Libraries  |  29 Jun 2020

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An upbeat approach by five teenagers to fundraising during the World Vision 40 Hour Famine has produced a 10-song album in 40 hours at Tūranga.

The Year 12 Riccarton High School students have banded together to record and produce From us to you in the Tūranga audio/visual suite, supported by library staff.

Collectively known as 4Man Band, Carlo Querubin, Josh Forman, Asher McNeil, Isaac Paul and Cameron Heaphy, all 16, are among the hundreds of do-it-yourself performers creating their own recordings in the central library’s audio space.

Watch a video of the band performing.

In making the album, which includes original songs, the students say they “were surprised when we realised the full potential of what we could create in the studio”.

“The library media specialists who helped us set up our gear and record it all with the software were total experts,” they say.

“The tracks have come out great and we are now in a position to go into post-production mixing to make the songs even better, thanks to the techniques we have learned at Tūranga.”

Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson says that libraries are thriving as creative community hubs, becoming even more relevant to younger people.

“The range of music coming out of Tūranga is astounding, underlining the ingenuity of our library staff in adapting our makerspaces to stay in step with technological advances,” Ms Robertson says.

“We continue to engage with a range of library customers and discover innovative ways to extend that relationship to suit multiple needs, such as the growing demand for our audio studio.

“Our staff are naturally creative, and continue to make the most of their skills to help local performers share their talents with a wider audience.”

Each week, there are about 14 bookings – for one to five people – for two-hour sessions in the audio suite. Library media specialists also run after-school “studio starter” education sessions, as well as open creative times.

Ms Robertson says hundreds of people have made the most of the facility on the Auahatanga floor since the opening of Tūranga in October 2018.

“The studio is free to for educational and personal use,” she says. “It offers a full range of creative software, along with expert help.

“We have seen many beginner and intermediate musicians, bands, rappers, video editors and podcasters start out in the AV studio. It has been amazing to see creatives of all ages learn new skills, as well as open up a world of career possibilities.”

To book the studio, call the Council on (03) 941 8999.