You might think music videos only kicked off with MTV, but they’ve actually been around a lot, lot longer. In fact, that can be traced all the way back to Spooney Melodies a series of five musical shorts produced by Warner Brothers between 1930 and 1931. Mixing art-deco animation and live-action footage, they revolutionized the way popular tunes were showcased. Fast forward eighty plus years and the Nokia Open Song Project is doing exactly the same.
What is the Nokia Open Song Project?
It’s the absolute latest in interactive music-making, that’s what it is. You’ve heard of interactive video-making, right? Where bands and songwriters use video clips sent in by fans for their official video? Well, Nokia have turned the tables for this one. They’ve teamed up with Danish electro-dance-rock maestros, Spleen United, to give you the chance to actually remix the band’s latest track, Hibernation.
What makes it so special?
The band recorded the track, then split it into 16 separate parts and uploaded these sounds onto the Nokia Open Song Project website so that fans could assemble the track themselves into a proper kick-ass tune. Head over to the website to check out the results, vote for your favourite, and, for all you budding superstar DJs, to have a go yourselves!
What was the inspiration?
Innovative, for sure. But what’s the thinking behind this electro-open-source talent show? It’s partly about the funky visuals that go with the tune. Each of Spleen United’s sixteen video clips for Hibernation was shot on a Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone. If you check out the Nokia Open Song Project website, you’ll witness the awesome powers of the Lumia 920’s integrated PureView camera.
This 8.7 megapixel camera shoots 1080p video and takes in five times as much as light as competing smartphones, making it one of the best low-light cameras on the market, as well as an absolute zinger in the daytime.
What was the result?
Well, over a thousand wannabe music producers, composers and DJs have already uploaded their versions of Hibernation to the Nokia Open Song Project. Scoot on over there and we promise you’ll be wowed. You can also watch the behind-the-scenes documentary that showcases the band and the Nokia Lumia 920nd even upload your own remix.
Vote for a rocking idea!
We’re not the only ones blown away by this awesome idea. It’s got so much love that it’s also been nominated for a 2013 People’s Voice Webby Awards. These prestigious prizes are awarded every year by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Voting closes in on the 25th April, so if you think the Nokia Open Song Project and the Nokia Lumia 920 rock, why not head over to their website and vote today!