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We are asking women and girls to take the Supermodel Astronaut Challenge and post a photo of themselves holding a sign that says “I Am Enough #supermodelastronaut” as their profile picture.
How do you make an impact with your music? How about creating social media campaign empowering girls and women and writing anthem to go along with it.
That seems like quite a lofty goal but, it’s exactly what music duo Worldwide Groove Corporation have done with their new single “Supermodel Astronaut’.
The video features regular everyday women like me singing along to the catchy tune with lyrics like ‘I’m a goddess in the sky look me up” while Worldwide member Ellen lists facts about how our self-esteem is affected by unrealistic media images of women.
We had a chance to interview Ellen and Kurt from Worldwide Groove Corporation for our Indie Spotlight Series and they also shared the video for Supermodel Astronaut which you can check out right now:
Interview with Worldwide Groove Corporation
Describe your music for those who have never heard it.
Worldwide Groove Corp’s music usually falls in the downtempo electronic vein. Our first release “Chillodesiac Lounge: Fever” was a project filled with well know jazz standards that we re-recorded into our own style. However, we’ve done remixes as well (Britney, The Killers, Santana) and love to do uptempo electro pop. Our “Freak The Beat “ is a fun dance tune that was licensed for Grey’s Anatomy’s promos. Most recently, we’ve just released Supermodel Astronaut, another dance pop tune, and it’s accompany #Iamenough #supermodelastronaut viral campaign. During our “Year of the Groove” when we are putting out one new music release a month for a year, we are actually hitting just about all of the different forms our music takes within the electronic music umbrella.
Tell us about your latest single “Supermodel Astronaut’.
Supermodel Astronaut is an infectious dance pop song with a fun and quirky lyric about being a Supermodel Astronaut. As part of this song’s release we’ve created a social media campaign with a great message which is: women should celebrate who they are, and tune out the media’s onslaught of images and campaigns that present an unrealistic and unattainable view of women. In essence, all women are already “Supermodel Astronauts” for raising children, making their way in a man’s world, and doing the right things even when people aren’t watching. And yet, so many women fall victim to negative self talk based on the unrealistic ideals that get pushed on them, and we think this is a big problem.
We’re asking women and girls to take the Supermodel Astronaut Challenge and post a photo of themselves holding a sign that says “I Am Enough #supermodelastronaut” as their profile picture. To learn what the Supermodel Astronaut Challenge is go here: http://www.worldwidegroovecorp.com/supermodel-astronaut-challenge
What inspired you to pursue music?
Kurt: We had a piano in my home, and when I was about 4 years old I started playing by ear, and started lessons when I was 6. Music came somewhat easily to me, and I was out gigging with a cover band by the time I was 13. Of course everyone was in their 40’s and it was quite hilarious, but I learned so much playing all the hits. My first synthesizer was the Korg Poly-800 and I learned how to program sounds on that machine. I’ve always loved music and it was clear to me that it was my gift I had been given.
Ellen: I was always musically inclined, but I grew up doing theater primarily. I was on track to major in theater, but changed my mind during my Senior year and decided to major in music. I had started writing songs when I was 8, and was playing multiple instruments through high school. Then at the end of my college years, I decided to get a Master’s Degree in music to study film scoring. I quickly decided that was not the career I wanted due to the extreme demand of that career, I didn’t want that lifestyle. But I’m so glad I went to the University of Miami and got my master’s degree in Media Writing and Production because it definitely prepared me to work in the music industry.
Greatest career accomplishment so far?
Kurt: Perhaps our track Smoke and Mirrors from our Chillodesiac Lounge: Fever record going #1 on XM…however there are many accomplishments that have profound meaning for different reasons. Having the opportunity to tour the country playing keyboards, appear on TV shows etc, was a dream of mine in my teen years, and something which I was able to do eventually. I also remember distinctly the first time I played live at a festival in front of 20K people. In terms of studio work, getting to work on string arrangements for Plumb was a big honor and extremely gratifying. I know that’s more than one, but they are all special 🙂
Ellen: That’s hard to say. I believe the Supermodel Astronaut Challenge social media campaign MIGHT be mine… it’s a little early yet, but I have high hopes for this one. I’m extremely excited about the message and I absolutely love seeing so many other awesome women in the video with me. Just 4 days after the music video was released, I met a woman for the first time and after a few minutes of talking she recognized me as the one who had done the Supermodel Astronaut video. She grabbed me and gave me a huge hug and told me with watery eyes how much she loved it and how refreshing the message was. That was just a couple of days ago, so like I said, it’s still in the early stages. But I’m hearing from a lot of women that this is hitting them in a place that desperately needs affirmation and encouragement. So, for me, to be able to take a silly and quirky song and bundle it into a social media campaign that affects women on a much deeper level, that’s as good as it gets. I mean, of course, I’m hoping some people out there actually PURCHASE the song… 🙂 But honestly, I love how a song can be an instrument for change. How amazing is that!?
What has been your biggest challenge?
I think the biggest challenge can just simply be deciding how best to promote ourselves. The reality is that we can actually do a lot of different things at a high level. Do we arrange strings, write pop songs, produce downtempo, perform live, program for other projects? Yes we do. What’s the best way to let people know that without seeming scattered? The music industry has changed drastically in the last 20 years. Budgets have shrunk and revenue streams have dried up. One must keep up with the changes and follow where the money comes from in order to keep the bills paid and the lights on in the studio. There have been some lean years, and it’s hard when we both do the same thing with neither of us pulling in a full time salary from another job. But we’re still here and still doing music, so maybe that’s the answer the the question before this one…
Favorite Artist? why?
Kurt: Oh that’s tough. I’m not a “favorites” type of person. I love so many different kinds of music. However, I can tell you I absolutely fell in love with Thievery Corp’s first record “Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi,” and so many of the following projects. The mix of sampled beats, middle eastern instruments, and sublime vocals makes for such a rich sonic experience. It’s undeniable IMHO.
Ellen: I’ve got a big long list, but if I have to throw out a few names, I always gravitate toward the quirky female artists like Kimbra, Sia, Imogen Heap, and Ellie Goulding. But truly I love so many songs out there from several genres. Right now “Chandelier” by Sia is one of my favorites.
what’s your career goal for the year
Kurt: Worldwide Groove Corp would love to enter into a partnership with a like minded brand, whereby both benefit from each others cross promotion and exposure.
Ellen: Well we are currently in our “Year of the Groove” where we have committed to putting out one new music release a month for at least a year. We started in July and will go through next June at least. This has been quite an undertaking, considering the fact that we must keep doing all of our other work in addition. Kurt is the creative director for iv Music Group, and I am on adjunct faculty at Belmont University teaching commercial music composition. We also do other paying music work for other music clients, which is how we can afford to be putting out all of these releases and working with a publicist. And then I home school my child as well. So… my personal goal for the year is to survive. HA!!! And as for my career goal, I’d love to look back when the Year of the Groove is finished and see that we solidified our presence, found a larger audience, gained new business partnerships, and put some great music out there that feeds people’s souls. That would be fantastic.
