Etihad Airways and Marriott International came together to plant 12,000 mangrove trees along the coast of Jubail Island in Abu Dhabi, a landmark commitment to sustainability and to the UAE’s wider environmental efforts. The story of the project was captured in a heartwarming film, and WithFeeling was asked to write its music.
- Client
- Etihad Marriott Mangrove Forest
- Agency
- WithFeeling
ETIHAD MARRIOTT MANGROVE FOREST
To carry the narrative we brought in our friend Safia Al Shehi, the voice of Expo, pairing her storytelling with an original score designed to match the emotion of the film frame for frame.
THE CHALLENGE
The brief was to make people feel something and to bring them together around a shared cause. The music needed to honour the scale of the initiative, a forest spanning more than 150 square kilometres within the only evergreen forest in the GCC region, while staying warm and human throughout.
THE APPROACH
We composed an original score and built it up with layers of sound design in Pro Tools, shaping each section so that music and picture rose together. As the film moved towards its close, the arrangement swelled to an inspiring finish that underlined the importance of protecting the environment.
THE RESULT
The finished piece is powerful, moving and visually striking, and it helped carry the project’s message to its audience. It is a reminder of how the right music can change a story and forge a genuine connection with viewers.
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