Every summer, Macy’s explodes more than 40,000 shells over New York City in the nation’s largest fireworks display. Never content to simply recreate a great show from year to year, Macy’s is always trying to make the celebration bigger and better with new fireworks, new effects and new collaborations.
“With every year comes a new level of excitement and newness that we try to weave into the live show,” says Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. “And this year, truly one of the most magnificent things we’ve ever done, is our first-time-ever collaboration with an outside artist on the soundtrack for the show, and it’s none other than eight-time Grammy Award winner, Usher.”
“Though we’ve always worked with outside artists, to lend their voices, this is the very first time we took that creative piece and put it into the hands of someone else,” says Kule. “We were looking at a list of artists expansive enough to understand what we do. The list was long, and the name at the top was one we never thought would say yes. We got Usher on the phone, and he completely understood exactly what we’re trying to achieve on the Fourth.”
Usher was so enthusiastic about the project that he didn’t just create the playlist, he became involved with the fireworks and with other aspects of the show as well. “He’s unique and dynamic, so engaging and so smart, that we asked him to collaborate on the show in the sky,” says Kule. “He added creative input on the posters and art, too. Usher’s fingerprints are all over this show.”
Macy’s and Souza worked with Usher to create new pyrotechnic effects, including a beating heart. “This is really symbolic of the newness in this year’s show,” Kule says. “The shells burst in the shape of a heart, then burst again. This happens three or four times, and it looks like a beating heart. It’s really dynamic.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/macy-fireworks-article-1.1385432#ixzz2XvTKCQyg