We turned the heartbeat of a child with congenital heart disease into music – a new version of the iconic song Heartbeats by The Knife. A heartbreaking issue from reality transformed into an engaging piece of aural storytelling and an innovative mechanic for fundraising.

The Situation

Over 1.3 million babies are born each year with congenital heart disease. Making it the most common birth defect in the world. Despite that fact, it’s an issue with very low general awareness.

The Brief

Hjärtebarnsfonden (The Heartchild Foundation) is a Swedish charitable organization that funds research and supports children with congenital heart disease and their families. In the fall of 2020, the foundation wanted to raise awareness of the issue and drive donations.

Every year over 2000 children in Sweden are born with congenital heart defects. One-year-old Dante was born with three.

In collaboration with indie supergroup Amason we sampled Dante’s heartbeat and used it to create a new version of the iconic song ”Heartbeats” by The Knife.

We launched the song on major music platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon along with a music video, on WHO’s International World Heart Day on September 29. Every time someone listens or watches the proceeds go to Hjärtebarnsfonden.

This piece of work aims to reach the hearts and minds of people by mixing brutal reality with art.

The unique version of ”Heartbeats” was completed through a collaboration between Hjärtebarnsfonden (The Heartchild Foundation), Universal Music Publishing Group (The Knife), and indie supergroup Amason.?

By filtering the meaning of the lyrics through the eyes of a parent of a child with congenital heart disease, the song gives a glimpse into their reality.

While the original lyrics are a tale about lovers' passion, here they are given new meaning. Lines like ”One night to push and scream” become about childbirth, ”The colors red and blue” about ambulance sirens and whether you’re religious or not, the line ”Asking for help from above, to lean on, wouldn’t be good enough” sends a clear message - these children need your help.

The song was made the centerpiece of an integrated campaign launching on WHO:s International World Heart Day on September 29 spanning to October 13. It was released on major music platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes Store, Deezer, Amazon Music, and Pandora. The song and story about the project were spread through PR, social media, influencers, and own channels.

Together with production company New Land and director Marcus Ibanéz, who is the uncle to a girl with CHD (Congenital Heart Disease), a 5-minute music video was produced. The music video also functioned as an ad for the foundation and was edited down to also fit shorter formats.

The video was published on Youtube and also aired primetime in full on Swedish television. To create donations we also drove traffic to a campaign site using digital out of home (DOOH), display banner ads, print ads, and social ads.

Monetary Goals:

Goal: 100% increase in smartphone donations compared to corresponding campaign week in 2019.

Results: 133% increase. Surpassed by 33%.

Member Goals:

Goal 1: 200% increase in new members per week compared to a corresponding average week in 2019.

Results: Hjärtebarnsfonden got 1175% more members per week, compared to a corresponding average week in 2019. Surpassed by 487,5%

Goal 2: 2% increase in the total amount of monthly donors compared to the corresponding campaign week in 2019.

Results: 7,7% increase. Surpassed by 285%.

Awareness Goals:

Goal 1: 5% increased brand awareness

Results: 7,65% increase. Surpassed by 53%.

Goal 2: 5 million earned media reach.

Results: 24,75 million in PR/TV/Radio. (Two appearances on Sweden's biggest television channel. Seven airings on the radio). Surpassed by 395%.

Goal 3: 50 000 streams and views of the song on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

Results: 140 000 streams and views. Surpassed by 180%