Techno Jeep

Some fun to start of the weekend:

There is music in everything :-)

For those who need more movie trailer in their movie trailer

Precinct 5 - Authentic Style Detection

On the 10th of December, the doors to the old police station on Singel 459 will open for a never-before-seen concept. Precinct 5, located in this classic Amsterdam canal house, is where the Stüssy and Enplus shops will find their new home. The concept of the shop came from a unique collaboration of leaders and trendsetters of Amsterdam’s fashion- and music-industry. Under the management of the well-known DJ Mr. Wix, Precinct 5 will carry sophisticated and premium clothing originating from pure street culture. The interior of Precinct 5 is designed by architects Kuub, with a graphic identity created by Experimental Jetset.

Precinct 5 derives its identity from a partnership between Mr. Wix, Patta and MassiveMusic.

For the last five years, Patta has proved to be one of Europe’s most progressive high-end sneaker stores. Their venture has lead to some impressive collaboration with companies such as Nike, Converse and Reebok. For over ten years, Mr. Wix has been a recognized DJ and style icon. He is part of Parra Soundsystem and is associated in the organization of many parties such as Zwarte Lola and Bling in Jimmy Woo. MassiveMusic is a highly developed and cutting-edge agency that produces music for moving images.
Years of identifying, participating-in, filtering and combining style influences with a level of distinction and individuality makes this cooperation a perfect combination.

Doors will open this week. Thursday December 10th we'll be celebrating the new store with a selected crowd. From Friday onwards doors are open to the public. For more info visit their website and get connected on Facebook.

Press release NL (PDF)
Press release ENG (PDF)

Classic Gabriel looped up

Amazing dude Gavin Castleton performs a bedroom version of his 'Sledgehammer' cover.

Some MassiveTalent news

Some MassiveTalent news: We have recently made a MassiveTalent fanpage on Facebook. So if you are on facebook and you like new music you should become a fan so we can keep you updated about our latest music discoveries.

It's Hype!

50 things that are being killed by the internet

We can all agree that Internet changed our lives. It changed the way we communicate, gather information, listen to music and the way advertisement is executed. The internet has given us a worldwide audience and the on the internet everybody is an artist, journalist and a potential superstar.

As we are a very positive bunch of people we'd like to share some things that are being killed by the internet.

The Power of the Pentatonic Scale

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the Pentatonic Scale. Simply an amazing sound experiment.

See and hear it for yourself:

Eurobest (3) - GOLD!

Besides all the Eurobest workshops and fun last week, we also won a prize! The IDFA commercial which was founded very popular earlier this year, won GOLD at this year's Eurobest Festival. Congratulations to all invloved!



It was a popular spot at Canneslions and the Dutch ADCN Awards this year. A list of all winners can be viewed here.

Last but not least hereby an item from Amsterdam TV station AT5 on the Eurobest Festival, with Hans talking about the Dutch advertising industry:

The Souldiers

Cato and Sofie van Dijck are two talented singers from Amsterdam. For quite a while we have the privilege to work with them on various productions. You might know their voices from some commercials we did. Such as this one.

But you should definately know them from their own music projects: The Van Dijck Band, The Van Dijck Sisters, or their band The Souldiers. If not, now is the time. The Souldiers are a unique group of young musicians with an eclectic background in varying styles of folk, New Orleans funk, soul and rhythm and blues. If you are able to see them live, go for it. You won't regret it.

Last night The Souldiers did a very convincing performance by doing 'Get Back' in Dutch TV-talkshow DWDD. Check the footage:



If the above film isn't working, click here. Here some extra footage, they did this performace just before the show:



For more info on the Souldiers, visit to their MySpace.

Eurobest (2) - Thursday

Tonite it's time for some Eurobest action at various Amsterdam agencies. Bureau Pindakaas will open its doors for a Creative get-together. Massive DJ's The Disco Accidents & Label Made Cappuccino will provide some nice tunes there.

Yesterday we presented our workshop at Eurobest. Check some pics here. Thanks to those who attended the music workshop!

