A Musical Odyssey
The wind blows as the waves tear at the tips of the sails. The ocean is merciless and unrelenting, screaming for submission. Weeks of weary loneliness and fatigue at sea blend together making the finish line seem impossibly far. Although thousands of miles away, the fans are emotionally present, pleading, praying, and cheering every step of the way.
This is the Vendée Globe- an around-the-world month long solo sailboating race; non-stop, and unaided. Few racers ever complete the course.
This intense and beloved event was indeed ready for an anthem to add to its arsenal of pride. Sixième Son was up to the challenge.
The Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe was established in 1989 by Philippe Jeantot, a former deep sea diver. Philippe became obsessed with sailing; winning the BOC Challenge (now known as the Velux 5 Oceans Race) in 1982 and 1986. Wanting more of an extreme sea quest, he started the Vendée Globe as “the ultimate test in ocean racing”. 40+ skippers circle Antarctica returning to France in one month’s time. At its inaugural race, Philippe came in 4th.
Since then, every four years, skippers proudly descend Les Sables d’Olonne canal as spectators line the canal cheering loudly. November 10th 2024 marks the 10th annual race commencement. In honor of its 10th Anniversary, Sixième Son crafted an anthemic sonic identity; a musical odyssey to capture the call of the sea. The siren sound enhances audience connection, and deepens the race’s emotional story.With all that we now know about the power of sound, I’ll let JP end with his question to those still on the fence. “What are you waiting for?”
The Call of the Sea
The sound needed to match the tone of the race; hauntingly intense and emotionally driven. It needed to unify each chapter of the event, acting as an emotional catalyst; conveying not just a race, but the ultimate adventure.
“The team crafted an allegorical, custom score to tell the story of the race.”- Laurent Cochini, Managing Director at Sixième Son.
Sixième Son created sonic moments for each chapter of the journey. These moments help keep the public engaged; anticipating each step of these strong men and women’s journey. Their hearts and mouths can now sing the tale.
Along For the Journey
Epic by nature, the Globe’s signature sound suggests self-transcendence; the sirens’ call—mysterious and captivating. The sound invites fans to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure in a truly unique way; through theater of the mind. With the help of a powerful, sung melody and folkloric strings, one can almost see the sails swell and feel the ocean spray. The percussion’s rhythm echoes the heartbeats of both the skipper and the fan.
As one speaker puts it , “It’s about being able to bring those who have stayed ashore along with us. That’s real sharing.” The Globes’ new sonic identity helps carry us emotionally on board.
The essence of the Vendée Globe: the boldness of sailors, a celebration of human achievement, athletic performance, and technological innovation are captured in this soundscape. It conveys the collective energy of the race, the pinnacle of Vendée’s rich maritime history.
The Globe’s sonic identity unifies each chapter of the event, acting as an emotional catalyst and conveying not just a race, but an ultimate adventure.
Conclusion
Sports fans are like none other. They are incredibly invested in their respective teams; creating energy athletes and teams feed off of and draw strength from. The energy of a fan is symbiotic to the success of a sport. Investing in that emotional connection is gravitas; not to be overlooked.
Lifelong fans are created through branded sound experiences.
As vast as the sea itself, the opportunity for emotional connection through sound is limitless. By exploring the depths of sonic branding, the Vendee Globe not only told a story but embodied it- every wave, gust, and heartbeat resounded its anthem of resilience and dedication.
The Vendée Globe can rest assured that their musical odyssey will continue to grow the hearts and investments of their fans for years to come.
