Libera Interview on BBC Sheffield Radio

Cassius, Jude and Kavana did a radio interview on BBC Sheffield. They talked about their voices changing as they get older, why they joined the choir, places they've traveled, and being stage-shocked. :D You can listen to the full interview here. Thanks to Jimmy Riddle for uploading it!

Libera on UK Radio Today

Libera just tweeted,

"On our way to do some early morning radio shows...stay tuned!"
and
"Make sure you tune in to many BBC stations around the UK this morning, including York and Sheffield for Libera interviews."

So listen if you can! And someone record it for the rest of us! :D

 

Kavana (age 15), Cassius (age 12), & Jude (age 12)

UPDATE: And... true to form, awesome Libera fans Jimmy and Andy worked together to locate 12 BBC Radio interviews and saved them for us all to hear. You can listen HERE.

The Dynamic Trio of Kavana Crossley, Cassius O'Connell-White, and Jude Collins were interviewed by stations all across the UK to promote the new CD and DVD. I love these interviews because you never know what they're going to say. Here are a few of the interesting facts and hilarious quotes from these three!

BBC Radio Solent -
The interviewer asks if they're all as angelic as they seem. Kav says, "Of course we're angelic." Cass adds, "All but Jude."

On how to pronounce Libera. The interviewer says, "Now you said 'Li-bur-uh.' I say 'Lee-bur-uh.' Is 'Li-bur-uh' the authorized version?" And Kav responds, "Well, we ARE in it, so we probably would know." Ahaha!

BBC Radio Oxford - 
Kavana has been singing in Libera for 7 1/2 years, Cassius for 4 3/4 years, and Jude for 4 years. Cass says they get to make best friends for life in the choir, "like me and Kav." They don't yet know where they'll be giving a concert next. And I love how Cassius is not quite sure about the album's title. lol

BBC Radio Norfolk - 
Cass had to stop during the interview to listen to himself singing at the end of "Carol of the Bells." Too funny! Jude says that secondary schoolers find it harder to fit it all in (meaning choir practices plus school work). We then find out that Jude is one of the ones in the back doing homework during rehearsals. Kavana has exams coming up, but says you just have to balance it all. That's got to be hard, the older they get, but thanks to them for being willing to work so hard!

BBC Radio Newcastle - 
The interviewer's favorite track is "Carol of the Bells." Cass says, "I think it's cause I sing the solo in it." :D

BBC Radio Leicester - 
The interviewer asks if when they look out while on stage, can they see people moved to tears by Libera. 
Cass - "No, I can't because I don't have glasses."
Kav - "I can't personally cause we can't wear glasses on stage. Me and Cassius are blind when we're on stage."
Kav - "You don't need eyes to sing, do you?" Ahaha!
Jude - "I've seen people that are really emotional." (He obviously doesn't need glasses.)
Cass - "It makes my mum cry. Then again my mum cries at the drop of a hat." That means she cries easily. :)

BBC Radio Kent - 
Jude loves orange juice! 
How are they planning Christmas?
Kav - food, grandparents
Cass - presents, and more food, family, friends, giving
Jude - food, family

BBC Radio Guernsey - 
We find out that Cassius was named after boxer Cassius Clay who was later called Muhammad Ali. 
Interviewer - "Cassius. That's a cool name by the way."
Cassius - "Oh, yeah. Of course it is. My mother's dad used to watch Cassius Clay all the time, and he would get up at 3:00 to watch his matches, cause of course they're in America. And so my mum named me Cassius." 

Interviewer - "Kavana, that's a good name. Where does that originate from?"
Kavana - "Well, Libera originates from the Latin word..."
Interviewer - "Sorry, I meant YOUR name."
Kav - "Oh. My name's MADE UP. It's a magical name."
I laughed so hard! That is the best answer ever! :D

Interviewer - "Jude, why should we buy this album?"
Jude - "Because we're awesome."
Kav - "No. That's not an answer."
Cass - "We ARE awesome, though."

BBC Radio Derby - 
We find out that choir member Anthony Blake (the smiley one) is extremely good at music, and even plays the organ!

On future careers - 
Cass - "I like the choir, but it doesn't take over your life. I'd quite like to maybe do something musical, but then again I'd quite like to be a vet. I love animals."
Kav - "I want to do something musical."

BBC Radio Cornwall - 
The interviewer comments on how the new album has a Gaelic lilt to it.
Cass - "Well, it does, of course, because we were singing in Ireland, so we were performing to my own home country turf." (Am I hearing a sudden Irish accent?!) "More than half of us are Irish, and we wanted to bring..."
Kav - "...bring it closer to home."

BBC Radio Merseyside - 
Cassius' favorite track on the album is "Carol of the Bells" - "only because I'm singing the solo." :D

BBC Radio York - 
Jude joined Libera because there was orange juice. hehe

BBC Radio Midlands - 
Cassius plays rugby. Kavana plays football. Jude plays hockey.
And the interviewer likes that they've made up new terms, "Libera music," "Liberamania," and "Libera life cycle." 

