Client: Igor Janke, prominent Polish journalist

Objective: Develop a comprehensive sonic branding package that encapsulates the spirit, theme, and tone of voice for two of Igor Janke's successful podcasts, while aligning with his personal and journalistic ethos.

Background: Igor Janke's podcasts, "Open System" and "Morning System," have garnered over 168k subscribers on YouTube and approximately 40 million annual listeners. These platforms aim to unite a diverse Polish audience amid political polarization.

Process:

1. Initial Research and Interviews:

   • Conducted detailed interviews and distributed questionnaires to understand the values and preferences of Janke and his team.

   • Analyzed the cultural context and visual identity of the podcasts, which provided crucial insights for sound development.

2. Identification of Core Values:

   • Three critical themes emerged from the feedback: independence, freedom, and unity. These values were pivotal in guiding the musical direction.

3. Musical Style and Development:

   • Chose funk reflect the identified values, dovetailing with Janke's admiration for David Bowie. Elements of rock were incorporated into the news background section to add dramaturgy and dynamics.

   • Produced 10 jingle demos, enabling the selection of a primary jingle that would anchor the other elements of Janke's sonic identity.

4. Selection and Refinement:

   • Collaborated closely with Janke and his team to select and refine the main jingle and additional musical cues for different podcast segments, such as the news section.

   • Employed the second-best demo as background music for the news section, as suggested by the team.

5. Professional Recording and Final Adjustments:

   • Re-recorded all elements with professional musicians to ensure high-quality sound.

   • Made final tweaks to the compositions, followed by mixing and mastering to optimize playback across various devices.