What does music taste like? J. Walter Thompson Brazil and Spotify are exploring this question by launching a new campaign called the Flavor of Songs for Brazilian cookware brand Tramontina. The project is driven by an algorithm that can turn any song from the Spotify platform into a different recipe – and which is capable of generating 44 million possible gastronomic combinations. The concept is based on synesthesia, the phenomenon where the stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to a similar experience in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. One sense involuntarily influences the other. In this case, sound informs taste.

The Flavor of Songs is the culmination of a six-month-long study, where Tramontina – one of Brazil’s leading brands of cooking utensils—Spotify and J. Walter Thompson Brazil brought together neuroscientist Dr. Marcelo Costa, Head of the Neuroscience Department at the University of São Paulo, conductor João Rocha from the University of Kentucky, and Renato Carioni, chef and coach of team Brazil in the Bocuse d’Or, to give flavor to songs and create a dish for each of them.

With the aim of using innovation and pop culture to inspire people to cook more – showing that stainless steel is much more than just pots and pans.

How does it work?
The six-month process started with neuroscientist Dr. Marcelo Costa and conductor João Rocha. They used the principle of synesthesia to classify the millions of songs available in Spotify’s database. “If you consider a samba school with its various instruments, that really dense part in terms of sound, you can relate that to dense food,” explains Rocha. Thus, Spotify’s parameters became ingredients; dance music was associated with temperature; energy as density/texture; positivity became bitterness/acidity, and musical notes became harmonization.

Based on these parameters, Chef Renato Carioni classified all the main culinary ingredients by assigning notes to each one of them. “If a song is not at all positive, its taste is bitter,” says Carioni.

This entire database was put together and originated an artificial intelligence that has the same technology used in financial systems, to “match” Spotify’s classification parameters and the different combinations of ingredients cataloged by Carioni. Thus, it was possible to come up with different dishes. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, for example, became a Foie Gras Terrine with Salmon caviar and Cold Barley.

“Our brief was from Tramontina was to appeal to a younger and more techy audience and get them excited by its stainless-steel line of products. We didn’t shy away from a technologically complex route, which has resulted in a project that appeals to all senses.” says Rodrigo Da Matta, ECD at J. Walter Thompson Brazil.

The campaign is featured on Spotify, via display banners and audio spots, always with a simple message: if this song had a flavor, what would be? And via a website which gives not only the gastronomic match for each song but also the ingredients, the cookware and the entire recipe, divided into simple and clear steps, so that the user can cook it at home. All that users have to do is log in with their Spotify account, type the name of the song or artist they want to discover the flavor, choose the track and see the result.

Credits
Creative Agency: J. Walter Thompson, Brasil
Client: Tramontina
Title: Flavor of Songs
CEO/CCO: Ricardo John
ECD: Cassio Moron e Rodrigo Da Matta
Copywriters: Rodrigo Da Matta, Kiko Borger, Heinz Boesing
Art Directors: Gustavo Rates, João Mendes, Marcus Prado, Cristiano Schein
Designers: Gustavo Rates, João Mendes, Marcus Prado
Creative Technologist e Creative Data: Sergio Costa e Tom Corral
Editing: Marcus Prado
Motion: Marcus Prado
Head of Production: Maisa Delgado
RTV: Carolina Pivato
Digital Producer: Sergio Costa e Tom Corral
Photographer: Régis Fernandez
Head of Client Services: Felipe Giacon
Operations Director: Thiago Segundo
Executive Director: Renata Dall Onder
Account Management: Fabricio Soares, Ricardo Montezuma, Rochele Pahs
Media: Giovana Venturelli, Maria Fernanda Galetti, Carolina Lopes, Ana Paula Rotta, Nathalia Silva, Luisa Maia
Planning: Stella Pirani, Marcus Pesavento
Client Approval: Darci Friebel, Rosane Fantinelli, Joice Patzlaff e Josiane Lamera Toazzi
Technology Producer: Casion
PR: Andrea Assef, Vivian Zeni, Livia Martins, Jessica Hartley
Extra Credits: Chef Renato Carioni, Maestro João Carlos Rocha, Doutor Marcelo Fernandes da Costa
TEASER
Production: Landia
Director: Aline Lata
Executive Production: Carol Dantas, Sebastian Hall
Assist Executive Production: Larissa Delfini
Head of Production: Camilla Bastos
Photography direction: Erico Toscano
Production: Natalia Petrechen
Editor: Wellington
Post-production coordinators: Elton Bronzeli, Rafael Malavazzi
Post-production/Finishing: Landia, M&A
Color Grading: Marla Colour Grading
AUDIO
Production: A9 Audio
Soundtrack: Apollo 9 e equipe A9
Account Management: Renata Schincariol e Guta Lima

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To promote the Tramontina cookware line, JWT Brazil created a few meticulously crafted copies of a book called Biblia Definitiva Do Churrasco, or The Bible of Barbecue. Each page of the book is made to be used or destroyed in the process of creating an authentic Brazilian grilling experience.

One thick sheet shatters into chunks of charcoal, while another lights the fire and yet another fans the flame. Other pages work as an apron, sharpen knives, wrap meat, act as cutting boards and even serve the finished dish.
Only a few “master barbecue chefs” received the books, though the agency is creating a simplfied version to be sold in stores.

Credits
Client: Tramontina
Agency: JWT Brazil
Title: The Bible of Barbecue
Chief Creative Officer: Ricardo John
Creative Directors: Erick Rosa, Diego Wortmann
Head of Art: Fabio Simões
Art Director: Lucas Reis
Copywriters: Sleyman Khodor, Patrick Matzenbacher, Lucas Tristão, Fernando Duarte
Photography: Régis Fernandez
Illustration: Estúdio Olho Bala, Lucas Reis
Production Company: Santa Transmedia
Director: Gustavo Gripe
Motion Designers: Guilherme Krolow, Filipe Birck
Director of Photography: Raul Krebs
Audio Production: Antfood