Great job, guys! You're sure to have lots of new fans after today! And thanks again to Jimmy and Andy for making sure we all could hear them!

Libera BBC Radio Interview on May 7, 2013

Hi! Sorry I haven't been able to post much lately. I've been working every day this summer from 9am-5pm. Hopefully I'll get a Libera video done soon also. But in the mean time, this is an interview that Libera did on BBC Radio before the Guildford concert. By request I am writing out the words for people who don't speak English, which can I just say takes forever to do! Ben Fairman, Michael Ustynovych-Repa and Robert Prizeman were talking. Thanks to Bullehynka and Inna for the upload.




Interviewer: Well, good afternoon. This is Graham Dean with you on BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey. Lovely, sunny Tuesday afternoon. It's just coming up to 10 minutes past 2. And time for "Tea for Two." Now if you're into choral music, you're going to love this because it's a group or a choir that I've been following for many, many years now since I discovered them anyway in the 90's. Libera are a boy vocal band, young lads. And if you've never heard the heavenly sounds of Libera, then be prepared for something very special indeed once I've spoken to them. The boys who make up the South London-based band called Libera have been described as normal and ordinary, so that's a relief, isn't it? And I'm very pleased to say that Rob Prizeman, who is the founding musical director of Libera, and also Ben Fairman and Michael Repa, they're 2 of the boys from the band, they're both 10 years old, they're joining me from our London studios right now. Good afternoon, guys!

Robert: Hello.
Michael: Hello.
Ben: Hi.

Graham: Hello. I'll tell you what, Rob, let me talk to you first, Rob Prizeman. Maybe you could just tell us about Libera and how they were first formed.

Robert: Well, it just sort of happened really. To be honest we didn't sort of come up with some incredible visionary plan. It just emerged really out of things that we were doing, and it seemed fun to do the sort of choral things a slightly different way. And I was sort of a soundtrack composer, so it was kind of natural to use all sorts of different sounds and orchestral and keyboard and you know drums and all sorts of other things in the music. So it's not choir boys with a beat, but it is choir boys with a good range of different instruments and different sounds. And the ways that the boys harmonize with each other is quite distinctive really. But it's using the sounds of the treble voices that kind of hark back to the ancient sort of choral music of the church.

Graham: Yes, I think I first discovered you back in the 90's, and it was the album, I think it was called "Libera," wasn't it, with the yellow cover, and it has "Sanctus" on it?

Robert: Yes, oh indeed, that was the first one.

Graham: Oh, we go back a long way.

Robert: Thank you.

Graham: And obviously the boys in the band change all the time. What's the age limit?

Robert: Um, well they don't really leave actually in a way because there's different manifestations of the group. So they carry on still singing with the group as tenors and basses and things in the future. But the sort of public form of it in terms of the sort of stage shows that we take round the world and the recordings are centered around the boys from the age of 7 through to the core group which is which is going to be 8 through 14. And they don't, as I say, have to leave. Obviously all sorts of different circumstances prevail, interests change, but an awful lot of them stay there, so we performed something a couple of weeks ago with over 60 all together. So it's quite a large group.

Graham: And do they find you, or do you find them?

Robert: Well, it's a combination really. But they come from lots of different schools, and I'm sure you would better speak to Ben and Michael about this really, as they come from one of the schools that we actually have a connection with. So they're all around south London. And sometimes they sort of talk to us, but to be honest, this is not something people tend to think about these days really, even with a vaguely sort of raised profile like we do have. People tend not to really think about it unless they know more about it, you know, personally or through some connection with a family or through the school, which schools are our greatest supporters really.

Graham: You must tell me about the name, because I've been sort of hedging my bet. Is it "Lee-bur-ah" or "Li-bur-ah" first of all?

Robert: Well, Ben'll correct you.

Ben: Yeah, well it is "Li-bur-ah." It's the Latin word for "free." And I guess it kind of makes a...we chose it because it kind of shows that we do our own thing. It's a bit like we're free to do what we want.

Graham: That's a good reason. So it's "Li-bur-ah," from the Latin.

Ben: Yes.

Graham: Right, I can remember that. So Ben, how long have you been with Libera?

Ben: I've been with it 3 years, since I was 7, and I've enjoyed every part of it.

Graham: And how did you get involved then?

Ben: Well, Rob comes around to some of the schools, and he gives all the boys in year 3 an audition. So we have to sing a few notes, maybe a hymn, and the better boys come back for another, second interview. And if Rob thinks we're good enough, then we get invited to come along.

Graham: And have you enjoyed singing? I mean, was singing something that you wanted to do then, Ben?

