Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/920918
12 UCW JANUARY 3-9, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM EVENTS Derik Nelson and his siblings have been per- forming since they were quite young. Up & Coming Weekly interviewed them about their upcoming show at Givens Performing Arts Center Jan. 9. Up & Coming Weekly: Do you write your own music? If so, where do you find inspiration for your songs? Derik: Yes. About half the songs we perform in our touring show are original songs I've written the music and lyrics for. Audiences can expect the other half to be covers from a variety of genres, eras and styles, done in our own three-part- harmony arrangements. I'm consistently inspired by my musical heroes. Sting, John Mayer and Pat Metheny are three of many. I love artists who use a lot of styles and genres in their music and aren't afraid to push boundaries. It inspires me to con- tinue to take chances, try new arrangements, and not allow a genre boundary or style dictate how or why I create. UCW: Can you talk about the visual aspect of your performances? Dalten: At our show in Pembroke, the audience will experience a visual backdrop featuring video and audio throughout the show, and it's all synced to the live vocals. I've spent the last few years filming, editing, producing and creating over 200 different videos to span the stage. Riana: What audiences might not know is Derik plays a lot of different instruments: guitar, piano, saxophone, drums, bass, f lute, etc. Dalten and Derik started collaborating years ago, filming music videos for Derik's YouTube channel, which has since grown to have over 3.6 million views. We found a creative way to allow Derik to play all the instruments he loves as part of our video backdrop. I'll keep our method a secret until audiences can see the show! UCW: What do you love most about performing? Derik: I love being able to connect with people. Music transcends any age, religion, language. Especially when people come up after shows with tears in their eyes, saying that they were moved or impacted or changed somehow by a lyric, or a song … that's the human connection through music I think all three of us love so much. UCW: How do you unwind? Dalten: "When I'm not touring, I spend a lot of time in nature and at the gym. It really grounds me to lift weights and focus on fitness. Riana: I love calligraphy and watercolor painting. When I'm not touring, I paint and often do custom commission work for others. I love cooking vegan and vegetarian recipes too, which is not something I get to do while traveling for work, so it really relaxes me. I'm also a huge fan of "This Is Us" and always look forward to watching it with my mom. We call it "This Is Us Crying." Such a brilliant show! Derik: I love writing new lyrics and music. I can spend all day working on a new song or recording. I love layering instruments and vocals to create almost like a choir sound, and this is also how I often come up with new ideas for songs, too. That time to explore is really relaxing to me and helps me unwind. And I love taking the ferry in Seattle. It's one of the quickest ways I relax! UCW: For someone who has never heard you perform, how would you describe your music? Derik: It's pop music that's acoustic-based, with folk, jazz and rock inf luences, all with a focus on the three-part harmony sibling sound. There's something special about sibling voices blend- ing together. I love the blend that's possible when singing with family. Visit w w w.uncp.edu or call 910-521-6000 for tick- ets and information. Derik Nelson & Family to perform at Givens Performing Arts Center by STEPHANIE CRIDER STEPHANIE CRIDER, As- sociate Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. Derik Nelson & Family will be at GPAC Jan. 9. L to R: Dalten, Derik, Riana. The African Children's Choir began as one man's vision to show the western world the hope, dignity and joy of Africa's children. Ray Barnett, founder of the choir and its larger organization, Music for Life, first created a choir in 1984 after visiting Uganda during the brutal regime of Idi Amin. Barnett wanted the western world to see an alternative side to Africa, one the media doesn't always portray – one that puts these bright and talented children in the spotlight. Choir 48 is coming to Fayetteville Sunday, Jan. 7, to perform at Fayetteville Christian Church. Blessed with 18 children from Uganda, all the choir members feel privileged to be traveling around North America singing, dancing and representing their friends back home. The children in the choir come from severe poverty, but they are given the hope of a different future through education. Money raised at their performances goes toward the choir members' education. Their education is now paid through university, and they are mentored throughout their childhood until they become young adults and future change-makers. The children also perform to raise money for their friends in Africa. The larger organization, Music for Life, works in seven African countries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. Over the last 33 years, Music for Life has supported 52,000 children's education by giving them the tools to become suc- cessful and secure a bright future for their families, communities and country. The African Children's Choir has had the privilege to perform before presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee. The choir has also had the honor of singing alongside artists such as Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith and other inspirational performers. The audience will see the delight in these chil- dren's faces as they spread the message of hope to the people of Fayetteville. The program is a va- riety of traditional African songs, contemporary worship music and old gospel favorites. The chil- dren will also perform traditional Ugandan tribal dance. It is a free event and open to the public. There will be a love offering taken during the concert. Money donated will go towards the edu- cation projects in Africa to support not only the children in the choir but thousands of others. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at www.afri- canchildrenschoir.com or by calling 910-822-2402. The African Children's Choir spreads joy in Fayetteville by KEIRA CARNIE The African Children's Choir is set to perform at Fayetteville Christian Church Jan. 7. Photo credit: Isaac Aijukaa. KEIRA CARNIE, TACC volunteer. COMMENTS? Edi- tor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.