ISA – International Sound Awards

Today we want to present Samantha Sawyer as member of the ISA2019 jury.

Samantha Sawyer is the Global Head of Music Partnerships at 7digital, the B2B digital music and radio solutions company. Based in the company’s London headquarters, Samantha is responsible for rights acquisition and relationship management with label and publisher partners. Samantha works closely with 7digital’s commercial team and clients to advise on licensing process and strategy. Samantha is a lawyer by background and has two decades of experience in the music industry, having worked for major labels, BBC Worldwide, and with digital music/ music tech companies.

We are very pleased to announce Chris Hegstrom from Amazon as another member of the International Sound Awards 2019 jury.

Chris has been creating audio for user experience and interactive media for over 20 years. After studying Music Synthesis at Berklee College of Music, he began his career by doing live sound for Blue Man Group. He then moved into web audio which led to over a decade of designing sound for video games, including franchises such as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Burnout, and God of War. In 2012, he made the transition into product sound with Microsoft HoloLens. At HoloLens, he designed UX sound, sonic branding, and 3D audio. With this experience, he started his own company, Symmetry Audio, in 2015. As Symmetry Audio, he’s designed VR audio for Unity, HBO, and Technicolor, as well as creating UX sound for Google. Lastly, in 2017, he joined Amazon as Senior UX Sound Designer, where he now works on the audio identity of Alexa, Fire TV, and Fire OS.

At the ISA2018 Sessions, Alexander Wodrich and Sebastian Waschulewski from why do birds presented their project from the Hyundai Olympic Pavilion during the South Korean Winter Olympic Games. On a vast, abstract approach to sound design they underlined the futuristic, unlimited ‘hydrogenetic’ vision of Hyundai.

We are very pleased to announce Michela Magas as member of the International Sound Awards 2019 jury.

Michela Magas is the first winner of European Woman Innovator to represent the Creative Industries and was appointed Innovation Luminary for Creative Innovation by the European Commission and Intel Labs Europe. She is the founder of Music Tech Fest, a global community platform of over 7000 creative innovators and scientific researchers. The platform places music at the centre of innovation in areas as diverse as neuroscience, forestry and microcomputing, and has been hosted worldwide by partners including Microsoft Research New England, Centre Pompidou in Paris and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in London. She has 25 years of experience in developing product futures for a series of international clients including Apple, Nike and Nokia, has worked on Peter Gabriel’s digital ventures and is co-author of a patent in music AI. She is advisor on Innovation to the European Commission and the G7 Leaders.

Mood Stockholm is a unique shopping centre in the heart of Stockholm. Lexter Sound Design has created a holistic and brand building sound design concept, which adds a new dimension to the overall customer experience. Malin and Alex from Lexter presented the project at the ISA2018 Sessions.

At the ISA2018 Sessions, Felix Urban presented the “Audio Newspaper Experience” project that won two Grand Prix at the ISA2018 Awards. The aim of the project was to develop sound elements that enhance the experience of a spoken-only audio newspaper and provide a sound identity to its listeners, hence creating an accessible and emotional sound experience for the blind and visually impaired. 

Teemu and Cameron of Audiodraft showed the power of audio on our taste perception and how sound can increase the memorability and enjoyment of beverages at their talk at the ISA2018 Sessions.

At the ISA2018 Sessions, Andrea Cera and Nicolas Misdariis presented their sound design on the Renault concept car Symbioz.

At the ISA2018 Sessions, Pascal and David from Orange presented their development on Djingo, their voice assistant.

Let’s hear what moderator Steve, jury members Emma, Peter, Daniel and Birgit of ISA have to say about ISA2018.

The creation of an audio newspaper for blind and visually impaired was awarded two Grand Prix at the International Sound Awards 2018. The project was conducted by students of the FH Dortmund, Germany.

Alexander and Sebastian from why do birds won an ISAbell for their outstanding soundscape design of the Hyundai Olympic Pavilion 2018.

Marcus and Steffen from Electric Pulse won an ISAbell in the category Audio Branding with their project for the toy brand Sigikid. We interviewed them after the Award Show.

Margareta and Alexander from Lexter won two ISAbells at the 2018 awards with their project Mood Stockholm Sound Design. They tell us about the Sound Design for the Mood shopping mall in Stockholm

Teemu and Cameron from Audiodraft won two ISAbells at the 2018 awards with their project Kyrö Tasting Experience. We asked them some questions after the award ceremony.

Ella Duda and Laurent Cochini from Sixieme Son talk about their audio branding projcect for Renault R.S. that won an ISAbell at the ISA2018.

Thanks to everyone! See you in 2019.