Lemondrop

After we saw the profile of the amazing new Tumblr One Hello World from our friends at Urlesque, we just had to know more. The brilliant concept of the site: Users call in to an anonymous number and leave a voicemail with whatever's on their minds, and then ... someone ... creates a background score for the message and posts the whole thing online. So creative! We got in touch with the person behind the magic -- after the jump, find out what they had to say about the project.





What is your name and where are you from?
I'm from Wichita, Kansas. I wish to stay anonymous at this time.

How did you get the idea for this?
I had recorded a track that I wanted to add some spoken word to. The words needed to be from a real, candid account offered by someone other than myself. Around that same time, I had learned about some new digital tools that make it easy for a user to collect voicemails. After setting up an inbox, I asked connections on my social networks to call in and leave a voicemail about happiness. I was thrilled when I received several voicemails to work with. When it was finished, I posted the track online, and subsequently received an unexpected amount of interest and support such that it inspired me to continue making tracks.

How do you decide which voicemails to create soundtracks for?
There's the basics like the quality of the voicemail recording, and the clarity with which the caller speaks. After that, I'm most moved by the voicemails where I feel the person is being genuine, candidly sharing an experience they had, their emotions, or their views.

Why do you do it? What do you get out of it?
Here's my global perspective: despite the fact that the human race is more interconnected than it has ever been, I still see a disturbing lack of compassion. It's as if the same digital tools that link us together, have also caused us to fall even deeper into our own little worlds.

With One Hello World I hope to meet two ends. This first is that I'd like to give people a candid look into the experiences of other individuals. I do this with the hope that from it they can gain a greater understanding of viewpoints and/or circumstances dissimilar to theirs. The second is that I hope One Hello World helps people feel that they're not alone. You can tell the whole world what you're going through, just call me (I listen to every message I get). Additionally, there's almost always going to be somebody out there who's going through the same experiences as you. Maybe one of those people is on a track I posted. Ultimately, it's my goal for One Hello World to celebrate our differences while affirming the fact that we're all very much alike.

On a personal level, I've always had a love of music composition and a fascination with the human experience. Matched with my penchant for all things digital, this has been the most exciting endeavor I've ever undertook. Working with the voicemails I receive is like walking in a stranger's shoes; trying to extend their feelings into music is a very emotional experience. I'm grateful for the people who take the time to call in, and find gratification in composing music to their voicemail.

What is your favorite voicemail soundtrack?
Yesterday, I produced a track, "Coming Out to My Family," and it was tough. I have people who are close to me who, when asserting their sexual orientation/gender identity, have had to deal with wretched reactions from other individuals (much like the caller). I think the voicemail is a striking reflection of the pain they've experienced, and the music I composed is dedicated to those people, the individual who called in and anybody else coping with similar struggles.

So, that's my flavor of the week. My overall fave? "Movies When You Die." I love the concept the caller shares and I'm very satisfied with the music I composed to it.

Is there anything else you want to say about the project?
Most musicians credit their fans as their main motivation, and I'm certainly no exception. I'm thrilled that the response from the international community has been so supportive. It's greatly appreciated and I look forward to continuing to grow One Hello World. The plan is to have an album of select tracks, reworked and featuring other live musicians to release in the spring. Guess I'm thanking everyone for their ongoing support and hope that they stick with me as I try to bring this project to a broader audience.