Vancouver’s TerraZero teams up with singer Jason Derulo to “slidin” to the metaverse
Vancouver’s TerraZero teams up with singer Jason Derulo to “slidin” to the metaverse
The activation is another success in a series of Web3 experiences the company has created in partnership with Atlantic Records.
Singer Jason Derulo is no stranger to the digital world. A master of Web2, the long-time star knows what hits on social media, and is a big name on TikTok. Like, really big. Currently the 13th most-followed person on the platform – he has 52.2 million followers and 1.2 billion views – Derulo is more popular than BTS, JoJo Siwa, and Selena Gomez. (And if you don’t know who they are, ask your kids.)
Vancouver company TerraZero is now catapulting Jason Derulo into Web3. The company builds decentralized metaverse experiences, and has teamed up with the iconic artist to launch Derulo’s first activation in Decentraland: a 3D virtual world powered by blockchain.
Why it matters: Derulo’s digital experience, which went live on June 29, is another success in a series of metaverse events created in partnership between TerraZero and Atlantic Records. More artists are exploring new ways of interacting with fans and boosting their digital profile, and TerraZero’s technology has a proven track-record of helping performers interact with their audiences across the immersive world. Expect to see the company get tapped again to host high-profile celebrity events as the world moves toward Web3.
Slidin’ into the metaverse: Terrazero has recreated the visuals from Derulo’s music video for his new song “Slidin’” as a digital twin in the metaverse, while also allowing fans to manipulate and stylize the environment themselves. The Vancouver company was similarly responsible for designing the performer’s avatar, which was controlled live by the singer during the premier and before the event. Derulo used the creation to talk with fans across Decentraland in a new kind of experiential content that TerraZero dubs “limitless worlds.” The concept, spearheaded by the company’s chief metaverse officer Ryan Kieffer and chief experience officer Brandon F. Johnson, presents new kinds of experiences where artists can create personal moments and provide access for fans that would not be possible using any other platform.
“Talk dirty to me”: Dan Reitzik, CEO of TerraZero, sees this kind of activation as the beginning of how artists can extend their entertainment empires. “Jason is fantastically talented, and an amazing artist to work with – but when he goes on tour, Jason can only perform to the crowd that’s before him,” he says. “In the metaverse, we want to bring a global crowd to artists like Jason Derulo. Why play to just 20,000 people in an arena when you can play to 20,000,000 in the metaverse?”
“I would’ve given anything for this kind of connection with my idols growing up,” Derulo agrees. “The metaverse, and how people can come together to experience something special… this is definitely the future of the internet; the way TerraZero is doing it and what we made together. I’ve always been a gamer at heart, which has always found its way into how I’ve written my music, and cultivated my career. Being an avatar in the metaverse and connecting with people directly is a new way to show who I am beyond the screen and speakers. It’s super real in a very unreal way.”