Josh Wantie Releases the Theme Song ‘Voices’ for Animated Movie ‘Headspace’

They’re small, they’re blue and they’re here to save the world.

Local singer-songwriter Josh Wantie has teamed up with Gallo Music Publishers to compose the theme song Voices for the highly-anticipated animated movie Headspace. The single and film releases today, September 15th, along with the accompanying music video for Voices.

Voices serves as the title track for Headspace and is a testament to Wantie’s dream of contributing to an animated film. Wantie received a brief from Gallo Music Publishers in October 2021, outlining the concept of an alien-saving-the-world animation. Armed with only limited details and a rough trailer, Wantie embarked on the creative journey to craft the perfect song for the movie.

“I’ve always dreamt of writing a song for an animated film,” says Josh Wantie. “I got a brief from my publisher, Gallo Music Publishers, in October 2021 about an alien-saving-the-world animation. They could only give limited details, but a rough trailer helped send me in the right direction. I wrote Voices in a London flat during easing lockdowns. I sent a rough demo and, to be honest, forgot about it. A year later, I got the thrilling news that ‘Voices’ was chosen as the title track for Headspace. I then completed the track after seeing a rough cut of the film, which helped me word the lyrics for the second verse that was missing. I am immensely proud to be part of a South African film of this caliber. Voices is a fun coming-of-age track that follows Norman and friends saving the world, showing that teamwork conquers all, no matter how young or goofy you are.”

An incoming alien invasion will rock the country when the exciting new local animation feature, Headspace, is released at cinemas nationally on 15 September.

Co-directed by Paul Meyer and Gerhard Painter of Johannesburg’s Luma Animation (Shaka Ilembe, CGI &VFX and Kings of Joburg 2 CGi & VFX) and produced by The Ergo Company’s Dumi Gumbi (Mrs Right Guy, The Fragile King) and Catharina Weinek (Mrs Right Guy, Pou), Headspace is a universal story of becoming a hero against all odds.

This is the first sci-fi animation feature to be produced in the country and the filmmakers have gone the extra mile to create a cast of engaging characters, from Norman, the reluctant hero and feisty little alien Sophie to the delightfully devilish Zolthard. In searching for the right talent to voice these characters, Paul Meyer and Gerhard Painter cast a wide net.

“We chose some of South Africa’s very best voice artists and working with them was an amazing experience,” say Meyer and Painter. “It was exciting and very rewarding to watch them breathe life into the characters that we had lived with for so long.”

Lending their voices to the characters are Bonko Khoza (The Wife, The Woman King) as Norman, Zak Henrikz (7de Laan, An Act of Defiance) as Zolthard and Principal Witherington, Nelisa Ngcobo (The Queen) as Charlene, Chris van Rensburg (Huis van Liefde) as Max, Byte and Mr Anderson, Michelle du Plessis (Koelpixels), Jana Louw (Shrek: The Musical), Sparky Xulu (The Estate) as Mr Hernandez and 11-year-old Dineo du Toit (Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes) as Sandy.

Stream/listen to Voices here.

The film releases today, September 15th by Indigenous Film Distribution.

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