Ben: Um, yeah, I always enjoyed singing, but I think Libera has helped me along with that quite a lot, to be honest. I mean, I used to be quite bad, but then Libera, Rob and all the older boys, have helped me and taught me how to sing properly.

Graham: Quite bad? You mean you didn't think you could sing at all, but then you found out perhaps, well I'm not so bad as I thought I was?

Ben: Yeah.

Graham: Yeah? I think you're being very modest, Ben. What about Michael there? Hello, Michael!

Michael: Hello.

Graham: Michael Repa, also aged 10. And you don't happen to go to the same school as Ben, do you?

Michael: Yeah, I do!

Graham: OK. Did you know about Libera before Rob found you?

Michael: Uh, no I didn't.

Graham: And then when he found you, and he said, "Would you like to be part of Libera," what was your reaction to that?

Michael: Ah, well, it was a great feeling, cause I had something to be really proud of.

Graham: Absolutely.

Michael: I'm still proud of it now and in the future.

Graham: Quite right, too. And it is the most wonderful choral sound, isn't it? And I've seen Libera on television. You've done "Songs of Praise." Have you been on TV yourself?

Michael: Uh, yes I have.

Graham: Which programs have you been on?

Michael: Um, "Songs of Praise."

Ben: We went on "Songs of Praise" when we were in year 4.

Michael: Yep.

Robert: And you've done quite a lot on different television stations across the world, haven't you, of course as well.

Michael: We did a charity thing in America.

Ben: And we've also been guests on "The Philippines Got Talent."

Graham: How did that go?

Robert: It was a mad one out actually.

Graham: I think you better explain this then, Rob.

Robert: Well, we were guest artists only actually, but it is very much like the BGT actually, but much wilder if you can imagine anything even more hysterical. But they're both referring to a charity show which we did last year in the States in which they appeared...who were you with?

Michael: Yeah, we sung with both Meatloaf and Miley Cyrus.

Graham: Wow! There's a contrast.

Ben: We got to meet her afterwards.

Graham: And was she nice?

Ben: Yeah. One of the boys would have bragged if he was here, "I had a right chin-wag with Miley Cyrus."

Michael: That's what he likes to say.

Ben: No, I didn't, but one of the boys likes to brag about that.

Graham: Do you think he was overstating it, do you think?

Ben: No, he did actually have a conversation.

Michael: Yeah, he did.

Graham: Oh, well what did she talk to you about?

Robert: Well, that's a secret thing between Cassius and Miley Cyrus, isn't it?

Ben & Michael: Yep.

Graham: Have you guys sung with anybody else famous apart from those two?

Michael: Well, we sang TO the Pope once.

Ben: And at that charity thing in America, we also sang to Bill Clinton.

Michael: Yep.

Graham: So in other words, your priorities there, you go Miley Cyrus and Meatloaf and then Bill Clinton and the Pope as sort of "also rans."

Michael & Ben: Yeah.

Graham: So guys, how do you fit in, you know the boys here, how do you fit in all these rehearsals, because you must have so many I imagine? With your school times and your studies, homework and the rest of it, how do you manage that? Where should we go? Um, Michael.

Michael: Oh, well, we have to be committed, but, um, sometimes you can't make it for reasons, but well we try and be there. And obviously you do have to kind of skip things which you want to do, but it's a good experience and it's worth doing.

Graham: It's worth it in the end, isn't it? Cause there's nothing, to me, nothing like the sound of the human voice, especially sung in harmony. I've been able to do that just with a few other guys, and when you hit it right, it just gives you that wonderful feeling inside, doesn't it?

Michael: Yeah, it does.

Ben: I mean, being with Libera is sort of like a hobby, cause you're doing what you want with all your friends whenever you go away.

Robert: Yeah, I think one of the characteristics of the group is that we are able to play around with the harmonies. And so someone like Michael, for instance, who's got a very high voice, we can use him doing some of those notes, and we can make the arrangements to suit the voices. So we are doing lots of interesting harmonies, and they will split into quite elaborate harmonies sometimes, which makes it more exciting. But it also makes it for the group, so we're not sort of bound by a particular repertoire which has to be performed with a particular arrangement. We can change it to fit the soloists and so forth. That's, I suppose, part of the "free" thing, really. That's not to say they don't also sing proper music as well. You know, I say "proper music" as opposed to music that I've sort of arranged. But we did a couple of weeks ago the Mozart Requiem, for instance, a full performance where the boys were doing all the solos and things. So they do a big range of music.

Graham: Now I should add actually that you're going to be performing at the Guildford Cathedral on May the 11th, just a few days away at 7:30. 

Robert: Oh, yes. Do add that please.

Graham: Oh, I'll get it at the end, don't worry. And I would love to be there. I mean the most beautiful setting for just the most perfect kind of music as well, isn't it? So guys, let's go to Ben this time. Ben Fairman, do you get much free time?

