Adding a unique Kiwi touch to Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie was the music created by New Zealand's own The Phoenix Foundation and Tami Neilson. Their collaboration has brought an exciting and fresh sound to the movie, blending The Phoenix Foundation's innovative musical style with Neilson's powerful vocals. This partnership has resulted in a soundtrack that perfectly complements the film's adventurous spirit and emotional depth.
The film’s score was composed by The Phoenix Foundation, members Sam Flynn-Scott, Luke Buda and Conrad Wedde. The Wellington based indie rock group have been a New Zealand music staple for almost 30 years.
Tami Neilson is an award-winning Canadian-born country and soul singer/songwriter based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Neilson wrote and co-produced songs for the film’s main character – the quick-witted squirrel Sandy. Tami wrote three songs and sings the classic Spongebob Squarepants theme song with a Sandy Cheeks twist.
Previously, Tami’s music featured throughout the cult favourite The Brokenwood Mysteries – filled with New Zealand stars of folk music like Marlon Williams and Aldous Harding - thanks to a lead detective in the show obsessed with country music.
Being a part of Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants spinoff arose when Neilson connected with Karyn Rachtman, an American music supervisor based between Auckland and Los Angeles with credentials like Pulp Fiction, Clueless, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! – award-winning Hollywood classics with distinctive and memorable music.
Rachtman is currently the head of Mind Your Music, a music supervision company and runs Aotearoa Syncposium: A Screen Music Conference – a two-day conference on building relationships between local music talent and Hollywood key players.
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The movie – a spinoff from the hit children’s show SpongeBob SquarePants - will see the underwater town Bikini Bottom scooped out of the ocean.
Saving Bikini Bottom follows Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob as they, “must go on an epic quest to Sandy’s home state of Texas and enlist her family to help save Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs and the rest of the gang before time runs out”.
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie utilised the PDV Rebate.
For information on the PDV Rebate click here.