Still Bill - trailer

MUST. SEE. THIS.

Still Bill Trailer from B-Side Entertainment on Vimeo.

Eurobest (1) - MassiveMusic Session

Eurobest 2009 session: Deepening Emotional Brand: Consumer Relationships Through music And Musical Experiences

Hans, Joep and Michiel from the Amsterdam office are doing a presentation this morning at the Eurobest conference. Eurobest is the European Advertising Festival, this year held in our hometown Amsterdam, which we appreciate a lot.

The MassiveMusic session provides an informative overview of the recent changes in the relationship between brands and music, and how advertising professionals can learn from and capitalise on these changes.

Music has become a strategic communication tool for brands. Our seminar provides insight into the forces and opportunities that come with this fact, and shows some cases that we have worked on as a full-service music agency. Besides composing music and sound, MassiveMusic is becoming a strategic partner for brands to help them solve marketing and communication issues through the use of music.

Our colleagues at Heartbeats from Sweden are doing a session before us and will tell you something about the 'Odyssey Into The Love Affair Of Music & Brands'. Interesting stuff this morning!

EUROBEST Wednesday

10:00 - 13:00

Brands And Music

TED Talks - Julian Treasure: The 4 ways sound affects us

Playing sound effects both pleasant and awful, Julian Treasure shows how sound affects us in four significant ways. Listen carefully for a shocking fact about noisy open-plan offices. (via ted.com)

Prince; An internet Pioneer..(Dutch article)

Prince was the first artist who used the internet (twelve years ago!) to sell his music. Frustrated about the way Warner Brother treated him, he turned his back to the music industry. Prince, one of the most productive artists off all times is now trying to sell all his music online and is willing to sue everybody who is illegally using his music online.

Read the article here (Dutch)

Kazookeylele

When and where will the first Kazookeylele festival be held?!

RIP Patrick Swayze

Respect to the best dirty dancer of our time.



(MassiveMusic Cannesparty 2007)

Literal Eclipse of the Heart

Donderdag1

Amsterdam Massive dudes Luca, Lucas, Sietze and Steve are hosting a party called "Donderdag 1", the 'newest first Thursday of the month'. Tonight it's time for the first edition at club Bitterzoet, Amsterdam. Spuistraat 2.



Get connected to the Donderdag 1 Facebook group here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=246530610441

RSVP to the kick-off edition here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111540897886

Beat Marten Volund at Kaisers Ping Pong Tournament 2009

Ping Pong guru and pre mortal legend Marten Volund will be present at tomorrow's Ping Pong tournament at Kaiser Sound Studios and GlassWorks in Amsterdam. You can still subscribe to battle the unbeatable.

View invitation (large) from Kaiser&Glassworks on Vimeo.

Thursday the 3rd of September
First match starting at 7 PM
Location: Keizersgracht 475, Amsterdam

The advertising product song

Newszine EditieNL (RTL4) visited our Amsterdam studios for a short report on the "advertising product song". It seems that this type of song has slowly disappeared from the commercial break. (in Dutch)



video URL: http://tinyurl.com/kjlomh

Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc.

You gotta love this:

Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc. from Chris Cairns on Vimeo.

Via http://www.neurosonicsaudiomedical.com/.

People involved in this project:

myspace.com/scratchperverts
shlo.co.uk/
foreignbeggars.com/
myspace.com/stigofthedumpuk
myspace.com/drsyntax
will-cohen.com/
ward404.com/

Comedians of Chelsea Lately Theme Song

How often to you get to see MassiveMusic next to a little Mexican Comedian? Chuy rules!



(click on image)

Lowlands voor bankzitters (a t/m m)

This years Lowlands edition is insane, as was the ticket situation. So here's one for all of us who can't be there. A small pick from the line-up till 'M'.

http://tinyurl.com/q2jcy7

RIP Les Paul

These two have served a lot of brands worldwide. From left to right: Standard and Custom.

