Songs From The Inside

Songs from the Inside follows New Zealand musicians Anika Moa, Warren Maxwell, Maisey Rika and Ruia Aperahama, who went into Rimutaka and Arohata correction facilities to teach songwriting to prisoners. Directed by Julian Arahanga (Once Were Warriors’ Nig Heke) the musicians taught 10 prisoners the step-by-step music programme developed by Evan Rhys Davies – a pilot programme he had tutored at Spring Hill Corrections Facility in the Waikato. In the final episode (episode 13)  the songs the prisoners wrote, sang and recorded is revealed. 

 

Music therapy is used in prisons throughout the world, but Songs from the Inside is the first production to bring in established musicians and record the workshops, challenges and outcomes on film.