News

Heavy Duty on the Charts! Jim-E Stack and Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem (the Muppets Band) both made Billboard debuts this week. Jim-E Stack is a Heavy Duty published songwriter and producer who is celebrated here for his work with Flume. He has worked with everyone’s favorite artists including Bon Iver, Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and Empress Of, and is a frequent contributor to Heavy Duty’s brand and custom projects. We also had the distinct pleasure of being in the studio with The Muppets, resulting in two songs for The Mayhem’s Disney+ debut!

We’ve long stanned the Electric Mayhem Muppet Band, and everyone has their favorite (Animal! Janice! Dr. Teeth!). So, dreams came true when we were asked to collaborate with the famous muppet musicians on their debut album and new Disney+ Series. We contributed 2 songs to the series writing “On Our Way” and producing an updated version of the Electric Mayhem classic “Can You Picture That.”

H&M developed a new skincare brand to speak to the Gen Z audience. Where better to bring that to market but TikTok? Our brief was to write a laid back, perfect-for-summer anthem, authentic to the platform, and empowering to their audience.

Olay asked us to write a song that shows how to simplify skincare routines and protect from the elements. Taking on the spirit of a modern jingle we made this infectious, high energy, ear-worm.

We are honored to be shortlisted for 2 AMP Awards for Original Music AND Best Use of Music and Sound in New Media Marketing for “Taste My Face”. Thank you to Townhouse x Applebee’s for trusting us with original music for this tasty campaign and congrats to our fellow nominees! See you at Sony Hall on May 22nd for the 2023 AMP awards.

Heavy Duty’s Dylan Bostick and Josh Kessler took home the award for Best Music Supervision in a Video Game (synch) for their work on Saints Row at the 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors awards. Props to Meghan Riechmann for clearing over 100 songs for this epic project as well as the rest of the HD team for their nominations, and support.

Weekend reading of the throwback variety: Stereogum profiled “Hey There Delilah” in their ‘Number Ones’ series. A bit of trivia – this chart-topper was produced by Heavy Duty founder and ECD Ariel Rechtshaid, but it didn’t land a number one spot without some twists and turns.

Heavy Duty is in good company alongside some of our industry’s most creative work, and people, as an Ad Age 2023 Creativity Awards finalist. This is our second year in a row getting recognition in the ‘Music & Sound Company of the Year’ category. Celebrating and giving thanks to our brilliant, kind, creative, and hard-working team!