Nile Rodgers hopes new version of hit Le Freak will create 100 new jobs for young people

Some members of the group have already been earmarked to work with Rudimental
Proud: Nile Rodgers, centre, with project participants, left to right, Rory Nelson, Nuala Bennett-Wilford, Nikhila Dega and Marcus Ebanks (Photo credit: Glenn Copus)
Miranda Byrant24 September 2014
The Weekender

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Musician and producer Nile Rodgers says he hopes to help 100 young people into employment by recording a new version of hit song Le Freak.

The Chic star personally selected the group, aged 16 to 24, from thousands of applicants across the UK to re-mix and re-release the classic track and put on a concert next month.

Rodgers said he is “insanely proud” of what the group has so far achieved. Some members have already been earmarked to work with Rudimental, who are also collaborating on the track.

The 1978 version of Le Freak, which initially included the words “f*** off” instead of “freak out”, was written in reaction to being told they could not enter New York club Studio 54, despite an invitation by singer Grace Jones.

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After they changed the words, it went on to be Atlantic Records’ best selling record ever. The new version is an initiative by O2’s GoThinkBig and Rodgers’ charity We Are Family Foundation.

The American, 62, said the idea was to give people the chance for the experience they need to get jobs. He told the Standard: “We’re going to create 100 jobs just by doing this. Once people have accreditation of being part of a real music project from beginning to end, you have a group who can go out and work. A domino effect, if you will.”

Participants will also be involved in performing the re-mix live with Chic, featuring Rodgers, at Indigo at the O2 on October 9. Nikhila Dega, 23, from Archway — who sings on the new version of Le Freak — said she felt privileged to be in the vocal booth with Rodgers.

“It’s a big thing,” she added. “Professional singers are dying to sing with Nile Rodgers and we got to do that.”

Rodgers won two Grammy awards for his No 1 hit Get Lucky, with Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams, which sold 9.3 million copies last year.

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