RIP Les Paul * June 9, 1915; † August 13, 2009

New MassiveTalent Signings

MassiveTalent, our music platform that helps unknown artists start off their music careers by helping brands connect to their audiences through great music, is well on his way now.

The last couple of months our catalogue has been steadily growing with a lot of cool new signed artists.

Here are some new titles signed with MassiveTalent.

'Left Me High' - Death Valley Sleepers

Death Valley Sleepers - Left Me High by MassiveTalent

'Casual Groove' - Iris Waves

Iris Waves - Casual Groove by MassiveTalent

'Funkdified' - Thomas Gregersen

Thomas Gregersen - Funkdified by MassiveTalent

'Cassandra' - Andy Vei

Andy Vei - Cassandra [radio mix] by MassiveTalent

'Mel And Koli' - How Are You

How Are You - Mel And Koli by MassiveTalent

Listen to more selected artist here

'The Cutest Mistake Ever'

Happy Friday everyone.

Another great concept

Now this is a special way to get your songs out!

Raw ideas for the big project - by a composer who goes under the name Windrose. Listen, listen:

http://zebox.com/windrose

If you are Windrose and you are reading this, or for anyone who knows this person, please send an e-mail to themusicsoundsbetterwithyou@massivemusic.com

If you are interested in sharing with us what you do, send us your work by hitting the Soundcloud button on the right side of this page, or click here, here or here. Thank you!

SOUR '日々の音色 (Hibi no neiro)'

And again, one of the few treasures out there in cyberspace. This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam.

Happy Monday, everyone.



Director: Masashi Kawamura + Hal Kirkland + Magico Nakamura + Masayoshi Nakamura
SOUR official site: http://sour-web.com

(c)2009 Zealot Co.,ltd / Neutral Nine Records

NO THANKS

NO PARTY in Cannes last week was a blast. MassiveMusic and The Lift wish to thank you for showing and sharing the positivity at this year's MassiveWednesday party!

Please remind yourself of the fun - or check for incriminating evidence in the NO PARTY photo gallery

Here some videos:







And remember: next year was even better!

IDFA 2008 Bronze Lion in Cannes.

The IDFA 2008 commercial we have worked on with TBWA/Neboko, won a Bronze Lion at the Canneslions Festival last week!



Earlier this year the spot received a Golden Lamp award at the Dutch ADCN Awards, the most important Dutch advertising awards.

Category: Cinema commercial.

IDFA 2008 "Script reading/Casting/Pitch"
Client: IDFA
Agency: TBWA\Neboko Amsterdam
Director: Mike van Diem (25FPS)
Music: MassiveMusic

Congrats everyone invloved again.

Audi 'Filter' honored

What started as a small request by Hamburg agency KemperTrautmann for their client, ended in a beautiful film with an equivalent soundtrack for Audi ‘Filter’. And we noticed many others with us share that view. Have a look at these festival shortlists and awards.

ADC: 4 AWARDS
Audi TDI Clean Diesel, Filter (Kat. TV-Spots)
Audi TDI Clean Diesel, Filter (Kat. VKF-Filme)
Audi TDI Clean Diesel, Filter (Kat. Sound Design)
Audi TDI Clean Diesel, Filter (Kat. Typografie)

Clio: 1x Gold, 1x Shortlist
Audi, Filter (Kat. Visual Effects) GOLD
Audi, Filter (Kat. Sound Design) SHORTLIST

D&AD: 2 AWARDS (In-Book)
Audi, Filter (Kat. Sound Design)
Audi, Filter (Kat. Animation)

Golden Award of Montreux: 1x Shortlist
Audi, Filter (Kat. TV/Special Effects)

New York Festivals: 3x Shortlist-Status
Audi, Filter (Cat. Cinematography)
Audi, Filter (Cat. Sound Design)
Audi, Filter (Cat. Special Effects)

...and the film is still traveling...

