Match Made In Heaven

Match Made In Heaven

Fr Chris Skinner and Janice Bateman release “Reason to Believe"

In what started out as a series of coincides has sprung one of the most beautiful albums of 2013.

Much-loved man of the cloth, “pop star priest” Father Chris Skinner has teamed up with Christchurch-based soprano Janice Bateman who’s 2011 debut album ‘Here I Am’ knocked Justin Bieber out of a chart position he’d held for 10 weeks.

Reason to Believe – in stores in time for Christmas – is a beautiful album of duets and solos, including timeless classics such as Flying Without Wings, Bridge over Troubled Water, Smile, In the Arms of an Angel, Amazing Grace and Sailing.

The album, distributed by Universal Music came together almost via divine intervention!

It began in New York in April 2011. Brian Martin from Hawkes Bay awoke in the early hours and remembered that the Breakers had played the final of the Trans-Tasman NBL basketball championship. Interested in knowing the outcome, through the internet he tuned into NZ radio for the final score. While waiting to hear, he listened to Jim Sutton reviewing the first album of artist Janice Bateman. Brian thought that her voice came through with such quality and clarity that he was inspired to send her an email. That was the beginning of ‘Reason to Believe’.

Matching Janice and Fr Chris together to record an album was easy!

The album title "Reason to Believe" seemed just right to give the range of layers of meaning. Reason to believe; in each other, in life, in love, in hope, in God and in all things positive.

Janice Bateman
Christchurch singer Janice Bateman’s debut Album “Here I am” rose quickly to number 5 on the NZ charts and won immediate acclaim. In the first week, while Janice’s album climbed the charts to number 13 she subsequently knocked Justin Biebers album off the number 13 spot down to number 16, this attracted very special interest at the time in the NZ charts. She was voted the Female Artist of the Year at the Variety Artists of New Zealand awards. Her album ‘Here I am’ was a huge success and was reviewed with comments such as “This album is remarkable, it covers the range of beautiful time-honoured emotions, presented in a simply heart warming way”. “Every track shows Janice Bateman to be a singer who weaves the colours and stories of the song, into a magic result”. “A sweeter, much more palatable alternative to Susan Boyle – and she’s one of ours” “New Zealand has a real gem here”! “Her album shows savvy musical appreciation”

Fr Chris Skinner
Chris is a Marist priest who trained at the Mission Greenmeadows from 1978-85. He began writing his own songs from the age of 16 and recorded his first album in 1990. On average he has produced an album every two years since then and sees his music as an integral part of his priesthood. During that time, he has received many comments about the way his music has touched people’s lives. He is perhaps best known for his version of ‘You raise me up’ and his moving tribute to the Anzacs, ‘Sons of Gallipoli’ which has become a standard for many commemorations on Anzac Day throughout New Zealand. In 2012 he opened for Carole King and Barry Gibb at the Mission Concert which is one of his singing highlights. Chris is an accomplished song writer and he is thrilled that two of his own compositions form part of this album.

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