Welsh singer-songwriter Rob Westall has written and recorded a special Easter show for the BBC with a little help from his family and friends.
‘An Easter Meditation’ which airs this Easter Sunday April 5th at 8am on BBC Radio Wales, features some of his previously unreleased songs, scriptures, poetry, interviews and reflections on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Rob, who lives in Abergavenny, is a Christian recording artist whose songs are sung at churches across the UK and beyond.
He teamed up with Welsh-Bafta nominated producer Gary White, to arrange the 10 songs, including some well-known hymns, that feature in the programme.
Sibblings Kate and Rob Westall recording at the Dylan Thomas Drama Studio at BBC Radio Wales in Cardiff.
Two of the songs ‘Lord of all’ and ‘I surrender’ have been written for Rob’s next album which is currently being recorded.
He also formed a 15-member congregation of people who attend local churches including members of Gateway and Cornerstone Churches in Abergavenny, Elevate in Blaenau Gwent, Capel Ed in Goytre and Hereford.
Rehearsals were held at Squeezing Cafe in Abergavenny town centre and Abergavenny Town Football Club ahead of the recording at the BBC Studios in Cardiff.
Rob’s sister, Kate, is also an artist herself and has sung with the likes of Ellie Goulding, Elbow, Seal, Goldie, Laura Mvula, Lewis Capaldi, Trevor Horn & U2. In the programme, she reflects on her trip to Israel and Palestine which prompted her to write a beautiful song called ‘Songbird’ with her husband Harry Tarlton.
His father, Frank, a published poet also shares some spoken word pieces which follows the Easter story.
Rob also interviews Maryna Korolova from Ukraine who tells him how she gave birth to her daughter in a bomb shelter during a Russian air raid in Lviv. She fled the war and came to Abergavenny and with just £40 bought a small juicer, initially opening an orange juice stall in the market. She has now grown the business and runs the Squeezing Café in High Street as well as a charity which provides humanitarian support for people in her homeland.
“We explore the theme of hope throughout the programme,” said Rob.
“The hope that Maryna, myself and so many others around this world celebrate this Easter despite their circumstances.
“It’s amazing how the congregation came together organically and that so many people involved love to sing but don’t get the opportunity to do so. I always say it’ ‘one team one kingdom,’ so it was nice to have people from lots of different churches involved.
“It’s been wonderful to connect with so many different people throughout the course of this project and I can’t wait for people to hear the programme.”
An Easter Meditation airs at 8am on Easter Sunday April 5th on BBC Radio Wales and will be available on the link below and BBC Sounds App afterwards.