The Art & Design of A Sonic Branding Strategy

Mr Kerry Smith, our Creative Director in NY and Mr Michiel Cremers, our main man on planet Sonic Branding, are listed on the speakers list of the Promax/BDA North America Conference 2009. So to all you in the broadcast bizz, go and see these men. If you are lucky Michiel will be singing some famous sound logos live.

June 17th at 3:30 PM
The Art & Design of A Sonic Branding Strategy
Joel Beckerman/Founder and President, Man Made Music
Michiel Cremers/Head of TV & Sonic Branding, MassiveMusic
Kerry Smith/Partner and Creative Director, MassiveMusic

Check it out the list of all speakers: http://www.promaxbda.org/events.asp?n=na09

Guy starts dance party

Happy Friday everyone.



(Thanks to Ricki)

Sound and vision

What's the importance of music and sound in film? And how does music work on picture in an emotional way?

We were contacted by Roel Tinkhof en Dorus Oomen. They needed to make a documentary film on film music and sound, as an assignment in their last year in high school. So they dropped by at MassiveMusic Amsterdam and interviewed Philip, our music researcher. Have a look at their findings on film music in this sweet film below. Pleasant note: original soundtrack by Roel and Dorus themselves (at 14'18")!

Filmmuziek Profielwerkstuk from Roel Tinkhof on Vimeo.

WANTED: ROCK BAND FOR INTERNATIONAL TV-COMMERCIAL

ACTORS/MUSICIANS (age 25 – 35) can apply as well.



Hey all,

We are seeking a rock band for a new international TV-commercial/campaign. The band will play a ‘live’ track on stage in front of an enthusiastic and wild audience. The lead-singer also plays a main role in the film (lead singer and businessman/consultant). Actors/Musicians (25 - 35 years old) can apply as well, so we might form a band. Paid job.

For this TV-commercial we are looking for a ROCK BAND with the following musicians:

• LEAD SINGER (male, is the main character, casting type ‘businessman/consultant’, but certainly the ‘cool guy’ and ‘front man’ – he has got short hair, looks like he is around 30+ years old, in the film during day time he’s dressed neat in a suit, in the evening he is Jim Morrison meets Linkin Park -ish)
• GUITAR PLAYERS (probably we need 2 men, rock guitarists, energetic, solo/rhythm guitarists)
• BASS PLAYER (man/woman, rock bass player, energetic)
• DRUMMER (man, rock drummer, energetic)
• And we might need a KEYBOARD PLAYER (man, keys, retro-synths, energetic)

All musicians are 25 – 35 years old. Reference for the rock band is: Linkin Park, Blink182 and then older / grown up, but also Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters. No indie-/brit-pop band, but more a ‘stadium act’. Energetic. If one or some of the band members are interested instead of the entire band, they can apply as well.

Casting / Auditions
The casting / audition will be held Friday 29th of May en Wednesday 3rd of June 2009, from 10.00h to 17.30h in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. International artists/bands can apply via e-mail. Details of the casting will follow.

Shoot
The 3 shooting days for the lead-singer/consultant are planned somewhere from 28th of June 2009 until 7th of July 2009 in Lissabon, Portugal (EU). The shoot for the whole band, probably 2 days, is planned on 4/5/6 July 2009 in Lissabon, Portugal (EU).

Are you interested? Please apply before 28th of May 2009 to Steve Johnsen, MassiveMusic Amsterdam. Send an e-mail with your details, a short biography, a maximum of 3 photos of the band and a demo to steveATmassivemusic.com Please mention ‘casting rock band’ in your subject. Our telephone number is +31 20 4272 432 (We're in the Central European time-zone). If one or some of the band members are interested instead of the entire band, they can apply as well.

Let's rock.

MassiveMusic & The Lift host ‘NO PARTY' at this year’s Cannes Lions

Streaker on the MassiveWednesday party in 2008. (c) Photo by Usual Suspects.

MassiveMusic and film production company The Lift announced today that they will be hosting ‘NO PARTY’ together on the beach in La Douce France on what has come to be known as the MassiveWednesday. This could be good news for the dancing deprived, lucky few planning to attend the Canneslions festival.

