Interview: Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook Volume Four

Exploding Rainbow Orchestra are the Tāmaki Makaurau-based super-ensemble led by conductor Joshua Worthington-Church (Princess Chelsea and the Dream Warriors, Jazmine Mary, Paul Cathro, Mammalien and more). Featuring thirty five members at last count, the ERO are teaming up with a grand selection of musical guests for Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook Vol. 4, happening over three nights at Whakamana Cannabis Museum / Hopetoun Alpha in Tāmaki Makaurau.

No doubt in the middle of a hurricane of organisational activity right now, Worthington-Church (who also makes the ensemble's flowing robes) generously answered my questions about the ERO and did an impressive job of not playing favourites. Read onwards and take in a brand new clip of Diggy Dupé & The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra feat. Rizvan performing 'On The Run' for Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook Vol. 3 — directed and filmed by Sports Team...

Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook Vol. 4
35-piece psychedelic orchestra with very special guests:
Bailey Wiley, Crystal Chen, Dam Native, HINA, JessB, Katie Everingham (Dateline), Ladyhawke, LEAO, LEIGH, Reb Fountain, Reuben Scott (Salt Water Criminals), Steve Abel

Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th November - Whakamana Cannabis Museum / Hopetoun Alpha, Auckland

Tickets (waged / unwaged) on sale now at www.moshtix.co.nz

Chris Cudby: Joshua, what is The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook, and at what point in time did you realise you were destined to conduct a psychedelic super-ensemble?

Joshua Worthington-Church: The Songbook is the collective name for the various songs that the now close to 50 songwriters have lent to the Exploding Rainbow Orchestra, to reimagine and perform alongside them. It's also a promise that this thing will endure and grow.

I was never destined to conduct, and in fact the honourable thing to do would be to hire someone qualified. But this was a convenient excuse to give myself the best seat in the house, and still participate in the performance.

Can you please provide a short run-through of your own musical history?

I've studied music through high school and university, and spent basically my whole 20s playing in bands (mostly bass, which I studied at uni). Through gigging and jazz school I found myself a part of the vibrant music community in Tāmaki, and I couldn't be happier there.

What is the process involved in organising this maxi-scale musical project?

Lots of emailing, lots of docs. The Google suite of office apps is pivotal. Having a timeline for each stage (song demo, arrangement, rehearsal) is the crucial first step, and from there it's just doing your best to communicate clearly and effectively so that everyone knows exactly where they need to be and when, and with what instrument.

Do you have a support team helping you?

Absolutely! I would not have survived the first one without one. I think people sometimes think I'm engaging in false modesty, but this thing doesn't happen without an incredible amount of effort from a whole host of people (Bob Frisbee our sounds engineer, Matthew Crawley our promoter, to name just a couple). And the whole orchestra is a support team, truly. The amount of collective effort and collaborative energy that goes into this is truly humbling.

How do you decide who to invite to be a part of The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook?

We really just try to cast the widest net possible, and get the broadest cross section of artists we can. That's in terms of career length, genre / sound, background, songwriting voice. There's a very long long list, which is a blessing and a curse.

Have there been any artists where you've been surprised they've actually said yes, they'd like to take part?

All of them? Haha, I'm always a little surprised just cause I try and imagine what that pitch sounds like, and it seems pretty crazy when I stand in their shoes. The more we do it the more it goes both ways as well; some people have already heard of it by now, but at the same time we're trying to reach further and further from our immediate circles. There are a couple of people who I've asked a few times now and are keen, but it hasn't lined up yet. I can be very persistent, as some people have already learned.

What's been a highlight for you of The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook so far?

Honestly, it is very hard to pick. Being able to do it bigger and better every time has been a really awesome feeling. Having so many of my dear friends involved, and making a bunch of new ones!

How does it feel on the night when it all comes together?

There's a magic moment, right as I raise my hands to count the first song in, which is the last moment where this thing is still just an idea. It hasn't actually happened yet. And as my hand falls and the first notes sound, suddenly that threshold is crossed. That feeling, of the thing being real, is truly so magical. I live for it, honestly.

Will there ever be any Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook official releases?

Watch this space! There's a lot of back end logistics to figure out, but we definitely intend to release something officially in the near future.

Why Whakamana Cannabis Museum / Hopetoun Alpha as venue for The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra Songbook?

It's a gorgeous, quirky character space, tucked away down the back of Karangahape Road. When we were looking for a bigger space, it just made total sense for what the spirit of the show is.

It's the same lineup each night for the three night residency, yeah? What can attendees look forward to this November?

It is yes! Attendees can look forward to the usual smorgasbord of incredible songs from as broad a range of musical artists as you're likely to find, as well as some original compositions written specifically for the show and one or two other brand new elements that haven't been a part of the show yet...