The enthusiasm of the children was huge, “All of the students got so attached to the whole thing, really getting emotionally involved.”
The majority of track was recorded at The Water Tower by The Wild Oats, with Rob and Jim Homes from Jackson Analogue.
To record the vocals, the St George’s school hall was converted to a recording studio, with Spike playing his guitar and the children singing along.
When you have a listen to the single (below) you’ll hear the enthusiastic tones of 120 students from St George’s about about 30 staff.
Alongside the singing, the children were also signing the lyrics of the song in Makaton – a gesture based sign language (find out more about Makaton) – that Spike tells us turned the performance into “a kind of dance.”
While the recording was going on, photographs were being taken, and there are lots of lovely touches like where the children can be heard to be saying “Cheers!” when they’re being snapped (2:18 in).
Spike detailed just how inclusive it was, “Everyone at the school wanted to contribute. When you buy the single, you’ll also get to admire the cover artwork of 16 year old Cam Snudden, who wasn’t able to sing on the track.”
The upside for those involved is obvious – knowing that they’ve made people lives a little better – but for Spike they go even further. When we walks around the school, the students see him as a rock star, asking him “How’s the fame?”