Ben: Um, yeah, well on the tours we only do about 4 or 5 concerts, so at least half of the tour will be free time. But we also have some free time when we rehearse on Mondays and Fridays. We get to play a bit of table tennis, and we also have an N64 which is very popular with the boys. But yeah, we get quite a bit of free time. 

Graham: So who do you like when it comes to music? Michael, let's go to you this time. Michael Repa. Who do you like to listen to obviously outside of Libera?

Michael: Well, lots of people are popular with Gangnam Style.

Robert: And we've just been there as well, haven't we? Just been to South Korea actually.

Ben: We performed on the same night that Psy was performing.

Graham: And Ben, who do you like?

Ben: I actually quite like old music cause my dad has kind of brought me in to the tradition of listening to rock music from the 60's.

Graham: Any particular names from the 60's? Who do you like?

Ben: The Beatles.

Graham: The Rolling Stones?

Ben: Yeah, all that kind of thing. Cream.

Graham: Yeah, that one's moving into the 70's and the 80's of course. So is that something you'd like to do later in life, Michael? To be a singer in later life?

Michael: Well, obviously, it takes a lot of commitment, but yeah, maybe. It's a thought.

Graham: And Ben?

Ben: Um, I've thought of it, and if I'm good enough then I'd like to be one, but I'm not so sure. 

Graham: Just see how it goes.

Ben: Yeah.

Graham: Well, you've got a wonderful start, haven't you? So Ben and Michael, thank you so much. Both 10 years old, part of Libera. Rob, just before you go, for people thinking of coming along to Guildford Cathedral on the 11th, what kind of things can they expect to hear from you?

Robert: Well, it's quite a range really. We do have quite a lot of things which will be familiar to people. I mean tunes like "I Vow To Thee My Country." We do our own arrangement of the "Pachelbel Canon" with the boys going up to sort of top C's and things like that. There's a little bit of Enya. There's also quite a lot of stuff which is original to us and stuff which is done quite atmospherically using the acoustics of the building, with the orchestra. And also because we have it all lit and staged, so it's really a pop concert in one way, but it's also a very imaginative way, well, I hope people with think it's a very imaginative way of doing it.

Graham: And I guess this must have evolved quite greatly since the early days cause you started in the 80's I think, didn't you?

Robert: Well, the whole business of presenting something like that has become, of course, much more elaborate nowadays because it's possible to do so many more interesting things really with the lighting and so forth. And so we, of course, use all that kind of technology. We don't, as it were, try to present it in a sort of monastic style. Although the boys would go and sing a Mass or something in a very traditional style. They quite often do. But in this context, of course, it's very much show biz, and although they don't dance or do anything like that, they do move on stage. The whole thing is a staged experience. It isn't just done from the choir stalls.

Graham: So Michael, just before you go, and Ben as well, what's Rob like as a boss then? Is he a hard task-master?

Robert: Sneaky trick.

Ben: He does push us quite hard, but then again he rewards us with so much free time and so much opportunities to do all of the stuff that Libera do. We go on tour to many countries, and all this is basically free of charge.

Michael: Yep.

Graham: Well, good for you. Thanks for joining us. They're telling it like it is there. Ben Fairman, Michael Repa, both 10 years old, of Libera. Rob Prizeman, thank you for joining us as well. The founding musical director of Libera. I'm going to play "Sanctus" from the album I mentioned earlier on from the 90's, wasn't it? I think round about the mid-90's.

Robert: Well, that's the one we're doing on Saturday which is based on the "Pachelbel Canon."

Graham: There we are. I was going to ask you to lead us in nicely. You have done that. Libera will be performing at the Guildford Cathedral on May the 11th at 7:30. And go along, and you will enjoy music like this. Thank you very much for coming along today.

(Sanctus plays)

Interview on Premier Christian Radio

Awesome! It's that time of year when Libera gives us all kinds of fun stuff like interviews and an annual Merry Christmas video. This morning Kavana, Cassius, Jude and Michael were interviewed on Premier Christian Radio. Thanks to Fan de LoK, you can listen to it here.

First they play "Joy to the World," and then the interviewer greets everyone and gets an "Hola!" back from Jude. I guess everyone dressed up to go see her, because she comments on how they're dressed like they're ready to go somewhere.

Oh my word Cassius is so...oh my word! The highlight of his Libera career? "I had the nicest chin-wag with Miley Cyrus."
"What did you talk about?"
"What it's like to be even more famous than me." :D And then thank you Kav for jumping in there and explaining. Love how Kav says he was Cassius's mentor. But didn't we kinda figure that? :) And on Cassius's first tour he had an aunty, an uncle, a mom & a dad in place of his real ones.

Poor little Michael trying to talk over everyone! He said that in September he turned 10. And he did explain very nicely how you get to be in Libera. Love Jude and Cassius's explanation:
Jude: They don't tell you anything! They're so secretive!
Cassius: It's like James Bond! Doo-doo-doo!
Jude: It's like the MI6 hiring agents!
And now we know why Jude joined Libera: SNACKS! :D Oh my word this kid is hilarious! And is it me or does Kav sound really grown-up for 14?

