COPILOT Music + Sound, New York, was tapped by Bethesda Game Studios, maker of the popular multiplayer “Fallout” video game series, to create a soundtrack for the trailer for its most recent version of the game. They produced a contemporary take on the John Denver classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which debuted for the E3 Conference, then went on sale, unexpectedly, last month on iTunes. By the next day, it was the number one song on the music site—quite remarkable for a track made for a marketing campaign.
The demand was sparked by the E3 exposure for the trailer which yielded nearly 30 million views on YouTube. An appetite was built for the full song, which helped propel the iTunes fervor. All of Bethesda’s proceeds from the iTunes sales were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Since the “Fallout” series also had a long association with 1940s vocal group The Ink Spots, Bethesda reached out to COPILOT to see if that could be meshed with Denver’s “Country Roads” style. COPILOT experimented with a variety of arrangements, from faithful replicas of early vocal quartet styles to traditional folk and country instrumentation. But the biggest challenge was finding the right voices. “We auditioned a lot of amazing singers from the jazz, country and pop worlds,” said Ravi Krishnaswami, creative director at COPILOT, “but we were searching for a sound that would be a natural fit in all of these styles.” That’s when he and Jason Menkes, COPILOT’s executive producer, remembered their experience hearing a singing group called Spank, which they’d encountered for the first time singing a cappella doo-wop numbers on a street corner in SoHo. They auditioned and got the gig.
“It’s a win-win for everyone involved,” said Menkes. “We’re thrilled with the song’s success and the support for Habitat for Humanity. And since this cover version was created specifically for Bethesda, all this attention and celebration circles back to ‘Fallout’ and further promotes the game’s release.”
The Many Hires Jeremiah Wassom As Group Creative Director
Independent agency The Many has added Jeremiah Wassom as group creative director.
Wassom most recently worked a decade at Deutsch LA where, as SVP/creative director, he led the Taco Bell account and won new business for the agency. His agency past also includes AKQA and TBWAChiatDay. His creative work has touched the QSR, video games, automotive, fashion, and culture brand sectors. He also served eight years with the United States Marine Corps.
“Throughout his career, Jeremiah has helmed work that has not only made me personally jealous but has consistently pushed brands to show up in memorable and innovative ways,” said Josh Paialii, head of creative at The Many. “One look at his body of work and you will see his passion for storytelling and craft has raised the bar for entire categories, driving participation with many brands’ most loyal fans. Beyond being a world-class creative director and maker, Wassom is a proven team player and strategic thought leader. He’ll be a great addition to the leadership team at The Many working across all accounts. His role will be immediately felt as he guides and supports each of the creative leads in the department.”
A 20-year creative with agency, brand, and freelance experience, Wassom has forged a creative approach which focuses on crafting engaging connections rather than simply make ads. He sees the need for advertising to mean more, not simply do more.
The Many believes that true business growth is made possible by harnessing the power of participation and partners with brands to forge deeper connections with consumers, cultivate trust and loyalty, and maximize marketing spend and execution. The agency is built around a flexible model that offers a suite of capabilities, including... Read More