‘NO PARTY'
With many of the bigger networks cancelling their annual ad beach bashes earlier this year, MassiveMusic & The Lift felt that the need for doing ‘NO PARTY’ was perhaps bigger than in any of the previous nine years that the MassiveWednesday party has been held. When asked if MassiveMusic would be hosting an event in Cannes this year, Hans Brouwer (CEO) replied: “No Music. No Fun. No Dancing. No Cannes. No Party?…No Way!” He continued: “Of course we realize that this year, for many, it may seem inappropriate to be celebrating with industry colleagues from around the world. And it would be ridiculous to go all out and pretend like nothing is different this Cannes. But with all the somberness and negativity around, why not put our joint energy and positivity together and at least have one party like there’s no tomorrow (no pun intended).”

‘NO PARTY’ will be hosted on the NOGA Beach and will see a diverse crowd of MassiveMusic’s & The Lift’s clients and friends. The MassiveWednesday party is said to be one of the perennial highlights of the Canneslions festival.

More info on 'NO PARTY' will follow soon in your e-mail box if you're lucky to get invited! :-)

Massive Twitter

MassiveMusic is available on twitter now. Feel free to follow this micro blog here, here and here.

Ironic

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
And isn't it ironic...dontcha think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought...it figures

(...) And isn't it ironic...dontcha think?

Gold at ADCN Awards

GOLD!

This promo for the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2008, was rewarded with a golden lamp, yesterday at the annual Dutch ADCN Awards. The ADCN Awards are known as the most important Dutch advertising awards.

Category: Cinema commercial.

IDFA 2008 "Script reading/Casting/Pitch"
Client: IDFA
Agency: TBWA\Neboko Amsterdam
Director: Mike van Diem (25FPS)
Music: MassiveMusic

Congrats everyone involved! A list of all winners can be viewed here.

Elijah B Torn wins a First Boards Award

On Thursday April the Second in the Year Two-Thousand and Nine, it was writ and entered into the annals of history that MassiveMusicDude Elijah B Torn won a composer award in the 10th Annual First Boards Awards!

The First Boards Awards "celebrates the international industry’s top emerging talent from a series of categories including director, editor, composer, designer, animator and agency producer". The event is hosted by Boards Magazine which (in case you didn't know) is the leading industry publication about the international business of commercial production. Its read monthly by over 13,000 agency producers, creatives, production and post-production company executives, artisans, reps. You can check out his interview and profile in the April issue or you could also read or download the full magazine right here.

The other finalists are some awesomely badass peoples including Director Nima Nourizadeh (the adidas 'House Party' commercial that we licensed the Beggin' for), Trish Sie (who directed the Ok Go! music videos on the treadmills) and a ton of other amazing Editors, Animators, and Graphic Artists!

We are flattered and honored for Elijah to be included in this group and a huge thank you to all of the judges for picking this guy-



you can check out all the winners here.

BOARDS CREATIVE AFTERPARTY by MASSIVEMUSIC

Crisis?! What crisis? It's party time again!

On March 26th, Boards Magazine will bring the Creative Workshop Series to Amsterdam for the first time! This will be the first workshop outside North America, and Boards asked MassiveMusic to host the evening program. We accepted this kind offer, of course. We proudly announce that we succeeded in lining up the DJ's from our last Cannes party once again, so be prepared for a night to remember and a morning to forget! Massive's own Blokgolf, Disco Accidents and Label Made Cappuccino will be spinning, as well as The Bang Gang Deejays from Australia who luckily were able to fit this show in their European tour.

All of this will happen on March 26th at the Flexbar, Amsterdam (Westergas area) from 9 PM onwards. Wanna join? Entrance is free for Boards delegates by showing your Creative Workshop-pass and only 10,- euros at the door for everybody else.

Same info and RSVP at our Facebook Event page.



There are still also some Creative Workshop day-passes left. More info via:
http://www.creativeworkshopseries.com/

Work Is. Never. Over.

