Songs From The Inside (CD/DVD) ~ CD ~ Various Artists

Songs from the Inside, the successful Maori Television series that follows four top kiwi musicians as they teach songwriting to prison inmates now has its own album. The album, produced by Anika Moa, Warren Maxwell, Misey Rika and Ruia Aperhama features songs by inmates at two New Zealand Prisons. The release date comes two days before the season finale. The 13-track album is the deeply personal conclusion of the musical journeys of the seven prisoners who completed the course. Their songs are raw and heartfelt, and come to life in a broad compilation that includes soul, R&B, hip hop and reggae. The four artists – Moa, Maxwell, Rika and Aperahama – provide backing vocals and supplementary music, with additional beats by P-Money and drums by Riki Gooch. Songs From the Inside is a digi pack album with the CD containing 13 tracks, each one preceded by a sound-bite from one of the students or artists, and a DVD containing seven songs – each song on the DVD is accompanied by a montage of footage from the series that traces the singer's journey through the programme. The album also comes with a 20-page booklet containing lyrics plus information about the project and those involved.