- By Carlos Norton, AUT Journalism Student
Musicians highlighted the power of family while performing their original songs at The Bridge concert at Uxbridge Arts and Culture.
The show, subtitled Wilde and Wilda, featured father-daughter duo Jesse and Faith Wilde, and the siblings Mema Wilda and Levi Lights On, aka Michael Levin Sesega.
Placing a spotlight on these family artists was east Auckland’s Brightside Productions, in a collaboration project with Uxbridge, in Howick, on August 25.
Featuring an evening of authentic country, folk and alternative music, 60 per cent of the ticket sales was donated to charity Music Helps, which uplifts Kiwi music artists facing life and financial struggles.
In between performances, experienced singer-songwriter and producer Jesse Wilde offered words of advice to young artists.
“If you have the choice to become a musician, don’t,” he said.
“But if you have no choice, if it [music] burns in your soul like it does for me, then just get courageous, write some songs, be real, and get out there and perform them.”
Jesse and Faith are originally from Half Moon Bay and performed various tracks from their respective discographies, with well-known drummer Earl Robertson, and enabling Faith a rare chance to showcase her own music live.
While on a music-oriented trip to the United States last year, Faith explained that she had a spur-of-the-moment opportunity to sing with American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan at a festival she was attending.
Being pulled out of the audience, she was able to perform Kahan’s song Dial Drunk with him.
Gushing about the once-in-a-lifetime event, Faith noted how the performance has become a large driving force behind her music.
“Seeing 30,000-odd people in the audience singing along made me realise this is what I want in my life.”
While Jesse and Faith Wilde provided authentic and passionate country and folk numbers, The Bridge audience also fully appreciated the acoustic and stripped-back performances by Mema Wilda and Levi Lights On.
When asked what drove Samoan singer-songwriter Mema to start writing music, she simply said: “Why not?”
Her sound, which compares to the talents of musical group Boygenius and Sinead O’Connor, was enhanced even further by her brother Levi.
The Uxbridge Theatre crowd described the duo’s harmonies as “breathtaking” as they played their original compositions.
When asked how it feels to work with his sister, Levi compared it to nothing else.
“It’s really enjoyable because we have that struggle and history that we share, it just makes performing that much easier,” he said.
A similar sentiment was shared between Jesse and Faith when asked the same question.
“Performing music with Faith? Well, I couldn’t ask for anything better. I just feel blessed,” Jesse said.
The next edition of The Bridge is scheduled for November with a new line-up of music artists worth listening to.
