ‘Soundtrack to Auckland’

Three of New Zealand’s top pop artists have joined Auckland’s leading performing arts organisation to record a soundtrack for contemporary Auckland.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra has recorded part of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and set it to an inventive video directed by talented filmmaker Jae Morrison of Thick as Thieves in conjunction with advertising agency Colenso BBDO. Leading pop acts Kids of 88, Luger Boa and Weird Together have each produced exclusive remixes of the track. The music is titled ‘Soundtrack to Auckland’ and can be purchased from iTunes.

“This is something a bit different for an orchestra,” says APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser. “We often work with pop acts but releasing a commercial single for download and making a video are new for us.

“We love the film Jae and his team have produced; it shows so many facets of Auckland, the good and the gritty, because Auckland is a diverse and vibrant place.”

Why make a music video at all? According to Ms Glaser, there’s a serious point to be made about arts funding.

“A world-class city deserves a world-class orchestra, so we’re letting people know that the APO requires adequate funding to fulfil its potential and to meet the need we know is there. We’re constantly asked to take part in more educational work, more cross-cultural and cross-artform collaborations and more outreach programmes but we’ve reached the limits of what can be achieved on the funding we have.

“The government is currently undertaking a review of the orchestral sector, and this video is a way of rallying support at a time Wellington is considering how funds are allocated. It’s wonderful that Kids of 88 Luger Boa and Weird Together have jumped on board. Kids of 88 have even renamed themselves Kids of 1888 for the occasion.

“We’re aware of the perception, but orchestras are not stuffy, elitist organisations; we’re deeply entwined with the community we serve. These remixes from some of our very best pop musicians underline the relevance and versatility of a modern orchestra, and the video clip is our way of showing that the APO provides the soundtrack to Auckland.”

The video can be viewed on the APO’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/APOrchestra. The single of the 1812 Overture can be downloaded from iTunes for $1.79. A deluxe package of the single and exclusive remixes by Kids of 88, Luger Boa and Weird Together is available for $3.99. Search ‘Soundtrack to Auckland’ on iTunes. All money raised goes towards APO Connecting, the APO’s education, community and outreach programme.
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