Pepperdine Welcomes Newton-John

november 2, 2017 The Graphic pepperdine-graphic.com B1B1 LIFE & ARTS Pepperdine welcomes Newton-John Photo Courtesy of Amy Sky Sing it Out | Olivia Newton-John, Amy Sky and Beth Nielson Chapman sing alongside each other on Oct. 26. The trio performed in Smothers Theatre as a part of their LIV ON tour. The LIV ON tour started in October and the trio is set to finish the tour in December this year. “LIV ON” Concert Award-winning singers perform at Pepperdine mary cate long “These girls became my sis- the first time for the women to time.” ing with stuff. And the way to staff writer ters in the making of this CD,” collaborate as a trio. The songs on the album es- deal with it is to find support Newton-John said during the “When I got the call to join sentially were the three artists’ and share your feelings with Smothers Theatre was full of concert. the project, I didn’t even have to way of processing their grief in empathetic and compassionate tearful eyes and sniffly noses as Grief was the initial force blink an eye to say yes,” Chap- a way they hoped would help people.” result of a unique concert ad- that brought the three singers man said during the concert. them personally and encourage The event was cathartic for dressing the issues of bereave- together and spurred collabora- The trio wrote the songs for others. Sky said they hoped the both the singers and listeners. ment and loss. tion. LIV ON in 2015 and 2016. The concert could be like a “spiritu- The words of the songs dove Award-winning singers Oliv- “It first started when Olivia’s women wrote seven of the 11 al book club” for the Pepperdine into the darkest parts of grief ia Newton-John, Amy Sky and sister Rona passed away, and songs on the CD during this community. and strove to capture the pain Beth Nielson Chapman per- Olivia asked me to help finish a time, while the other four songs Many of the songs written found there. When the singers formed at Pepperdine Universi- song with her for Rona’s memo- were previously recorded tracks for LIV ON addressed the issue opened the floor up to com- ty in Smothers Theatre on Oct. rial service,” Sky said. “When that they rerecorded as a group. of bereavement. Soon, however, ments from the audience, the 26 as a part of their LIV ON tour. the song went out to the family The writing of the album was Sky said that she realized the al- common theme of people’s re- The concert perfomed songs and friends, they loved it for the an organic and contemplative bum could relate to all sorts of ply was thanking the trio for off of the group’s collaborative service but they came back say- process. grief suffered by all sorts of peo- putting words to their grief and album, LIV ON, as well as fea- ing they wanted more.” “We had to schedule these ple. how the LIV ON album helped turing some of their individual Sky and Newton-John col- ‘writing boot camps,’ it was re- “Divorce, children of divorce, them deal with overwhelming hits. The trio will perform just laborated before and each sep- ally fun,” Sky said. “We would losing a job, the stuff that is emotions. one more concert in Lancast- arately worked with Chapman. get together, put on our paja- happening in this country that “How do you talk about the er before bringing the album’s However, when Sky and New- mas and pop a bowl of popcorn is weighing on people, times of unimaginable?” Sky said. “Well, tour to an end for the foresee- ton-John reached out to Chap- and the songs came out of the uncertainty, any kind of trau- sometimes you have to sing able future. man to join their project, it was discussions that we had at that ma,” Sky said. “Everyone is deal- about it.” [email protected] Olivia Newton-John amy sky beth nielson chapman Photos by Sam Petersen + + Photos by Kaelin Mendez.

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