KickStand, a creative space built to create original music and sound design, has launched with a bang, orchestrating the sonically adventurous viral video for OK GO's Needing Getting and their Chevy Sonic Super Bowl spot; Shock Top's End of the World spot, which earned Adweek's Ad of the Day; sound designing David Guetta and Nikki Minaj's sensational Turn Me On music video (with 44 million YouTube views); and working on campaigns for Logitech, Exxon and other high profile brands.
"KickStand will proceed with a no-holds-barred attitude towards music and sound," notes co-founder Damian Wagner. "We feel fortunate to have already had the opportunity to work on an array of challenging and interesting projects, collaborating with some of the finest agencies, editors, directors and artists in the business."
The studio emerges from the musically inspired imaginations of founders Kim Christensen and Damian Wagner, who will drive the Venice, Calif.-based studio toward work in advertising, TV, film, and the ability to handle any project.
Wagner and Christensen have been teaming up for years, originally on a DreamWorks project, and after a succession of successful collaborations, the timing was right to formally combine forces. KickStand has already established a broad range of expertise, creating a portfolio of exceptional work.
Their contribution to OK GO's Needing Getting video included music, sound design, sequencing and re-recording, a project that involved managing over 1,000 Pro Tools tracks and 20,000 pieces of audio. The tongue-n-cheek Shock Top beer spot involved heavy sound design for falling buildings, explosions and aliens, while Logitech's Global Jam combined street music in Budapest and Bangkok, all rocking out to the classic T-Rex song Telegram Sam. KickStand's sound design on Nikki Minaj and David Guetta's stunningly visual Turn Me On music video proved early on that the studio wouldn't be confined to one genre.
The torrent of work continues, as KickStand has a number of projects in the pipeline, including sound design for Exxon via The Martin Agency and music and sound design for the short film Streetcar by Pixar director Carlos Baena.
The studio - a former taxi company renovated into a postmodern production space - is four blocks from the ocean in Venice Beach and around the corner from the famed Abbot Kinney Boulevard, which is lined with top restaurants and shops. KickStand has outfitted their home with original artwork by Vassarely, Dennis Hopper, Doug Aitken and Chaka.
Wagner and Christensen bring an impressive joint client list to KickStand, including Audi, FedEx, Sony, Amex, BMW, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, EA, IBM, Lexus, Microsoft, Nike, MoMA and more...
An executive music producer, composer, sound designer and mixer, Wagner is a multi-dimensional artist who works across the creative spectrum with a fearless spirit. In addition to composing for Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Puma and Gucci, Wagner has also worked on feature films including Bruno, Heat and Blade. One of his specialties is creating unique installations and museum pieces, including DOM, a live performance piece in Brasilia, BR. Commissioned by the Brazilian Arts Foundation, DOM utilized musical instruments, laptops and iPhones all playing music through a custom built quadraphonic sound system. Wagner orchestrated an Apple In-Store performance, video and art exhibit and many collaborations with artist Doug Aitken. The duo have collaborated on projects such as Sonic Pavilion at Brazil's Inhotim Institute and a pair of projects at the MoMA in New York: Sleepwalkers and Interiors. Wagner also contributed to Madonna's Grammy-winning Ray of Light and mixed live tracks for artists Michael Jackson to Iggy and the Stooges.
A sound supervisor, sound designer and music producer, Christensen has been chasing the best sounds both in the states and abroad, capturing the sounds of Apache helicopters and race cars, hanging on 3 ton trucks, recording stunts on-set, train stations and trains from diesel to steam, all making his sound library one of a kind. Christensen was part of the editorial team on Francis Coppola's Dracula as assistant sound designer, which won an Oscar for best sound editing. His relentless attention to detail has enhanced hundreds of spots, including ads for Adidas, Amex, BMW, Calvin Klein, Gatorade, Honda and Toyota, among many others. He has also worked on more than 30 feature films as a sound designer, editor, supervisor and Foley walker. Christensen has been honored by the London International Awards, the New York Festivals, the Chicago International Film Awards, and the Summit International Awards.
KickStand creates original music and sound design for film, advertising and media. We are able to respond instantly to any request inherent to each project. The goal and vision is to deliver innovative, high caliber music and sound.
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