-- Q Department, Shelmerdine Delve Into VR For Muse
Via virtual reality studio Vrse.works, Guy Shelmerdine directed English rock band Muse’s first VR music video, a 360º immersive experience for โtheir track, “Revolt.” The VR video was created in partnership with Apple Music, and with VR sound by Draลพen Boลกnjak of Q Department in association with its sound technology company Mach 1
In this reimagined music video experience. Muse’s performance fuels an explosive riot. The video is set within a dystopian future, where rebel women fight against cold cyborg riot police. Shelmerdine cleverly weaves the story through the POV of drones, hovering above (and interacting with) the mayhem. The result is a sweeping, epic, cyber-punk VR experience. “Revoltโ“ โwas shot on location in Prague. The “Revolt” track is from Muse’s latest album, “Drones.”
Amber Scores For Johnnie Walker, Anomaly
Amber Music has produced the score for Part Two of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s The Gentlemen’s Wager, starring Jude Law, Giancarlo Giannini and Zhao Wei. The Gentleman’s Wager II film was released on YouTube and the Johnny Walker website.
Directed by RSA’s Jake Scott, the 10-minute film was created by CCO Mike Byrne and creative director Mark Sarosi of Anomaly NY, with Winslow Dennis producing for the agency. The short tells the story of Law’s journey through Italy and France (ending in Monaco) in a vintage race car he wants to win as the result of a bet he made with Giannini. The music is all loosely based on 1960s film scores, with that humorous feel typical of Italian movies from that time. “We were looking for a score that acted as another character in the film, music that lived in the narrative and helped bring the different emotions to life,” said Byrne.
Amber created 7 minutes of original music, composed by Mark Tewarson and produced by Michelle Curran. The track includes music by Plastic Bertrand, with contributions from Eclectic. Amber mastered the tracks on 1/4” tape to aid in creating an authentic 1960s sound.
Creed Reunites Composer Goransson, Director Coogler
Composer and songwriter Ludwig Goransson reunited with director Ryan Coogler in Warner Bros.’ Rocky-inspired film Creed. The film opened wide last month, nearly 40 years after the original Rocky film debuted. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jordan, and Tessa Thompson, Creed focuses on the relationship between the late Apollo Creed’s son, Adonis Creed (Jordan), and the retired former boxing champion Rocky Balboa (Stallone). After meeting in Philadelphia, Rocky, despite being in declining health, agrees to train Adonis. The original Rocky (1976) film won the 1977 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. Rocky composer Bill Conti, along with Carol Connors, were Oscar nominated for Best Music: Original Song for “Gonna Fly Now.”
Goransson was inspired by Conti’s iconic score to Rocky, calling it “the theme song of an underdog.” Goransson began scoring Creed after reading the film’s script. To add to the musical palette and Creed’s journey, Goransson recorded boxers training, and incorporated those elements to form a basis for the score. He explained, “After experimenting with those sounds, I rearranged one of my love themes and gave it a bigger, more aggressive, orchestral texture with a few modern elements and a strong melodic theme.” Coogler was “blown away” with Goransson’s blend of old and new ideas. Goransson said of his work, “I always feel encouraged by Ryan to think outside of the box and create something that I really believe in.” Coogler and Goransson met as students attending the graduate film program at the University of Southern California. The Swedish born composer scored Coogler’s first short film Locks (2009) and later his 2013 Sundance winning film, Fruitvale Station.
In addition to scoring Creed, Goransson wrote the film’s original songs in collaboration with Coogler, Creed co-star Thompson, and hip-hop artists Sam Dew, Vince Staples, and Childish Gambino (David Glover). Goransson met Glover while scoring the hit NBC show, Community, in which Glover costars. Goransson later became Glover’s songwriter and producer and has performed with him at popular festivals including Coachella. With Glover’s influence, Goransson described creating songs for Thompson’s character, a local singer, as “a very special experience,” recalling, “We could see and hear how Tessa’s character came together through her music.” Goransson explained, “Knowing what Ryan had in mind for the character, Tessa and I were able to go into the studio as soon as she was cast.”
Growing up in the small university town of Linkรถping, Sweden, Goransson credits attending a Metallica concert with his father at age nine as pivotal in his decision to pursue music. Goransson’s career as a composer began during his senior year of high school when he was selected to write a symphonic piece to be performed by a professional orchestra. He later received his BA in Jazz at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden, and completed the Scoring Program at USC. Goransson also produces and writes for artists HAIM and Chance the Rapper. His television and film credits include We’re the Millers, and the current FOX hit series New Girl. Goransson is represented by WME and managed by Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation.