Cassius, of course, does his world-famous Donald Duck imitation for the interviewer. Apparently Donald's favorite song from the Christmas album was "Joy to the World." :D

The interviewer asks them for what they're all thankful. Jude is thankful for all the support they had this year. Awww you're welcome guys! Thanks for the beautiful music! :) Oh Cassius. He gives thanks for support, Mom and Dad, and his PS3. And listening to him try to explain what the name of "Free" means to Libera is made even more funny by the fact that Kavana can't stop laughing at everything Cassius says!

Michael is so adorable! "If you're like thirty-three you can still sing with the church choir." I love Jude and Cassius trying to imitate what Kavana sounds like singing bass!!! :D They're so disruptive lol. The interviewer was actually very good and funny! "I want to be part of Libera. Can I join?"
Kav: ...Boys only. :)
And they've been some of her favorite guests! Of course! Cuz they're awesome!

Michael wanted her to play "Carol of the Bells," because he got to sing this in the Philippines last year. It's bouncy, jumpy.

And oh...those moments when you wish that it was a TV interview so you could see Cassius's crazy dance! Love how as soon as the interviewer asks "Are you like the face of Libera?" Cassius says "I'm the face of Libera." And all the other boys are like "Noooo, nah, no he's not..."

Jude! Get your shopping done!!! Only 4 more sleeps till Christmas! lol. Cassius likes waking up on Christmas morning and feeling that really heavy thing on his leg (his Christmas stocking!).

And here's some new info! There's an annual Libera New Year's party! How cool is that?! Dressing up as mummies, doing a dance. It sounds like a blast!  

Interviewer: How can we find out more about you guys?
All: You can go to our WEBSITEEE!!!
Aaand...then they can't remember what their website is. Just google it! :)

Love how they announce the winners of their album. Thanks for the interview guys! You're hilarious! Making more fans every time you're on air. :)

Libera Interviews on Singapore Radio & TV

Libera has arrived in Singapore! Kavana, Barney & Jude did an interview on 92.4FM Radio. Thanks to the awesome Jimmy Riddle for putting it on SoundCloud! You can listen to it here. 

First, Kavana is really becoming the leader, isn't he? His speaking voice was always low, but it sounds even lower now. Barney is charming, and Jude comes up with some really funny lines. And are they calling their football "soccer" now? I thought only Americans called it that.

Anyway, we find out that they'll be singing some "new" old songs like Dies Irae and Orinoco Flow. And the bigger boys have left and their parts are being taken over by the younger boys! So that tour member list is really it! Oh, wow! There's a shocker!

So this means that the older boys have left Libera, and the younger ones are taking over their parts. We sure are going to miss Josh, Jonathan, Sam, Alex, Liam, and Ben. Not sure who else has left, but I'm guessing that's why it was OK for the older boys to do the Loose Moose videos now.

Thank you to them for all the beautiful songs you have sung and the time you have spent contributing to Libera in your own special way. We love you and will miss you! :')

Libera also did a really cute interview on a Singapore TV show called AM Live. They interviewed Kavana(13), Cassius (10), Ralph (13) and Isaac (9). You can watch it here.

Ralph's voice is lower now, too, and Isaac has this really cute, high voice! :D We find out that they all started in Libera when they were 7, and Stefan is now the oldest member at 14! The other boys stayed back in England due to school exams. I know how they feel. :(

I like that Isaac made sure to tell all the girls that he' in a boy band. lol That kid cracks me up! Cassius admits that he doesn't get nervous during concerts, cause without his glasses he can't even see the audience. Ralph says his legs shake when he sings. Aw, Ralph, don't be nervous. You always do such a great job!

Isaac is getting his first solo on this tour!!! Yay!!!

And wait for it... they do a little impromptu rap song at the end! Great interview, boys! Can't wait to hear how your shows go!

This is the words for the radio show. Sorry I don't have time to do the TV show now. It's late & I have to go to sleep.

Announcer: The marvelous, angelic voices of Libera. Well, as you know from our promotion last week, Libera is going to be in Singapore to sing for us on the 6th and 7th of April at the Esplanade Theatre. And it's going to be at 8pm. And we're very excited this morning because three of the boys from Libera are in the studio with us this morning. Welcome all of you! On my right is Kavana Crossley.

Kavana: Hello

Man: And that's Barney.

Barney: Hi.

Man: And that's Jude.

Jude: Yay!

Man: Welcome, boys, welcome. You know boys, how does it feel like to be part of a famous boys choir?

Barney: Well, we get to travel all around the world, like we're here at the moment. And we only arrived yesterday, so we're still a bit jet-lagged. But it's amazing that we get to go all over the world and see amazing places.

