December 13, 2022, SACRAMENTO, CA, — In celebration of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’s 20th anniversary, ZREO: Second Quest announces their biggest cover album yet; Fair Winds & Following Seas feat. ATLYS. This fully-licensed album features ATLYS, an all-female crossover string quartet, and showcases over 50 minutes of music across 12 tracks from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. As a preview of what’s to come, “The Great Sea,” is available on all major streaming platforms today. The single from Fair Winds & Following Seas can be purchased on Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon Music.
Fair Winds & Following Seas will be available in March 2023 with the team producing its first licensed CD release in addition to a partnership with Mango Mage Records for a vinyl pressing. Exact details for pre-orders will be announced at a later date.
During the pandemic in 2020, founder Samuel Ferrara and long-time friend and composer Ari Fisher reformed Zelda Reorchestrated as ZREO: Second Quest. Together they began working on a Wind Waker cover album. “I remember working with Sam on another [non-video game-related] project during the pandemic and he said ‘I have a crazy idea. I want to do a Wind Waker album. You in?’ It didn't even take me a moment to know that this was exactly what I wanted to do,” says Fisher. “What began as its own standalone project led to the return of ZREO as ZREO: Second Quest.”
Fair Winds & Following Seas is the result of hundreds of hours of work over the course of two years from a remote team consisting of musicians and arrangers from all over the globe. The phrase “fair winds and following seas” is a maritime blessing for good weather and safe travels, and was chosen in hopes to capture the adventurous feeling from The Wind Waker. “It was so amazing to see the seedling of this project grow into a wonderful source of collaboration between all the composers and musicians involved. Especially as this project was birthed during the first height of the pandemic, it provided hope and comfort in the most distant of times and holds a very special place in our hearts,” recounts Rita Andrade, violist from ATLYS.
The Wind Waker’s music is unique in the Zelda franchise, such that it features a wide variety of musical instruments, musical styles, and rhythms. Fair Winds explores those particular styles through multiple genres from Celtic folk to flamenco, classical and baroque, to comedy and symphonic metal.
After ATLYS was brought aboard to contribute their signature sound towards some of the music, it became clear that the main musical thru line of the album should focus on them. Though the album explores a myriad of genres, it is the quartet that brings it all together. “The energy and spirit of the music from Zelda has captured generations, and to play it in as pure a form as a string quartet is nothing short of exhilarating,” says Sabrina Tabby, violinist of ATLYS. “It’s been so special getting to know the world of Zelda through its music. Ari Fisher always keeps us on our toes while honoring the beauty of the original tracks,” regales Jinty McTavish, violinist from ATLYS.
In a first for the team, this album features live performances on every track thanks to the collaboration with ATLYS and a hand-picked remote orchestra consisting of nearly 30 individual musicians. “We adore ZREO: Second Quest not just for their passion and work ethic producing this music, but also for their way of working with us - being hilariously funny, professional, and kind,” says Genevive Tabby, cellist from ATLYS. “I remember Sam floating the idea of a special Wind Waker album back in the days of the original ZREO project,” reminisces Stephen Weber, Community Manager, “It was sidelined in favor of Twilight Symphony, and I believe that decision was the right one to make. The inclusion of live performances on every track proves the ZREO Team has grown as Second Quest. Fair Winds & Following Seas is a beautiful showcase of talent that would not have been possible previously.”
Striving to capture the feel of The Wind Waker’s unique sound, Fair Winds & Following Seas was arranged by ZREO: Second Quest’s Ari Fisher and Samuel Ferrara, joined by guest arrangers Julie Lee, Andrew Vogt, Allison Dettlof, and Victor Hugo Morales. Performers include Genevive Tabby (Cello), Jinty McTavish (Violin), Rita Andrade (Viola), Sabrina Tabby (Violin), Allison Dettloff (Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Recorder, Tin Whistle), Andrei Oltean (Recorder), Ben Elliot (Percussion), Carlos Carty (Pan Flute), David Erik Ramos (Ocarina), Davide Bonomo (Piccolo, Flute), Eamon Coughlan (Bouzouki), Gianluca Cucco (Trumpet), Jamie B Jordan (Bodhran, Irish Whistle), Jenice Rosen (Bassoon), Jennifer Kirby (English Horn, Oboe, Oboe da Caccia), Kelly O'Donohue (Trumpet), Ken Candelas (Drums), Liza Saracina (Oboe), Maisie Ireland (Oboe), Meredith Moore (French Horn), Michael A. Grant (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon), Michele Fortunato (Trombone), Pablo Dominguez (Cajon, Guitar), Scott Hearn (Bass Trombone, Trombone), Shane Cox (Trombone), Tim de Man (Accordion, Guitar), Tim Stoney (Trumpet), and Victor Hugo Morales (Piano).
Founded in 2004, Zelda Reorchestrated created virtual performances of music from The Legend of Zelda franchise as it would have sounded with the warm halls and intimate expression of live players. ZREO: Second Quest continues that legacy featuring many live musicians for upcoming releases.
