Have you ever thought to yourself “Man, I wish there was a contemporary and modern musical adaptation of Homer’s epic tale The Odyssey?” If so, I have some fantastic news for you! If not… please hear me out anyway.
Our story today centers around one man and his vision. Jorge Rivera-Herrans, also known as Jay Herrans, is the writer of concept musical EPIC, which follows the story of The Odyssey. Herrans and the other vocalists really bring new light to the classic tale, and create an engaging and enjoyable musical. Herrans also works with indie animators to create ‘official’ animations to go with each song, which are incredibly impressive.
EPIC is released in ‘sagas,’ which represent different story arcs from The Odyssey. As of now, the released sagas are the “Troy Saga”, “Cyclops Saga”, “Ocean Saga”, “Circe Saga”, “Thunder Saga”, and “Wisdom Saga”. Two sagas – the “Vengeance Saga” and “Ithaca Saga” – have yet to be released.
Each individual character has their own instrumental motifs that play in songs where they have a relevant role. Often, the motifs will repeat in later songs, signifying the continued importance of the character, even if they have died. Every song is unique, but a lot of elements overlap, creating a listening experience that is both interesting and cohesive.
If you’re a fan of Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera, or Les Miserables, I think you’ll really enjoy EPIC. You can find the songs in order on an official playlist on Spotify (and probably other music streaming platforms as well!), or you can find Youtube playlists that include the animations.
Ren Monin
Staff Writer