Kavana: It's like the perfect experience really for something for us to do.

Barney: For some of us who want to travel.

Kavana: Cause we all love singing, and to put it to this extent, it's just really amazing.

Man: Right. Jude, how do you feel about it?

Jude: Uh, I basically feel like what Barney said. I like traveling around the world and meeting loads of different people and singing for them as well.

Man: Mmm, OK. Do you boys live like so-called normal lives, like you know you go to school, you play with friends, and play soccer or something like that? Or do you just spend you days in limousines eating foie gras and caviar?

Kavana: Well that's an odd sight question. We don't even know what foie gras is, I'm sure.

Man: Oh, that's great. You'll learn soon enough.

Kavana: Soon enough.

Barney: We're not all like rich snobs. We're like any other person, it's just like putting your hobby, making it come first. We go to school as normal things. We all do sports stuff, so we're not just singers, we're not like, um, like singing is what we do, but we can also do loads of other things. So it's not just singing.

Kavana: We all have different interests obviously. We all play sport, like Barney plays rugby and stuff.

Man: You play rugby?!

Barney: Yeah.

Man: What about you?

Kavana: I play soccer.

Man: And you?

Jude: Soccer.

Man: Soccer as well?

Kavana: So it's all good, cause really we enjoy the fact that some people think we must be stopped in the street and stuff. But, no. It's just a really good experience.

Man: Let me ask you about that. Do you get stopped in the street?

Jude: No. We get mostly ignored.

Barney: Yeah, it's just a bunch of schoolboys.

Jude: It's just a bunch of schoolboys. Why would we worry about them?

Kavana: But, it's good, because obviously we love singing, and to know that we've got so much support like in so many countries, and also our own families support. It just really helps you when you when you get free ?

Woman: Do you have to practice very hard for your concerts?

Barney: Um, yeah, we have really long Saturday rehearsals which, they're fun but they're tiresome. But it all completely pays off.

Woman: So what is a typical Saturday like? What time do you start?

Barney: About 2:45 to about 7:00.

Jude: About mid-day to

Kavana: Exact times.

Jude: And we finish at early evening.

Kavana: We have a lot of breaks.

Woman: In between the breaks what do you do?

Kavana: We sing!

Man: Even during your breaks?

Kavana: Well, obviously we have to prepare for these things. We can't just go halfway across the world and give a show that's not very good. But we wouldn't call it rehearsals like you'd think - oh, they must be standing up for so long. Cause we all enjoy it. We wouldn't mind singing for 7 hours, because we just love singing.

Man: Mmm. That's right. OK. So besides the traveling, does it tire you out to travel? No? Do you get excited on the plane, like where am I going to land this time round?

Jude: I get excited if there's a crash landing.

Kavana: On the plane.

Man: I hope that doesn't happen!

Barney: There's a massive buzz that you get, not just traveling and getting to go all around the world. But before you go on stage, you feel amazing, cause you're like, oh there's thousands of people waiting.

Kavana: The excitement.

Man: You don't get nervous, do you?

Kavana: Well, some of us do. I mean, some of the boys it's their first concert's way. But it's like their thinking through it, and they always do fine. And after that, you're always looking forward to shows. You're looking forward to making people happy with what you sing, and it's really good.

Man: Last year you went to the Philippines, and they gave you a standing ovation. I read about that. How did that feel? I mean, you know, after singing for people and they show their appreciation in that way, it makes you feel really, really good.

Kavana: Really good.

Jude: And it makes us feel like we can do this again any time, because they've given us loads of support.

Kavana: All the hard work has paid off immediately. I mean, it's just that, aaah, you know, like they enjoy it, and so you're really happy for them, and you're happy that you've given a good performance as well.

Man: So are any of you thinking of a singing career, you know like you start from here, and then when you go on you become, you know, soloists in your own right.

Jude: Yeah, um, because music's a bit of our thing. It's something we're probably all going to do extremely well with.

Man: You've got a good start.

Kavana: It puts us in the right step forward. It shows you, oh well, his music, media, stuff like this is really good. And it obviously will put your career in obviously the musical path. If you enjoy this so much, then why not continue it for the rest of your life?

Man: Right.

Kavana: I think it's what most of us will do.

Man: Right. And you guys, obviously you listen to pop music as well, I hope.

Barney: Yeah, we also have different tastes in music.

Man: Oh, really?!

Barney: We all love what we're singing as well.

Kavana: We love classical music as well.

Man: Is that your favorite music?

Judy: When you join Libera, you suddenly have a taste for classical music, because then you get to see and get excited to hear all the different instruments.

Kavana: In England, we travel around and sing in many churches, and obviously they have different classical music for us to sing. And it's good, cause not only do you get to like pop music, but there's also another side of music which is completely different. And it's good to just get the range.

Man: Right. So what would be some of the music that's on your iPod right now?

Barney: We all have completely different tastes.

