Sonixphere, APG Create A STIR
Greg Allan, CEO and creative director of Sonixphere, has teamed with David Kaplan and Mindy Verson, long-time partners at Audio Producers Group (APG), to launch STIR Post Audio, a full-service audio post and sound design resource. The new Chicago-based venture offers ad and film clients a choice of three studios spread across two agency-friendly locations in Streeterville and the Theatre District. Clients can tap into a talent base of engineers/mixers/sound designers while having the option of streamlining the entire audio process, including original music, by bundling music through sonic content company Sonixphere.
Kaplan and Verson–partners in APG for the past 10 years–are executive producers of STIR with Allan, who formed Sonixphere in 2011, serving as STIR’s director of business development.
Engineer/mixer/sound designer Amber Tisue has been recruited to helm the console in Studio A at the Streeterville studio. APG head engineer/mixer/sound designer Peter Erazmus now commandeers the console at the Theatre District location. STIR partners Allan, Kaplan and Verson are scouting a third engineer for Studio B at the Streeterville location.
While Erazmus is an alum of APG and Chicago Recording Company, Tisue comes to STIR by way of California. Early in her career, she landed the plum position as head of audio production and lead engineer at Goodby, Silverstein and Partners (GSP). Of her four year tenure at GSP, agency co-chairman Jeff Goodby said, “Her presence here was warming and her work was always lovely and easy to own. She is a wonderful character during stressful times, which is to say that she is valuable to the creative process, which is to say the best possible thing about anyone in life.” Brands she worked on while at GSP include Got Milk, Sprint, and multiple Dorito’s campaigns. In 2009, Asche and Spencer Music, Los Angeles, recruited Tisue to work in house and then the freelance track beckoned to her. Striking out on her own, Tisue worked on a diverse range of long and short-form projects including the children’s TV show Ruby’s Studio, indie film Roshambo (a comedy short that ran the festival circuit, produced by Goldenlight Films), and numerous commercials for such clients as VW, Audi, Target, and Starbucks.
The new Streeterville location is a sprawling 3,400 square feet and features two custom built studios equipped with brand new state-of-the-art equipment. Decorated in mid-century modern style, the space features concrete floors and has a “form meets function” aesthetic according to Verson. The commuter and public transportation-friendly Theatre District studio is a 27th floor aerie Manhattan-style loft with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Another key staffer at STIR is assistant engineer Matt Holmes who earlier interned at both Sonixphere and APG.
A&R Bar
Under the aegis of founder Jeff Koz, HUM Music + Sound Design in Santa Monica has built a reputation over its 22 years and counting for top drawer original scoring, licensing and sound design. Not as well known is HUM’s recently enhanced value as a venue for industry folks to gather, underscored by its A&R Bar which is now starting to spread its wings on the company premises. HUM tapped Kelly Architects, the team behind some of L.A.’s most iconic bars and restaurants (Mozza, Edison Bar, Seven Grand), to transform what was once a reception area into a unique space reflecting the music/sound house’s culture of fluidity, creative collaboration and human connectivity.
By day, the space is a high-end recording studio and creative lab. By night, it houses an intimate private speakeasy and music venue known as the A&R Bar, with a stage for live performances and a full-service bar. The A&R Bar has hosted concerts by Cayucas, Meiko, Simon Petty, Jeremy Messersmith and Prince protege Andy Allo. The latter starred in HUM’s commercial for Wells Fargo titled “Six String Dream,” about an aspiring musician/performer who comes to the bank to get her financial house in order so she can pursue her artistic dreams.
HUM’s A&R Bar has also hosted non-profit and industry get-togethers, including events for the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and fundraisers for the Starlight Foundation (with whom HUM is a strategic partner) as well as a local school. HUM additionally plans to launch a monthly event series this summer at its A&R Bar, which is outfitted with a robust A/V system, multiple HD cameras for live streaming, HD monitors and a custom live audio and lighting system, making for a multi-purpose venue with assorted possibilities.
In terms of its ad endeavors, HUM turned out original music for four spots in this year’s Super Bowl, including Kia K900’s “The Truth” which earned the #3 slot on SHOOT’s Spring Top Ten Tracks Chart (SHOOT, 3/21). HUM in recent years has also branched out, creating and supervising music for independent, documentary and web-based films, and partnering with brands to create and execute online music marketing campaigns.
Warner/Chappell At The World Cup
Warner/Chappell Production Music, Warner Music Group’s production music arm, has created a new theme and package for the 2014 FIFA World Cup being broadcast on ESPN. Warner/Chappell Production Music produced over 150 tracks overall at its state-of-the-art studios in Salt Lake City, Utah. Featuring a modified theme from the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Warner/Chappell Production Music created new opens, bumpers, vamps and closers. In addition, world-renowned percussionist Alex Acuna provided all the ethnic percussion tracks at the legendary Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. Wayne Bergeron added his virtuoso trumpet to select tracks.
This extensive package was produced by Warner/Chappell Production Music’s Bryan Hofheins and Judd Maher, and composed by Lisle Moore. This production team produced the original theme package for ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which aired first for the South Africa Games. The Warner/Chappell ensemble adapted and added to the memorable theme music package for the Brazil World Cup stage.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup started on June 12 and runs through July 13 in Brazil. The games are being broadcast on ESPN and ABC, which are owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The Hornet’s Nest Expresses Gratitude
Gratitude Entertainment, a new production company that ties together the worlds of entertainment and charity, has just released an EP (music single) for the film The Hornet’s Nest, with the entire soundtrack slated to be released later this year. The soundtrack propels the movie which is noted for its unprecedented immersive coverage of the Afghanistan war front by an award-winning father/son news team. Gratitude Entertainment assembled an outstanding cast of musicians for the soundtrack, including Wynonna Judd, her husband/producer Cactus Moser, Pete Scobell, Kid Rock, Mycle Wastman, Keni Thomas, Phil Vandel, and Donavon Frankenreiter. Gratitude Entertainment is the brainchild of CEO and creative director M. Blake Meeker and COO Christine Kolenik. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Gratitude’s album will go to help military families and veteran charities around the country.
Gratitude’s soundtrack for The Hornet’s Nest began when the film’s producers, Christian Tureaud and David Salzberg, contacted Meeker and Kolenik to come on board as co-executive producers and music supervisors.
“As time went on, Christine and I approached them with having The Hornet’s Nest soundtrack be our premiere project for Gratitude,” said Meeker. “[Rock band] Politicks was already involved because Mike Trella [the film’s composer] and his band contributed the first songs, including the title track and theme of the movie, “Chariots.” We had three songs from them. Next to come on board was Wynonna and Cactus, then the rest of the artists quickly followed.
Asked for their favorite song on the soundtrack, both Meeker and Kolenik didn’t hesitate to highlight “Chariots” by Politicks. “The whole soundtrack is amazing, but “Chariots” is poignant because in the film the troops refer to the medivac helicopters as their chariots,” stated Meeker. Kolenik added, “The song really captures the essence of the emotions at a key moment in the film.”
Meeker and Kolenik wanted to create a new business model, now reflected in Gratitude, to unite entertainment with charitable causes. “We wanted to bridge the gap between entertainment people who want to get involved in charity and the charity itself,” said Kolenik.
