Help to record the music for new Māori musical, 'Atarangi: Morning sky'

Kia Ora everyone!

Firstly thank you to everyone who has donated thus far and to all of those who have shared and liked posts. Such a great start and I appreciate the ongoing support!

We started our first session last week in the recording studio and it is far beyond what I expected. Over the next wee while I'll be updating you all with how its going and who is helping bring this beast to life.

In our first session we have had guitarists, a recorder and flute player, bass player, conga player, synths, vocalists, percussion and drummers, and the grand piano has started to get involved.

It is amazing to see how much better the quality of work is in this environment and with professional musicians helping out.

I can't wait to share it all with everyone!

Please spread the word and with your help we can make a world class musical that will be able to be performed anywhere in the world!

Tom

Wow. I am so appreciative of all the support I’ve had this far with 31 people donating and reaching 59% of my target! I can’t wait to share with you all the work that has been happening during this campaign. Only 41% to go!

I thought this would be a good time to share some of the people that have been working on this with me.

2 weeks back I began recording some of the songs in Loho Studios in Otautahi under the watchful eyes of Adam Hogan and Josh Logan who are the audio engineers there and run the place. These 2 are world class and I am so lucky to have their ears and expertise working on this with me.

Jed Parsons has been through and added some drums to a few songs and also worked out some vocal parts. Jed has his 2nd album coming out this month so keep an eye out!

Josh Logan has been a real rock through this process and has laid down some amazing bass lines as well as putting in some memorable guitar parts.

I was very lucky to be joined by an incredible musician Thomas Isbister who is a genius! He has played drums, guitar, keys and is an absolute wizz on the recorder and flute taking the music to places I never imaged.

An old friend from Blenheim, Hayden Taylor is on board and has begun scoring and notating what we have come up with in the studio so that the music will live on for many years to come. It is always a pleasure to reconnect with Hayden and Aotearoa is so lucky to have him back after he has been working on Westend in the UK for the past few years on major productions.

I can’t wait to finish the music and get some more people through the studio, particularly voices, to make this hugely collaborative process far exceed expectations for everyone.

Of course away from the music is also the script which has taken on a new life. I was very fortunate to have a session with Jamie McCaskill who is a Maori playwright and amazing performer who has a real eye for detailing. Jamie has pushed my thinking with the script which has added so much heart, mana and a better understanding of what really needs to be said at times. I am so grateful to have had his eyes over this.

Many family and friends have been along for this ride also and I thank them too.

Sophie Hambleton has been helping with EVERYTHING and Lindy Knowles made saveloy pie for everyone while in the studio.

Please share the word with friends and family as we venture into the last 9 days of this campaign. Every dollar is helping towards the music production of this show and judging by the interest Ive had this far I am confident this show and this music will go on to have a very fruitful life.

Thanks again,

Tom Knowles

Wow. Thank you everyone for your amazing support.

We have reached the initial target and i am over the moon. As I enter the final 2 days of the campaign i have added an extra little stretch goal incase there were whanau and friends waiting for the last day to support. This extra money will go towards an extra little time in the studio to fix things up and perfect it even more, but we did it!

Yesterday I was welcomed onto Bohally school in Blenheim and began work on the first ever production of ATARANGI! Yes, it has taken flight!! Over the next few months I will be back and forward with an awesome opportunity to develop the show live on the floor with the first premiere production and I couldnt be happier. I will be updating everyone on the journey through my facebook music page @tomknowlesmusic and welcome you all to join in what is gonna be a musical extravaganza for many years to come!

The power of the people has spoken and it goes to show that with determination and a really clear reason for doing this show (making something from this land accessible to our tamariki and giving them a professional experience) can be achieved with community support. I really appreciate it and I will be emailing everyone who has helped with show details to come.

Thank you whanau!