What do you get when you cross outer-space eccentricity with outstanding musical talent? It’s the new show zooming into Malta later this month. Jo Caruana discovers Voca People.
It’s hard to know what to expect from the man who dreamt up the zany aliens-meet-music mix that is Voca People. Could he be crazy? I wonder… Or outrageously unconventional at the very least? Possibly, but if he is, Lior Kalfo hides it well, instead coming across as a down-to-earth actor, creator and dad-of-two from Israel who just really loves good music.
Each of the performers is considered to be among the best in their fields- Jo Caruana
“I’d wanted to create a mixed a capella and beat box show for a long time,” says Kalfo, who came up with the idea for the show. “And I knew it wanted it to be amazing.”
And come up with a winning concept he did, as Voca People has been touring internationally since 2009, securing huge numbers of fans along the way.
After all, the idea is appealing across the board, combining amazing vocal sounds and a cappella singing, with the art of modern beat box to imitate the sounds of drums, trumpets, guitars, other instruments and musical effects.
Award-winning actor Kalfo, who created the show alongside musical director Shai Fishman, notes how there isn’t a single musical instrument to be found, but there is plenty of comedy.
“I believe that’s what sets Voca apart, as there are some great a cappella shows out there. I think what makes us so unique is the distinctive combination of music and comedy, interspersed with some audience participation to really keep things interesting.”
Fishman and Kalfo came up with a storyline for Voca People and created alien characters to go in it. The story goes that, after a millennium of travelling through space, the Voca People find their way to earth. They sadly discover that their spaceship battery, which is charged by music, is completely depleted. Now they need the help of the audience to get it going again.
“We were sitting in the studio discussing ideas when, all of a sudden, we heard a huge bang and saw that a spaceship has crashed nearby,” says Kalfo with a grin. “You can imagine our shock when eight, white aliens walked out and impressed us with their musical talents.”
Kalfo says that that was the moment he and Fishman decided to create a show ‘from another world’, giving an outsider’s view of our planet’s music with unique arrangements of over 70 well-known hits, beloved melodies and popular themes. It was an instant online hit, with a clip of the show going viral and securing some six million views within just four months.
“The show is bursting with love and music, and I think audiences enjoy how innocent and egoless it is. Music and great harmonies are its stars, and the focus is completely on the way music can be an incredible form of communication – even between humans and aliens.”
The performance team within Voca seem to have a musical language of their own, which they use to preserve and accentuate the original arrangements and well-known musical riffs of popular songs.
The Voca People are actually a talented ensemble of eight musician-actors – three females who bring the very best alto, mezzo and soprano voices to the stage, three males with bass, baritone and tenor voices respectively, and two beat-box artists. Each of the performers is considered to be among the best in their fields. Meanwhile, Shai’s arrangements are also very particular, incorporating fantastic songs from Michael Jackson, Madonna and Queen, and well as Beethoven and Mozart. And the team must be doing something right, because they’ve already wowed some 500,000 people worldwide, appearing at venues including the Bobino in Paris and the Westside Theatre and New World Stages in New York.
Next up they’ll be touring San Francisco, Estonia, Finland and Switzerland.
“Audiences react almost hysterically,” says Kalfo, who previously created one of Israel’s most popular comedy shows to-date, The Comedy Store, and currently stars in Ramzor, which recently won an Emmy for Best Comedy Series.
“It’s as if Michael Jackson has just appeared on stage; they scream, shouts and applaud. It’s great fun.”
Thankfully, it had no trouble translating its message for international audiences and has been evenly received from Brazil to Italy and Mexico to the US.
It also seems to transcend ages, and Kalfo loves to watch grandparents enjoying the show along side their grandchildren in equal measure.
“I suppose it gives them the chance to rediscover their inner child for an hour-and-a-half – and who wouldn’t want that?”
Now the Voca People are looking forward to bringing their celebrated act to Malta.
“They’ve heard you have great beaches and cheerful people, although they’re going to have to stay out of the sun because they are far too white,” adds Kalfo with a grin.
“They’ve also had a listen to your traditional music and are completely intrigued by the għana. I think it’s going to be a good show.”
The Voca People will be at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali, on May 18 and 19 at 8.45 p.m. Tickets are available online via www.showsmalta.com or by calling 7983 5410 or 2144 1604.