Why Is the Slack Hold Music So Haunted and So Good?
Mar 20, 2024
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Explore the mysterious origins of Slack's haunting hold music, linked to a failed MMO game and the composer's unique relationship. Learn about the unintentional internet pioneers behind Slack, their surreal gaming world creations, and the quirky backstory of creating Slack sounds like alerts and bleeps. Delve into the phantom context behind the sounds, including improvised sax fills and glitchy DNA preservation.
The haunting Slack hold music was composed by Atdanny Boy Simmons for the failed MMO Glitch, adding a mysterious and captivating element to Slack huddles.
Simmons's evolution from a band musician to the creator of Slack's iconic sounds highlights the unexpected journey from game design to workplace communication innovation.
Deep dives
Enigma of Slack Hold Music Origins Unveiled
The podcast delves into the mysterious and captivating origin of the haunting hold music featured in Slack huddles. Initially mistaken for elevator music, this unique composition surprised listeners with its jazz guitar, vibraphone, saxophone, and synthesized elements. Through internet investigations, it was revealed that the track was created by Atdanny Boy Simmons for the failed MMO Glitch, a project preceding Slack. Slack founder Stewart Butterfield's response on Twitter shed light on the track's connection to a waiting quest in the game, adding to the intrigue surrounding its serendipitous inclusion in Slack huddles.
Evolution from Game Design to Internet Phenomenon
The episode explores the evolution of Slack hold music composer, Atdanny Boy Simmons, from a musician in a band with Butterfield to building the iconic sounds of Slack. Tracing back to their collaboration on Glitch, where Simmons invented a folk music-style score for the game, the transition to Slack occurred as Glitch shut down. With valuable spare parts like the messaging system from Glitch at hand, Simmons's creations found a new home in Slack, captivating its 32 million users daily with distinct auditory cues like bleeps and alerts, a testament to the unexpected journey from game design to workplace communication innovation.
Those sounds you hear when you’re alone in a Huddle aren’t canned. They’re uncanny. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here.