Rappers and Orchestra combine to get Everything Down

Rappers and Orchestra combine to get Everything Down

Two new urban singles released today show the power of music to bring people together.

DG’s ‘Down’ and ‘Everything’ by REVU$ featuring 2Phat and JEM are the result of a scholarship offered by an unlikely source: Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO).

DG (real name Danielle Peeni) and REVU$ (Bob Fa’atiga) were among 25 participants in the APO’s 2013 Remix the Orchestra programme, Remix Out West. The pair showed such ability that the orchestra offered them scholarships to create the professionally recorded singles with hip-hop producer – and Music Director of the Remix programme – Anonymouz (Matthew Faiumu Salapu).

A propulsive slice of old school hip-hop, ‘Down’ is notable not only for DG’s rapping but for the saxophone of gifted multi-instrumentalist and composer Yvette Audain. Watch the video here.

REVU$’s ‘Everything’, meanwhile, has a loping Pasifika reggae beat and features a distinctive violin line played by APO Assistant Concertmaster Miranda Adams. Watch the video here.

Other orchestral musicians on the songs include APO Principal Percussionist Eric Renick and trombonist Ben Zilber.

“Classical instruments are often used as samples in hip-hop but this is different,” says Anonymouz. “What’s distinctive about these tracks is that they’ve been written from the ground up to incorporate hip-hop and orchestral elements.”

“Whether these two songs are considered orchestral or urban is irrelevant; it’s just good music,” says APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser. “Bob and Danielle are exceptional talents and we’re delighted to offer them the chance to express that talent in a way that anyone can hear.”

The tracks are both available to download for free from the Remix section of the APO website, apo.co.nz/remix. Each song has a video shot by talented director Corey Fleming of Arcpitch Films, and made with extensive creative input from DG and REVU$.

APO Remix the Orchestra is made possible with the support of Auckland Council
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