University College London (UCL), together with creative agency Innocean Berlin, audio production company DaHouse and Parkinson’s UK, have created a pioneering project that combines data and music composition to create personalized songs with the intention of helping people with Parkinson’s disease through music.
Tremors vs. Tremors, the project has measured the tremor of five people with Parkinson’s to create songs with that unique data, in what is an intersection of music, mood and movement.
The project, published as part of Brain Awareness Week, held March 11-17, was led by UCL principal investigator neurologist Dr. Christian Lambert. He interviewed people affected by Parkinson’s disease and recorded their tremors, data that were used to affect the instruments and melodies of the tracks.
In addition, taking into account that the disease affects each person differently, the aim was to ensure that each participant saw themselves in the song. To this end the lyrics composed have been based on their individual journey with Parkinson’s and the melody of their favorite musical genre.
Upon listening to them, as shown in the audiovisual pieces created for the project, the songs had a positive impact on the participants. Kuhan, whose song is called “The Greates Day,” claimed to feel a physical change from the emotional reaction to hearing the music; while Clare, whose song is called “Starlight Keeper,” noted that it relaxed the trembling in her hands.
As part of the project, a dedicated website has been created that captures the mission of the initiative, the process of creating the songs, and the individual experiences of each participant. In addition, playlists have been created with the five songs created on the main streaming music platforms: Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music and Deezer. In addition, a special vinyl edition has been created, the proceeds of which will go to Parkinson’s UK.
Dr. Lambert sees the project as an exploration of possible treatments for Parkinson’s beyond drugs. “There are a wide range of strategies and therapies available that can form part of a holistic approach to care tailored to each individual,” he explained in a statement. “Our hope is that this project will inspire patients, caregivers and researchers to take this work further and provide more ways to help understand, manage and treat the disease.”
Tremors vs Tremors
Ficha técnica
- Client: University College London
- Contact: Christian Lambert PhD, MD; Charlotte Dore, Joanne Thomas, Cassandra Hugill, Joana Leitão, Sian Rose
- Agency: Innocean Berlin
- Chief Creative Officer: Gabriel Mattar
- Executive Creative Director: Ricardo Wolff
- Chief Operating Officer: Jonathan Hill
- Head of Art: Maso Heck
- Creative Director: José Filipe Gomes
- Creative Director: Pedro Lourenço
- Associate Design Director: Will Cega
- Art Directors: Fran Mišetić, Ailton Henriques, Leon Celay, Bianca Heusch,
Marlon von Franquemont - Copywriters: Ana Žurić, Andy King, Javier Granados, Reinier Gorissen
- Motion Designer: Sandro Aleksidze, Carlos Suárez
- Project Manager: Sandra Spina
- Senior Producer: Hannes Andresen, Michael Endres
- Editor: Hannes Andresen
- Technical Director: Julian Eichhoff
- Web Development: ARKx.cc / Tiago Canzian
- Colour Grading: Max Baule – ACHT Studio
- Music Production Company: DaHouse Audio
- Music Supervisors: Wonder Bettin, Lucas Mayer, Silvio Erne
- Music Producers: Wonder Bettin, Lucas Mayer, Silvio Erne, Rodrigo Lemos,
Tiago Abrahão - Mix & Master Engineers: Rodrigo Deltoro, Tiago Becker
- Account Manager: Cassiano Derenji, Carol Masseti
- Singers: Donata Kramarz, Charly Coombes, Rodrigo Lemos, Gustavo Bertoni
- Writers: Ana Žurić, Fran Mišetić, Markus Thomas, Rodrigo Lemos, Wonder Bettin
- Composers: Markus Thomas, Rodrigo Lemos, Wonder Bettin
- Developer / Data Analyst: Matheus Leston
- Film Production Company: STORIES2TELL GmbH
- Director / DOP: Marcelo Alves
- Executive Producer: Viktor Heinz
- 1st Camera Assistant: Luc Vrhovnic
- Junior Producer: Béla Arslan
- Sound Engineering & 3D: Mateus Leston
- Production Assistant: Katja Marie Penno and Ravan David Seiny