Auckland Philharmonia gets remixed

What do you get when hip hop artists collaborate with an orchestra?  Remix the Orchestra, of course.

It’s not your usual gig but this month will see hip hop artists sharing the stage with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for the first time.

Remix the Orchestra:  Full Orchestra meets Hip-Hop is the result of five years of collaborations between the Philharmonia and top hip-hop musicians to mentor young artists.

Hip hop artist DJ CXL, says the concert is going to be something special.

“Anonymouz put this together.  We have worked on other things and he hit me up that they were doing the hip-hop/orchestra thing.  It’s something a bit different.  It’s cool and scary too.”

Anonymouz, the concert’s musical director, says the gig is as much a cultural collaboration as a musical one.

“Hip-hop and classical have obvious differences, not just musically but also in terms of things like dress and concert protocols.  Hip-hop audiences are part of the performance; there’s often a call and response between artist and crowd.  Orchestral audiences show their appreciation by listening intently and clapping at the end.  This concert aims to bridge those sorts of gaps,” says Anonymouz, a hip-hop producer who has been involved with Remix since it began.

Other artists joining the orchestra and DJ CXL include Tyree (Smashproof), Frisko (aka Alphrisk, Deceptikonz) and Ermehn, one of the most respected artists on the local urban music scene.

CXL, a DJ and producer, has no plans to slow down following the remix concert.  He is currently touring New Zealand before heading to Australia.

“I want to take over the world, DJ’ing and working with up and coming DJ’s,” laughs the Grey Lynn resident.

Remix the Orchestra: Full Orchestra Meets Hip-Hop is on May 31, at Auckland Town Hall.  Tickets cost $20/$30.

See http://www.apo.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/APO_Phil_News_All_Mixed_Up.pdf for further information on Remix the Orchestra.