Samuel Ferrara, Co-Founder and CEO, is a musician, virtual instrument programmer, editor, mix engineer, and producer. Ferrara has spent most of his professional career between mediums – music, sound, photography, and videography. In 2004, he created the ambitious project Zelda Reorchestrated, intending to recreate the soundtracks to the entire Legend of Zelda series. Since then, he has perfected his craft in virtual orchestral mockups and orchestrations.
Ari Fisher, Co-Founder and Lead Composer, has won many film scoring competitions and collaborated on a variety of projects ranging from feature-length films to video game soundtracks. He completed the Certificate Program at the Nadia Boulanger Institute in Paris, France, and received his Master’s degree in music composition from the Jacobs School of Music. In 2015, Fisher received the Jon Vickers Film Scoring Award for his score to the 1916 silent film, The Return of "Draw" Egan by William S. Hart and performed at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in 2019.
ATLYS is a classically trained, crossover string quartet comprised of four unique women. Lauded for their passionate and dynamic performances and signature sound, they create concert experiences that are both mesmerizing and interactive. Curating programs that are both diverse and intriguing, an ATLYS performance is more than an experience - it is a conversation between artist and audience. With over 1,000 performances under their belt, they have inspired listeners across the globe.
ZREO Studios was founded in September 2020, and incorporated in July 2021 as a collaborative musical group that creates thoughtful interpretations of popular video game music while committing to musicianship and production value. ZREO: Second Quest is the first major musical project of the studio.
ZREO: Second Quest’s creative team is available for an interview upon request.
Media Contact
hello@zreosq.com
Official Website: https://zreosq.com
Bandcamp: https://zreosq.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/zreosq
Patreon: https://patreon.com/zreosq
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zreosq
Discord: https://discord.gg/zreosq
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zreosq
Legal: Noah Downs / Premack Rogers P.C.
Lead Composer Ari Barack Fisher
Arrangers Allison Dettloff, Andrew Vogt, Julie Lee,
Samuel Ferrara, Victor Hugo Morales
Project Manager Molly Hudson
Community Manager Stephen J. Weber
Mix Engineer Samuel Ferrara
Mastering ZREO Studios
Mastering Engineer Samuel Ferrara
Album Artwork Kell Carr
Allison Dettloff Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Recorder, Tin Whistle
Andrei Oltean Recorder
Ben Elliot Percussion
Carlos Carty Pan Flute
David Erik Ramos Ocarina
Davide Bonomo Flute, Piccolo
Eamon Coughlan Bouzouki
Genevieve Tabby Cello
Gianluca Cucco Trumpet
Jamie B Jordan Bodhran, Irish Whistle
Jenice Rosen Bassoon
Jennifer Kirby English Horn, Oboe, Oboe da Caccia
Jinty McTavish Violin
Kelly O'Donohue Trumpet
Ken Candelas Drums
Liza Saracina Oboe
Maisie Ireland Oboe
Meredith Moore French Horn
Michael A. Grant Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon
Michele Fortunato Trombone
Pablo Dominguez Cajon, Guitar
Rita Andrade Viola
Sabrina Tabby Violin
Scott Hearn Bass Trombone, Trombone
Shane Cox Trombone
Tim de Man Accordion, Guitar
Tim Stoney Trumpet
Victor Hugo Morales Piano
Recording Studio SAE Institute of Technology New York
NY Recording Engineer Kia Eshghi
NY Assistant Engineers Anton Marek, Edward Marks
01. Title Theme タイトル
Composer: Kenta Nagata
Arrangement: Samuel Ferrara, Ari Barack Fisher
02. The Legendary Hero 勇者伝説
Composer: Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Ari Barack Fisher
03. Outset Island プロロ島
Composer: Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Allison Dettloff, Ari Barack Fisher
04. Grandma おばあちゃん
Composer: Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Ari Barack Fisher
05. Departure & Pirates 旅立ち / 海賊
Composer: Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Samuel Ferrara, Ari Barack Fisher
06. Windfall Island タウラ島
Composer: Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Julie Lee, Ari Barack Fisher
07. The Great Sea 大海原
Composer: Kenta Nagata
Arrangement: Ari Barack Fisher
08. Dragon Roost Island 竜の島
Composer: Kenta Nagata
Arrangement: Samuel Ferrara, Ari Barack Fisher
09. Princess Zelda’s Theme ゼルダ姫のテーマ
Composer: Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Andrew Vogt, Ari Barack Fisher
10. Ganondorf Battle ガノンドロフ戦
Composer: Hajime Wakai, Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Ari Barack Fisher
11. Farewell Hyrule King ハイラル王との別れ
Composer: Koji Kondo, Kenta Nagata
Arrangement: Victor Hugo Morales, Ari Barack Fisher
12. Staff Credits & Epilogue スタッフクレジット / エピローグ
Composer: Kenta Nagata, Koji Kondo
Arrangement: Julie Lee, Ari Barack Fisher
© 2022 ZREO Studios, LLC d/b/a ZREO: Second Quest
The Legend of Zelda and related Zelda properties are © Nintendo. ZREO Studios, LLC, ATLYS, guest musicians and arrangers appearing on this album, and the ZREO: Second Quest team are in no way affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected to Nintendo concerning this release. Musical compositions are © 1986, 2002 Nintendo and are used with permission. Mechanical licensing obtained.