Retief, Bala in tune on SA s hit films

The breakthrough 3D animation of Zambezia and now Khumba is set to make the movies the most successful animated films to come out of South Africa. They both topped box office sales in their first week of release. By Therese Owen

And, of course, with all films, particularly animated ones, the soundtrack is all-important. For both films, the production company, Triggerfish Animations, employed the services of composer Bruce Retief. He, in turn, employed Zwai Bala to work on the African choral and orchestral arrangements.

I was one of 12 applicants and I got the job, said Retief who is a former school teacher and self- taught arranger and producer.

For Zambezia the soundtrack needed to be African and what makes music sound African is the voices. Zwai is a master at vocal arrangements and singing.

Retief found Zwai on Facebook.

Bruce sent me a message on Facebook in October 2010 saying he needed my help on a movie about birds in Africa and that he needed help with the choirs, recalled Zwai.

to khumba music

Another scene from Khumba.

Triggerfish

I got back to him in 20 minutes. I flew down to Cape Town for what was just supposed to be a meeting. He played me the songs, but once you put me in that creative space I asked to record then and there and he agreed. When he sent me the tapes I sang all the voices myself because I know what I want and how to do it. Why should I hire someone else just to teach them choir lessons?

This experience also coincided with Zwai's studies for a masters certificate in orchestration for film and television at the Berkley School of Music. For Zambezia, Retief and Zwai flew to Los Angeles to record with a Hollywood orchestra.

I met some top contractors when I was out there, Zwai said.

It was a great experience to see them record. Like they don't just have one double bass, they have 15. I would have just imagined it otherwise.

For Khumba, however, Retief chose to record with an orchestra in Stellenbosch.

It was far cheaper and they were just as good, explained Retief.

The title track, The Real Me, is sung by Loyiso Bala and is set to be a big radio hit. However, the connection between the two Bala brothers was not the reason Retief asked Loyiso to do the vocals on the track.

I have a relationship with Loyiso through a live gospel concert on which I was the producer and he performed, explained Retief.

I also did some work on his previous album, Love Complete. I spoke to the producers and they gave the go-ahead. I think the track works really well.

The Khumba soundtrack is set for worldwide release which, Retief said, was positive for him and added to his achievements. Retief has an agent in the US who will get to work pushing him as a composer as soon as Khumba hits the circuit.

There are offers starting to come in from Europe through Zambezia, but Retief does admit they are slow.

In South Africa producers don't dedicate a lot of money to soundtracks in terms of budget, but I am hoping to be a pioneer in that, said Retief.

Bruce has done an even better job this time round, Zwai said.

In the meantime, Zwai is excited about one day writing his own music score: I can't wait to do my own full movie. This experience helped me more than just writing music. I can now score for a full symphony orchestra.

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