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So, here’s our new ad. Eric and Johnny worked super hard on this one. With PMH we made this spot for Target and subsequently for Liberty of London.

I asked Eric if he had any thoughts on this one because he had mentioned to me that he wrote the lyrics by watching the pictures from the commercial, and he hilariously said, “we are in a frozen tundra here and I was watching birds and flowers …. and FUCK….”

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Chris and Johnny on stage at Storyhill Fest

John Hermanson’s folk/pop duo Storyhill began Storyhill Fest in Bozeman, Montana four years ago and in September 2009 they kicked off the first Storyhill Fest Midwest. Held near Brainerd, Minnesota, Storyhill Fest gathered musicians and fans for a weekend of intimate and interactive music. The weekend was a great way to wrap up the summer. Storyhill was joined by a number of great musicians including Modern Music producer Joanna Jahn. Plans are already set for Storyhill Fest West and Storyhill Fest Midwest 2010.

Joanna Jahn and Johnny Hermanson perform at Storyhill Fest Midwest

Modern Music Party from Modern Music on Vimeo .

For Modern Music’s relaunch and new identity, they worked with Caleb Coppock, an amazing artist and graphic designer.  He and the team put together an idea to have the dot of Modern’s new logo roll around, looking for its missing piece.  Daron Walker and John Hermanson set it to music and the rest is open to your interpretation.

Modern Music has also gotten involved, staff composers John Hermanson and Eric Fawcett with Casey Golden wrote “Loosen Up” for the film’s soundtrack featuring Golden and Sophia Shorai. The film debuted November 1st but will air on the Oxygen network Friday, November 14th at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 23 at 4:00pm. The DVD will be released sometime in January 2009.

Click here to download the song Loosen Up, and check back for more updates on Modern’s and Eric’s China Blog.

Modern Music commissioned the rearrangement of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic song, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” from artist, Sound of the Sun.

Working with DDB Chicago, this spot represents the dangers teenage drivers face in their first year on the road.

Download the song on State Farm’s website.

Everyone at Modern Music worked on this spot for State Farm through DDB Chicago. Check out their remix of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” or download it at State Farm’s website.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, August 1, 2008

Modern Music Launches New Identity with Addition of New Staff Composers

(Minneapolis, Minn.) Modern Music , creator of original music, sound design, music licensing and supervision for advertising, film, television, gaming and new media, welcomes two composers to its team. Both veteran musicians, John Hermanson (composer) of art-rock Alva Star and acoustic duo Storyhill (Red House Records), and Eric Fawcett (director of client services) drummer for N*E*R*D and Spymob are welcomed by Modern Music’s resident composers Daron Walker (creative director), Bryan Hanna (director of production) and Joanna Jahn (producer).

Hermanson’s music has been featured on MTV, HBO and ABC including episodes of “Six Feet Under ” and “Dirty Sexy Money .” A multi-instrumentalist and engineer, his music is also featured in the Lifescapes kiosks in Target stores. Under the name John August, he has sold more than 850,000 CDs nationwide.

In addition to working with Pharrell Williams , Fawcett is set to tour with China pop sensation Lee Hom Wang , playing on his song for the 2008 Bejing Olympics. Fawcett, also a multi-instrumentalist and record producer, is the writer of the monthly column “Mind Set” in Drummer Magazine and is contributing editor of his “dumbdrummer ” blog. The pair has worked together for 15 years, playing in Minneapolis-based The Hopefuls and collaborating as partners in Fiction Music from 2006 to 2008.

Modern Music has a long-standing reputation in the music industry. Most recently, Daron Walker’s original score was commissioned into the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as part of a spoken-word commercial for Target’s Art Connects campaign. Both he and Bryan Hanna collaborated on music for an art installation at Victory Park in Dallas, Texas and in Union Square in New York City. Under Target’s direction Modern Music has helped to re-write and record two years of “Hello Good-bu y” commercials.

The relaunch kicked off Thursday, July 31st with a reception in Minneapolis for industry leaders and advertising executives.  For more information about Modern Music, their work or their staff, contact Natalie Kane, 612-332-6299.