Kavana: Completely different music.

Man: Let's talk about Kavana's choice.

Kavana: Um, I listen to a lot of pop music. Rock music as well. I quite like that. There's so many different answers, I couldn't go through them right now.

Man: Right. What about you, Barney?

Barney: I'm quite into solo artists, so I like people like Adele or lots of different styles of music, so I don't really mind. I have such a different range of music on my iPod.

Man: And Jude?

Jude: Ah, I mostly have rock and solo careers like Adele and all that. But I also listen to rock like some people like Muse and Coldplay.

Man: Oh, really? Coldplay. I like Coldplay.

Kavana: We all love Coldplay.

Man: So how are you guys going to approach this concert in Singapore? What are you going to do on stage? We're all very excited about your 2 performances here, so you've got to give us a little taste of what's going to happen on stage.

Barney: Well, we've all got announcements, so it will be about introducing ourselves, and so we'll be telling everyone about where we're from, just about Libera as a choir.

Kavana: We call it "the full monty," cause there's lighting.

Man: The full monty.

Kavana: The full monty, cause there's lighting, stage positions, and it's just really exciting.

Man: Is there choreography going on?

Barney: Yes.

Kavana: It's really, really good to see as well as hear. So we do recommend that you come.

Jude: We also have instruments. We have clarinets. We have a drummer. And we also have a mini type of orchestra.

Kavana: It just adds to the whole experience really. So we do recommend that you come along, anyone who's listening.

Woman: What's your favorite part of the concert?

Jude: And bring a recorder.

Man: Bring a recorder?

Kavana: A recorder.

Jude: You know, that you record with. Electronic.

Man: I don't think you're aloud to do that. With a video camera. With a hand phone. Someone would post it on YouTube making it viral.

Woman: So what's your favorite part of the concert that you've prepared for the audience?

Barney: We've got lots of new songs coming up. One's that we haven't sung in a while.

Kavana: So you've got that to look forward to. Dies Irie.

Barney: Yeah, we've got Dies Irae, Orinoco Flow. So lots of old ones, but we've kind of changed them quite a lot now. We've got younger boys singing the different parts. As we used to have lots of people who are now senior, who are quite like 18, 17 now. And so slowly the mini boys are starting to take over their role and becoming professionals.

Kavana: Different view on things.

Man: Well, we're looking forward to it, really.

Kavana: So are we.

Man: The boys from Libera. That's Kavana, Barney and Jude Collins. In case you don't know already, Libera's going to be singing at the Esplanade Theatre on the 6th and 7th of April at 8 nightly. And it's going to be at the Esplanade Theatre. You can get your tickets from Sistic. Call this number - 6348-5555. Angel Voices, Libera In Concert. Boys, thank you so much. All the best.

Libera on BBC Radio2

Left to right - Barney, Stefan, Ralph, Kavana, Josh, Jakob, Eoghan, Alex,

Matthew R-A, Cassius, Daniel, Jude, Luke, Matthew J, Chris Evans

UPDATE:

Jimmy Riddle has uploaded the highlights to YouTube! Thank you, Jimmy! They sing parts of "In Dulci Jubilo," "Once In Royal David's City," "Winter Wonderland," "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "Away In A Manger!" And it's all live!!! Really great! And I love their roll call when Chris Evans calls out their names. Stefan says, "Bonjour!" Barney says, "Voila!" Eoghan says, "Oui, oui, oui!" Shout-out to the French fans! Or French students like yours truly. :) And Ralph cracks Chris up with a "Tis I is here!" :D



December 21, 2011

Kavana Crossley tweeted today that Libera is scheduled to be on "The Chris Evans Breakfast Show" on BBC Radio2 on Thursday, 22nd December from 6:30 - 9:30 am London time. (That's 12:30 - 3:30 am Chicago time.) If you would like to listen to the show, click here. In the upper right corner click on the "Listen" button to hear the show live. I wonder if it will be Barney, Kavana and Cassius again. They've been doing a lot of great interviews this Christmas. :D

Libera Interviewed on Classic FM

Cassius, Barney and Kavana were interviewed on Classic FM radio in the UK. Thank you to Michael for posting it on YouTube! To listen to or download the Podcast, click here.

In this interview we find out Cassius is amazed at how much he's done for only a 10-year-old. Barney finds their faces on the cover of the album to be quite amazing - "looking good as usual." lol It was weird to record a Christmas album in the heat of summer, but they put up Christmas decorations to get into a Christmasy spirit. They never went to a snowy forest to take the album cover picture. Barney is going to his grandma's for Christmas to have turkey by the fire. He and Kavana don't like brussel sprouts, but Cassius does! lol And when they filmed the video of "Still, Still, Still" for Songs of Praise, they also filmed "How Shall I Sing That Majesty!" Yaaaaay!!!!!!!!!

