Songs from The Inside - Series Three, Episode One

Television (Full Length Episode) – 2015

This acclaimed Māori Television series saw Kiwi musicians teaching bars behind bars — working with prisoners to compose and record songs, drawn from their life experiences. In this opening episode from the third season, Anika Moa, Ladi6, Scribe and Troy Kingi head to Christchurch’s men’s and women’s prisons. For Moa, Ladi6 and Scribe, Christchurch is their "music whakapapa". For Scribe it is a reminder of earthquake tragedy. The jail itself revives memories of childhood visits to his father (an upbringing which the two explored in 2015 play The White Guitar).

They had to fight their own demons to be part of this. They had to overcome years of distrust and self-loathing. They had to be willing to face public judgement again. But some of the best songs you will ever hear in your life may be hidden behind bars.
– Anika Moa