Riding the crest of its recent success producing original music for national broadcast spots, Steven Vandeven’s Static Studios is offering clients the services of three versatile composers with video game scoring backgrounds.
“The depth and breadth of their skills are infinite, from pop, rock, bluegrass, country, urban/experimental, and everything in between are experiences that haven’t been seen before,” says Vandeven, adding, “and at affordable rates.”
Static Studios, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, started the new offering with Jeff Lopas composing original music for radio and television spots for Miller’s Genuine Draft, McDonald’s, American Family Insurance and others.
Lopas, now based in Milwaukee, had been a freelance producer for Static Studios while pursuing video game assignments. He also conducts recording sessions.
Soon thereafter, the studio teamed with Lopas’ longtime collaborators, prolific Adam Gubman of Los Angeles, who has scored 500 video games, possibly the most of any composer worldwide, and David Luis Ortega of Boston, whose music has garnered 100 million views on YouTube.
In addition to agency assignments, Vandeven has been giving back to the community by producing pro bono PSAs for non-profit organizations whose causes the studio supports, “which have been every one, so far,” he says.
Vandeven was seriously injured in November, 2008 when a speeding cab struck him while riding his bike home at night. He was in a coma for a week and in rehab for a month.
Grateful for the moral support of family, friends and the Chicago advertising community, he decided to repay “the huge debt I owe them” with his time, talent and facilities (the PSAs represented by Static-bot’s beating red heart).
Some of the organizations that have benefited from his reciprocity have been The Chicago AIDS Foundation, United Way, Friends of the Parks, FEMA, and the Kerry Woods Foundation.
Vandeven has occupied his River North sound design and audio post studio at 325 W. Huron since 2006. The nearly 3,000 sq. ft. studios has two control rooms and a soundproof, tracking room, with a floating floor and dropped ceiling, that’s large enough to accommodate a full band.
Current broadcast work includes Kellogg’s and Marlboro for Leo Burnett and Clorox for DDB/San Francisco. Coming up is a PBS TV pilot. See the new music reel here.
