It doesn't matter if you're black or white.
Nor does it matter if you're you're a singer or an MC, as Luke Kennedy and Joel Turner prove in their brand new show, 'Smooth Criminals'.
The Brisbane boys have set their ostensible stylistic differences aside to pay tribute to one of their musical idols, the late Michael Jackson. Luke has performed as one of The Ten Tenors and was runner-up on Season 2 of 'The Voice', while Joel is one of our best beatboxers, winning an ARIA for his 2004 track, 'These Kids'.
The unlikely pair will perform some of Michael Jackson's greatest hits, with Luke singing and all accompaniment provided by Joel's beatboxing prowess.
Luke Kennedy
How did you two come to work with one another?Joel and I met through a mutual friend, and pretty quickly realised that we both had a love for Michael Jackson’s music. We both performed MJ songs in our own shows separately in the past, so the idea to do something together seemed like a natural fit.
What inspired this tribute to Michael Jackson?
A lifetime of admiring his music, I guess. MJ was the first artist I ever truly loved. When I was a kid I was obsessed with everything he’d ever released. I had all of his records, a bunch of Jackson 5 Best Ofs, and a couple of unauthorised live recordings thanks to the Crazy Clarks bargain bin.
What do each of you bring to the 'Smooth Criminals' show?
I have to admit that Joel does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the music. He’s creating almost the entire music bed with his voice, then I get to wail over the top.I guess apart from the singing, I bring a lot of knowledge about Michael Jackson, the man behind the music, who he was growing up, and his unusual and remarkable life as an adult.
What impact did the music of MJ have in terms of the performers you are today?
Listening to Michael taught me that you shouldn’t sing anything unless you truly mean what you’re singing about. MJ did that innately when he was a kid, and that’s what made him remarkable at a young age. I don’t think anyone could deny that you could always hear the passion in his voice, no matter what he was singing about. He lived and breathed it, and that’s what I try and do each time I step up to the mic.
You two are very different performers: one a crooner and the other a beatboxer/ MC. What sort of challenges did you face in combining your respective talents?
I felt like the first few times that Joel and I got together and jammed, we were sort of learning the musical language we could best use to communicate. It’s obviously very different talking to a beatboxer, than to a concert pianist. Thankfully Joel has incredible feel, and natural ability, and he forgives my AWFUL beatboxing whenever I try to explain something. PS. I’ve got a lot more gears than “crooner” ;-)
Will the songs be faithful covers of the originals, or will you guys be making your own special twists on them?
It’s a little from Column A, a little from Column B. We are not trying to emulate Michael’s records, because I think that’s an unrealistic target, and we could never do it justice. That said, some of the show will be truer to the feel of MJ’s records, and some will be completely different. We are letting the story arc of the show dictate how the song should be performed, rather than just putting together a ‘Best Of’ type show.
Luke, you can sing Michael Jackson, but can you dance like Michael Jackson?
Hahahahahahahahahahaha. Hell no! No one wants to see that. (Secretly, I wish I could say “hell yes!")
If you could say one thing to Michael Jackson today, what would it be?
I guess I would just try to express to him how admired and missed he is. Writing this show has been bitter/ sweet as I think we missed out on a lot of great music from Michael over the years for a wide variety of reasons. I’d also tell him that I hope we do justice to his music and his legacy (and that he should come to our show).
Joel Turner
What do each of you bring to the 'Smooth Criminals' show?Luke is an amazing, well-rounded singer and knows Michael's work back to front, and has had many ideas for the show. I like to mix it up on the beats and bring a different take on the grooves of MJ, so that it creates that traditional MJ sound with a new feel.
What impact did the music of MJ have in terms of the performers you are today?
Michael showed us what is achievable if you work hard. And I've learnt from his music that you gotta have tight grooves, just listen his album 'Dangerous', which really set the bar and influenced lot of music that is out today.
You two are very different performers, one a crooner and the other a beatboxer/MC. What sort of challenges did you face in combining your respective talents?
Music is a universal language; there wasn't much challenge at all if any. Most importantly, we found a common ground in our love for Michael Jackson’s music, something that nearly everyone can relate to.
Will the songs be faithful covers of the originals, or will you guys be making your own special twists on them?
We’ll be doing our own take on the songs. It would be impossible to emulate Michael as he was a one of a kind artist. Instead we've attacked it as musicians coming together to celebrate the awesome songs and the message behind his music. Joel, this show marks your return to live performance.
What have you been up to for the past few years?
Although it has not been heavily publicised in the media, I have remained active as a live artist performing around Australia and overseas doing my own sets and also opening for the likes of Xzibit, Pubic Enemy, D12, De La Soul. I have also spent a lot of time teaching beatbox workshops in disadvantaged communities, for youth in residential care.
If you could say one thing to Michael Jackson today, what would it be?
Thank you for blessing the world with entertainment, and thank you for showing me all of the weird and wonderful noises that can be made with the mouth.
'Smooth Criminals' plays at the Brisbane Powerhouse 4 December.
