UK Christian Music Community To Record Cyclone Idai Relief Single
Written by Sunny Unachi on 30th April 2019
The UK’s Christian music community is coming together to record and release a charitable single in aid of the African countries that were devastatingly hit by Cyclone Idai in March 2019. Estimated to have affected 2.6 million people, Cyclone Idai made landfall in Mozambique with winds of up to 177 km/h (106mph) and continued on to cause destruction across Malawi and Zimbabwe.
The groundbreaking charitable project – ‘One Voice’ is being spear-headed by UK music visionaries, Lawrence Johnson who founded 90’s mainstream chart-topping groups Nu-Colours and London Community Gospel Choir, he currently does vocal arrangements for global stars such as Sam Smith, and more recently the new Aladdin film; and Les Moir, an A&R Manager, record producer & bass player who has worked with major Christian artists such as Matt Redman, Noel Robinson, Tim Hughes, London Community Gospel Choir and Martin Smith.
Raising vital funds for the international relief and development agency Tearfund for their emergency response to Cyclone Idai project, One Voice has garnered the support of a wide variety of Christian singers, bands, choirs, rappers and African gospel artists – all of whom will gather on 4th May to record the single at a Bedfordshire recording studio. The project will boast production by a team of leading producers and engineers including Goz-i-am who recently produced the critically acclaimed Sounds of New Wine debut album and has worked with Emeli Sande, Hillsong London, Israel Houghton and many more. Other production contributors include Mark Edwards who has worked with Katie Melua and Stuart Townend, as well as recording engineer & sound specialist Neil Costello.
The single titled ‘Strength To Go On’ is set to be released in June 2019 and will be available for download on all major platforms.
Speaking on behalf of One Voice, Les Moir said:
“Cyclone Idai came just before the harvest season and washed away crops that would have provided food for this year. We’re partnering with Tearfund who are working closely with national partners to support the relief effort – delivering emergency shelter kits, food such as pulses and maize flour, water purification tablets, and urgent health assistance. Tearfund’s immediate response has been on saving lives, but now as the flood waters recede and the extent of the damage is being realised, communities are beginning to think about how they will rebuild their lives. We want to help them rebuild and find the strength to carry on.”
When: 4th May 2019
Time: 10am
Where: Dunstable Conference Centre, COM Church, Upper Room Production, 51 High St North Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5UQ
This will be the third relief project undertaken by One Voice whose previous projects has brought people of various backgrounds within the UK’s Christian music community together to record the ‘One Voice One Heart’ single, which saw a fishing village in South India rebuilt. Another song released called ‘Somebody Please’ saw a hospital restored in Haiti following the destruction caused in the country by Hurricane Sandy in 2013.
Lawrence Johnson said:
“I would like thank Tearfund on behalf of the One Voice family for being a part of this project and for really making a difference in so many peoples lives all over the world. We salute you and pray God blessings on all who are involved in this amazing team.”
