Classical
Wicked: For Good composer takes on never-before done musical project
Acclaimed composer Benjamin Squires - who soundtracked Netflix documentary Tiny Creatures and the trailer campaign for Wicked: For Good - has been appointed as the cruise industry’s first ever Composer-in-Residence by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
The composer of the music for the Wicked: For Good trailer campaign and Avatar: Fire and Ash has landed a first of its kind musical project.
Acclaimed composer Benjamin Squires - whose other credits include soundtracking Netflix documentary Tiny Creatures - has been appointed as the cruise industry’s first ever Composer-in-Residence, joining a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines voyage this spring to create an original musical score inspired by life at sea.
The score will bring to life the many diverse experiences of a Fred. Olsen cruise, capturing moments from the thrill of setting sail to awe-inspiring sights like the Northern Lights, and introducing a new form of storytelling at sea.
The new score marks a step change from Squires’ typical work across interdisciplinary performance, movies and TV.
Through the composition of a musical score, the aim is to deepen guests’ emotional connection to life onboard and the destinations visited, while allowing listeners at home to experience the unique feeling of cruising through music.
In March, Squires will join a Northern Lights cruise aboard the ship Bolette, where he will be given access to every corner of ship, its crew and the passengers onboard to inspire the composition. The new score will be designed to create an emotional narrative by reflecting a full cruise itinerary, drawing inspiration from moments of anticipation, discovery, awe and joy.
The soundtrack will then be performed and recorded by a 60 person orchestra at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios - made famous by the Beatles - before being made available on Spotify, inviting listeners to revisit past holidays or imagine joining a future cruise for the first time.
Speaking about the unique project, Squires said: "I’ve composed hundreds of pieces, but the opportunity to create a musical narrative of an entire journey through a soundtrack is a totally unique challenge. There are so many sights, sounds and feelings of a Fred. Olsen cruise that I can’t wait to experience and start translating into music. It’s a phenomenal task and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in – I know there are going to be so many moments of inspiration, and it will all culminate in a timeless soundtrack, recorded at the inimitable Abbey Road Studios, that people can return to again and again.”
Doug Glenwright - Guest Experience Director, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines - added: “For so many guests, the experience of travelling the high seas compares with nothing else. With the appointment of our first ever Composer-in-Residence, we want to help them relive and reconnect with their holidays long after they return home – as well as give those who haven’t cruised yet a taste of the experience. We’re delighted to welcome Benjamin Squires on board and look forward to hearing how he captures and translates the experience of a Fred. Olsen cruise into the bold, cinematic music that he’s famed for.”
The exciting music project follows new research showing that music plays a significant role in travel memories, with three in four Brits (79 per cent) associating specific songs with past holidays. Two in three (63 per cent) say they regularly play music discovered on their travels to relive those experiences, and 68 per cent agree it heightens the emotions associated with those memories. More than four in five (86 per cent) said music was important to their holiday experience.
Further research revealed the artists whose songs most evoke Brits’ holiday memories. ABBA topped the list with 22 per cent saying at least one of their songs jogged a holiday memory, followed by Queen (20 per cent), The Beatles (17 per cent) and Rihanna (16 per cent).
For more information and to book a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ trip go to fredolsencruises.com.
