Times Like These: How young voices got heard despite COVID

Young people from Neath Port Talbot are starring in a new video of their inspirational cover version of Times Like These by American rock band Foo Fighters.

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Youth Service, in partnership with the dynamic, Neath based contemporary choral project Valley Rock Voices, set up a youth choir prior to the coronavirus pandemic but the lockdown delayed its progress.

However, the pilot initiative eventually took off using virtual meeting platform Microsoft Teams.

Subsequently, young people from Pontardawe’s Cwmtawe Community School – working with the council’s Youth Service during the lockdown – joined up to the youth choir with teacher Dan Lear co-ordinating the online meetings with all concerned. There was further support from youth practitioner Joanne Fisher.

The stirring Times Like These video is a result of their many hours of collaboration. Although the moving song was released in 2003, its message resonates strongly with our experience of the health pandemic and lockdown.

Corinne Fry, Senior Youth and Community Officer with the Neath Port Talbot Youth Service, said: “The rationale for the initiative was to provide young people with the chance to learn something new, have fun and improve their wellbeing.

“This became even more apparent during lockdown when young people were isolated from such opportunities and their peers. Their talent is evident throughout this video and the message is poignant – something I‘m sure all who view it will agree on.”  

Valley Rock Voices or VRV as the choir has become affectionately known, was born just three years ago by Musical Director Cerys Bevan, and has since grown to have more than 200 members.

VRV provides an explosive ground breaking wall of sound and belts out the most popular foot tapping, tunes from the past few decades including everything from The Bee Gees to Primal Scream and Stormzy to Coldplay.

The video creation was also supported by VRV’s Sam Bevan, their videographer/editor.

(Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council)

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