St Vincent, Smokey Robinson and Alanis Morissette stories to feature on Audible after new Gunpowder & Sky deal
The entertainment production house Gunpowder & Sky recently signed a new multi-project development deal with Audible, the world's largest provider of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks under the Amazon umbrella. As a further expansion of Audible's ‘Words & Music’ initiative, this exclusive partnership will bring us numerous original audio productions that combine storytelling and music, designed exclusively for Audible listeners. These upcoming original musical narratives will reflect the creative vision of award-winning musicians like St Vincent, Smokey Robinson, and Alanis Morissette, and the inaugural project featuring Annie Clark of St Vincent is set to launch in the coming months.
As the first title of this original series releasing later this summer, 'St Vincent: Words & Music' will give listeners an intimate meditation on Annie Clark's discovery of her authentic self – tracked through the lyrics and influences of her music catalog. Next up is Smokey Robinson’s Audible Original, which recounts the music icon's legendary 70-year career in unprecedented detail, featuring raw, unmediated storytelling and music. After that, the inimitable singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette will unpack a lifetime of conscious self-discovery in a powerful and thoughtful rumination on her journey as an artiste, celebrity, and human being. Production is currently underway on all originals via at-home studios.
“Life is strange and full of uncertainty right now, but music is a constant,” said the artiste/director Annie Clark of St Vincent fame. “Music transcends the chaos. It’s always been there for me when I’ve needed it—whether in times of fear, heartbreak, anger, joy. So I’m thrilled to be working with Audible to share my story and my music, especially at a time when music is such a crucial part of coping and getting through these unprecedented days.”
“It’s always been my passion to create experiences that touch and move people," said Smokey Robinson, the legendary singer-songwriter. “I’m humbled to have the opportunity to share my story, the stories of my incomparable contemporaries like Marvin and Aretha, plus my music with the millions of Audible listeners who are looking for authentic stories told in ways they’ve never experienced before.”
“During these unprecedented times, we are extraordinarily grateful to be able to continue to create unique, boundary-defying experiences for our millions of listeners,” said Rachel Ghiazza, Audible’s EVP, Head of US Content. “We are thrilled to join forces with Gunpowder & Sky to produce innovative content for our musical-storytelling initiative, featuring incredible artists choosing the intimacy of Audible to share their stories with fans at a time when staying connected is so necessary.”
“Music has the unique ability to tell stories that end up defining the highs and lows of our lives – and, well, pretty much convey our emotions much better than we mortals can without these wonderful melodies,” said Van Toffler, CEO of Gunpowder & Sky. “Teaming up with Audible to shine a light on some of the most influential musicians of our time in new, innovative ways - via words and music over songs and anecdotes – is a dream come true.”
Critically acclaimed Audible Original performances from the past include James Taylor’s 'Break Shot: My First 21 Years' and 'Patti Smith at the Minetta Lane' which are currently available for download at Audible's official site. The musical narratives 'Bluebird Memories: A Journey Through Lyrics & Life' performed by Common and Tom Morello at the Minetta Lane will premiere exclusively on Audible this summer, and 'Road Trip Elegies: Montreal to New York', performed by Rufus Wainwright will debut in the fall. For more information on this entertaining series, you can click here.
