How a Newfoundland producer helped shape the music in upcoming blockbuster Wicked

Greg Wells is producing the music on the upcoming epic musical fantasy Wicked, a cinema adaptation of the Broadway hit that is scheduled to arrive in theatres on Nov. 22.

The Grammy winner has worked with Adele, Keith Urban and Michael Bublé — to name a few — and produced soundtracks to films such as The Greatest Showman.

Wells, who grew up in Peterborough, Ont., and has made a home in the scenic Newfoundland town of Winterton, told CBC News that he still vividly remembers the spine-tingling sensation of hearing star Cynthia Erivo perform the musical's signature song — just for him.  

"There's a song in Wicked called Defying Gravity. I think it's one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life," Wells said. "That's the first thing I thought.… I'm going to have a hand in kind of the definitive version of Defying Gravity, which just felt like such an honour."

Wells handled music production, sound mixing and played multiple instruments on the songs, which were complemented by the London Symphony Orchestra. 

He says he worked closely with Erivo and pop superstar Ariana Grande to record the music and soundtrack. 

He recalled that moment with Erivo, who plays the misunderstood green-skinned witch Elphaba, where she's in a darkly lit room with no cameras, her arms outstretched and voice soaring through each sky-high note of Defying Gravity.

"Like a scorched earth policy," he said, describing the effect. "Like, there's no trees left standing after that vocal."

Wells said he wanted to honour the original production's spirit while respecting the singers' input. He says he had plenty of room to be creative.

The set, Wells said, was lavish and full of intricate details, with a space as vast as an airplane hangar.

Carpenters constructed a two-story, life-sized library set. Each book was unique, as the producers wanted to avoid titles that viewers could purchase in real life. Another enormous set had a 30-foot-tall animatronic head of the Wizard of Oz that could move.

'Big part of my life'

Today, Wells is on a short rest period before work on the second part of Wicked kicks off. The Los Angeles-based producer has roots on the island. His mother was born in Newfoundland but moved to Ontario at a young age. Despite leaving, she never lost her longing for the island.

"As soon as we wrapped, me and most of my family jumped on a plane for here, for Newfoundland," Wells said.

"Newfoundland's always been a big part of my life."

In 2022, Wells bought a church in Winterton with the goal of turning it into a place where he could host concerts and offer workshops.

The venue, called Trinity Hall, officially opened in May. However, Wells said, working on the film was intense and left little time for him to be involved in the space.

But through his record label Scilly Cove Records — a non-profit aimed at helping local artists in Newfoundland and Labrador. — he is working to wrap up a second Christmas album, featuring local acts like Alan Doyle and The Navigators.

Songs from the album will be performed at Trinity Hall, with additional performances in North River and St. John's.

The money from sales will be donated.

"There are different types of wealth," Wells said. "The wealth that I am privileged to feel by getting involved in what I'm trying to do here just feels better to me than agreeing to take the next music job."

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