If you'd like to translate the interview, it is typed below. :D

Lucy Coward (Interviewer): Today at Classic FM I'm delighted to welcome Kavana, Barney and Cassius from Libera. Thanks so much, guys, for popping in to have a chat with us about your new album and what is a particularly busy time of year for you. We'll come on to the album in just a second, but first of all, I know that you've already done a performance in conjunction with the release of the album. Why do you guys like performing at Christmas time particularly first of all.

Barney: Well, it's really exciting being in these huge cathedrals singing songs that go extremely high, and the harmonies are amazing, so it gives you that kind of classic Christmasy feeling.

Lucy: And what about you? I mean the repertoire that you've included in the concert, it's not all Christmas music, is it?

Kavana: I know some of them are um classical pieces but like 'Sanctus" which is the um, what's it, what's it...

Cassius: What we're mostly known for, like what we became famous for. Then we have like our sort of theme tune which is well, called "Libera."

Kavana: I mean, in our concert we have like alot of like Christmas carols like "White Christmas" we do at the end which is quite a nice thing cause we get to hear all the harmonies. I think what we enjoy most about performing at Christmastime is you get to see the other side of music. I mean, it's a happy time of year, and there's no sad, depressing songs. It's just a great way to sing joyfully.

Barney: Cause you're not in the audience thinking, "Wow, they're amazing. You're up there doing something that you love with your family watching and loads of people supporting you.

Cassius: And you're only like, like I'm only 10, and I'm doing all this amazing stuff. And I started when I was 7, so I've been doing it for 3 years, but I've gotten lots of exciting experiences.

Lucy: And so it's a real time of celebration regardless, I suppose, of it being Christmas or not. So let's talk a bit about the album, The Christmas Album. What kind of stuff is included on it? What could people look forward to?

Barney: Well, our amazing faces are on the front. Yep, looking good as usual.

Cassius: Hopefully.

Barney: Also, we have our favorite songs which we've decided my one is "The First Noel."

Kavana: My one is "O Holy Night" which we did a promo shoot earlier.

Cassius: Mine's "Carol of the Bells" cause it's bouncy.

Lucy: So there's lots of typical tunes that people will recognize?

Barney: Yeah, like very famous pieces.

Kavana: Yeah, there's the "Coventry Carol," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." I mean, cause it's our first Christmas album.

Barney: And "White Christmas."

Kavana: And "White Christmas." And so it's just a great thing you can play in the background on Christmas Day.

Lucy: But you didn't record it recently. You recorded it in the Summertime.

Kavana: Actually that's funny because we recorded it while the sun was still shining. There was no snow, and after we'd have breaks and run around in the sun while we were performing Christmas songs.

Cassius: I like on the album it's got like a forest of snow, and we're in the middle of Summer.

Barney: We didn't go to any forests.

Kavana: No, that would've been fun, though.

Cassius: And I don't get when we took the photo there was massive bright lights behind us, and I thought it was sun, Summer, and like all that.

Barney: It's got, it made an atmosphere.

Cassius: And then you see the picture of you with all Christmas stuff, and you think, "What the...?"

Barney: Where'd that come from?

Lucy: But you understand now, and it really works, and it's brilliant.

Kavana: It was a good atmosphere in the studio as well. We tried putting up little Christmas decorations to get into the mood. Well like some of the instruments, when we were listening over them, like the little bells and stuff, it like puts you in a Christmasy mood.

Lucy: So you're well-prepared. What are you guys looking forward to most about Christmas this year? Are you spending it with your families?

Barney: Well I'm having a real family Christmas. I'm going up to see my grandma, so we'll be like by the fire, turkey...turkey. That's good stuff.

Kavana: No brussel sprouts.

Barney: No brussel sprouts.

Cassius: I like brussel sprouts.

Barney: Yeah, so it'll be a really kind of classic, family Christmas round the fire.

Lucy: And is that important to you guys as well?

Cassius: Well mostly I hope it snows.

Barney: Yep, snowball fights, sledging.

Cassius: Snowball forts.

Kavana: Igloos. Well, sort of igloos.

Cassius: Snowballs with holes in them.

Barney: Yes, driving to my grandma's. Should be fun.

Lucy: And looking ahead post-Christmas, what have you got planned? What's coming up for you in the new year?

Barney: Um, we always have a party in the new year. As peers we meet up and we boogie.

Kavana: We jam. But I guess we've got all these little things, like today we're doing this now. It's just so unexpected, but we get so many brilliant opportunities to participate in, at such this age, it's just wonderful.

Cassius: Especially as it's Christmas.

Barney: We recently recorded "How Shall I Sing That Majesty" and "Still, Still, Still." "Still, Still, Still" is quite a new one, and um so that's going on Songs of Praise quite soon, so hopefully that will help promote our album.

Lucy: Brilliant. Well come in and talk to me again next year. And I wish you a very merry Christmas in the mean time.

Boys: Thank you! You, too!