It's Friday afternoon and here's something to play with: the iDaft. Enjoy.

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS

R O C K P A P E R S C I S S O R

featuring Raymond Pettibon, Daniel Johnston, Ron English, Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo & Gibby Haynes
Curated by Jon Cournoyer
ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY, February 28 - March 21, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 28th, 7-10pm with DJ Shepard Fairey
RSVP to rsvp@robertbermangallery.com

http://www.robertbermangallery.com
http://www.rockpaperscissorshow.com
THE EXHIBITION

Robert Berman Gallery is pleased to present the group exhibition Rock, Paper, Scissor on view February 28 – March 21, 2009. The show will feature noteworthy artists who freely use, base imagery on, thrive, and excel in both the mediums of visual art and music. The artists taking part in the show are Raymond Pettibon, Daniel Johnston, Ron English, Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers and Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth.

This exhibition highlights these artists who in both the mediums of music and art have created a memorable and historical body of work and continue to do so. Born from outsider roots stemming from Los Angeles, New York and Texas, they blurred the boundaries of aural and visual expressions creating what would become a hallmark of material from the period of the 1980’s-1990’s, eventually being absorbed by both the mainstream public and art industries. It’s influences today are countless.

On exhibit will be paintings, drawings, collages, conceptual pieces and installations as well as ephemera including lyric sheets by Raymond Pettibon that have rarely been exhibited. Also a large collection or rare and early Daniel Johnston works, many of which have never been publicly exhibited, will also be on view from the collection of Don Goede, co-author along with Tarssa Yazdan of the definitive book on the artist Hi, How Are You?. These works will be published in the next edition of this book as well.

Sponsored by MassiveMusic Los Angeles and others.

Happy Valentine's Day from MassiveMusic!

Jack Of Hearts plays The Clash

MassiveMusic composer/engineer Fred Kienhuis will join his old band The Jack Of Hearts (1987 – 1997) for one more time! Friday February 6th they will play a live-tribute to legendary The Clash at Café Pakhuis Wilhelmina, Amsterdam. From Rock The Casbah to The Magnificent Seven, van White Riot to London Calling, it's time for some good 'ol rock 'n roll.

Fred Kienhuis - vocals, guitar
Dirk Portegies - vocals, guitar
George Oostdijk - bass
Kors Eijkelboom - drums
Kim Snelten - harp
Rob van Zandvoort - keyboard

21:00hrs CAFE-PAKHUIS WILHELMINA, VEEMKADE 576, AMSTERDAM, EUR 7,50

You might want to check how Fred did a Ramones tribute last year. Click here or here.

A Rock 'n Roll Rhythm

Back by popular demand... one do tree fo:

How to...create ambient music

Now everybody can make ambient music with the new Ambient Sequencer AS-606! Read all about it here, here and here.

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it)

Hans Olo. The Stuff. Brown Muppets. The Dark Side or whatever...

Watch out watching this when drinking coffee.


Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

Classic Hits & Songsmith

You gotta love this. Remember Microsoft's Songsmith software? The idea behind it is that you sing something - even if you can't sing at all - and Songsmith will do the rest and arrange music for you, realtime. Check it out first, if you're not familiar with it yet.

At Massive we were pretty convinced that it was good marketing strategy, with another viral video on the web. 'Cause introducing the world to such crappy sounding software isn't the best thing to be proud off...

But it seems the software is real. And within 3 weeks a new hype is born: Classic Hits & Songsmith. Here two of our favorite ones out there.

This is what it sounds like if you take David Lee Roth's vocal from 'Running With The Devil' and put it into Songsmith:


And here some Intergalatic fun:

4 Chords

The Axis of Awesome's "4 Chords" song proves that all you need to be a pop star is four simple chords.

Lifes For Sharing

A good old 'flash mob' by T-Mobile ('Lifes For Sharing' campaign):



Pretty impressive. We like. But it reminds us to 'Frozen Grand Station' from Improv Everywhere. These guys create scenes in public. For real. Check this out.