Updates regarding sound, music and the world we live in. Having trouble reading this e-mail? View it as a web page.

February 2015 Issue

Have you ever watched a movie with the sound on mute? The difference the sound makes is crucial for the movie experience - it can make it easier to understand the plot and follow what is happening, but also build texture and add emotion to every scene. If you take away the sound most movies would probably not be as interesting anymore, or at least not interesting in the same way.

Other than making moving images stronger, sound and music has the ability to change our perception of our environments. It can make the view more beautiful, our dance partner more attractive, the chair more comfortable, etc. Music reinforces feelings, and emotions create relationships. Relationships that we use to define ourselves.

Sound makes huge difference for a movie and can make us remember certain elements for a long time. Think about the string theme from Jaws, the "pew pew" from the laser guns in Star wars or the "Heeeeere's Johny!" from The Shining. The sound makes us believe in what we see.

Today our CEO Anna Kind will share her thoughts about sound in movies, but first out is our favourite sound topics right now!

SOUND TOPICS OF THE MONTH

Click the pictures to read more.

Radja Sound Design Agency

Catch up with Radja Sound Design Agency

Interested to know what we are working on at the moment? We thought it was time for a quick update on what we are up to, and also wanted to share some of our ongoing projects with you. On our blog you can follow our latest news and updates, at the moment including collaborations with some of the world’s leading architects, largest commercial buildings and retail operators and brands. Read more here! >>>

Image: "Imagine What's Possible" Artist Series: Mogollon, United States

Mogollon NY

Best sound and music at the Oscars 2015

On February 22, Neil Patrick Harris hosted the 87th Annual Academy Awards. This year's Oscars ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and was televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Interstellar, Birdman, American Sniper, Selma, Whiplash. To put it simply; sound effects. FactMag put together a list of all the music and sound-related award winners, check it out here! >>>

Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Center. Istanbul

Maximized shopping experience, these guys do it best!

Mixing retail and entertainment is a concept which has continued to develop over many years and the term "retailtainment" is used more and more frequently. In a time when E-commerce is the fastest growing retail market and consumers get more options to purchase without going to physical retail centers, another driver is needed. Shopping centers need to offer their visitors an experience beyond the expected, now more than ever. According to Diana Avram from Europe Real Estate, these are the four European shopping centres that do it best. >>>

From Tarantino's Pulp Fiction

Hearing Tarantino: The Impact of Sound in Tarantino Films

Many are familiar with the distinctive visual style of Quentin Tarantino, but the fact that he is a director who values good sound design is sometimes overlooked. Being all but subtle; his zips, slashes, rings, shatters and other forceful sound effects are uniquely emphatic and handled with great care and detail - bringing an unique emotion to the audience.
In this brilliant 90-second mash-up of Tarantinos sound effects it is clear that movies can be more than simple plots and big name actors. >>>

The sound makes us believe in what we see.

The shadow behind the shower curtain. The dagger. Vera Miles screaming. And the strings. Chopping. Again and again.

Initially Hitchcock wanted the famous shower scene in Psycho (1960) to be completely silent. The composer Bernard Herrmann thought otherwise. The soundtrack made him world famous, and is considered a trend-setter even today. But what we actually hear is often inconsistent with reality. One example is when the T-1000 in Terminator 2 (1991) is transformed from liquid to human. The sound designers found the perfect sound by digging out a can of - dog food! When Hannibal Lecter escapes from the cage in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) the scene starts of with Bach's classical Goldberg Variations. But in the same second as Hannibal throws himself over the guards the music is replaced by chaos. And when he bites them to death we hear the terrible sound of a wild animals growling jaws. As soon as Hannibal is finished, Bach again, but with a hint of happiness in the melody…

Kenneth Kvarnström's dance performance Sofa(r) is about creation, life and death. Amidst the show Kvarnström takes a few dance steps in total silence and then says:
- Well, did any of you experience "big, life-changing art" right now? No? Just as I thought...

He is convinced that what we hear affects us much more than what we actually see.

Then, he does the exact same movements again, now accompanied by Jonas Nordberg at lyre. And no one misses the point. A rusty dancer, best known as a talented choreographer, who with some rigidity performs this dance piece expresses a sudden grace the moment the tones sweeps across the floor.

The sound makes us believe in what we see.

Anna Kind
CEO
anna@radja.se

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