ZREO: Second Quest Announces Fair Winds & Following Seas feat. ATLYS Music from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

In celebration of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’s 20th anniversary, ZREO: Second Quest announces their biggest cover album yet; Fair Winds & Following Seas feat. ATLYS. This fully-licensed album features ATLYS, an all-female crossover string quartet, and showcases over 50 minutes of music across 12 tracks from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. As a preview of what’s to come, “The Great Sea,” is available on all major streaming platforms today. The single from Fair Winds & Following Seas can be purchased on Bandcamp, iTunes, and Amazon Music.

Fair Winds & Following Seas will be available in March 2023 with the team producing its first licensed CD release in addition to a partnership with Mango Mage Records for a vinyl pressing. Exact details for pre-orders will be announced at a later date.

During the pandemic in 2020, founder Samuel Ferrara and long-time friend and composer Ari Fisher reformed Zelda Reorchestrated as ZREO: Second Quest. Together they began working on a Wind Waker cover album. “I remember working with Sam on another [non-video game-related] project during the pandemic and he said ‘I have a crazy idea. I want to do a Wind Waker album. You in?’ It didn’t even take me a moment to know that this was exactly what I wanted to do,” says Fisher. “What began as its own standalone project led to the return of ZREO as ZREO: Second Quest.”

Fair Winds & Following Seas is the result of hundreds of hours of work over the course of two years from a remote team consisting of musicians and arrangers from all over the globe. The phrase “fair winds and following seas” is a maritime blessing for good weather and safe travels, and was chosen in hopes to capture the adventurous feeling from The Wind Waker. “It was so amazing to see the seedling of this project grow into a wonderful source of collaboration between all the composers and musicians involved. Especially as this project was birthed during the first height of the pandemic, it provided hope and comfort in the most distant of times and holds a very special place in our hearts,” recounts Rita Andrade, violist from ATLYS.

The Wind Waker’s music is unique in the Zelda franchise, such that it features a wide variety of musical instruments, musical styles, and rhythms. Fair Winds explores those particular styles through multiple genres from Celtic folk to flamenco, classical and baroque, to comedy and symphonic metal.

After ATLYS was brought aboard to contribute their signature sound towards some of the music, it became clear that the main musical thru line of the album should focus on them. Though the album explores a myriad of genres, it is the quartet that brings it all together. “The energy and spirit of the music from Zelda has captured generations, and to play it in as pure a form as a string quartet is nothing short of exhilarating,” says Sabrina Tabby, violinist of ATLYS. “It’s been so special getting to know the world of Zelda through its music. Ari Fisher always keeps us on our toes while honoring the beauty of the original tracks,” regales Jinty McTavish, violinist from ATLYS.

In a first for the team, this album features live performances on every track thanks to the collaboration with ATLYS and a hand-picked remote orchestra consisting of nearly 30 individual musicians. “We adore ZREO: Second Quest not just for their passion and work ethic producing this music, but also for their way of working with us - being hilariously funny, professional, and kind,” says Genevive Tabby, cellist from ATLYS. “I remember Sam floating the idea of a special Wind Waker album back in the days of the original ZREO project,” reminisces Stephen Weber, Community Manager, “It was sidelined in favor of Twilight Symphony, and I believe that decision was the right one to make. The inclusion of live performances on every track proves the ZREO Team has grown as Second Quest. Fair Winds & Following Seas is a beautiful showcase of talent that would not have been possible previously.”

Striving to capture the feel of The Wind Waker’s unique sound, Fair Winds & Following Seas was arranged by ZREO: Second Quest’s Ari Fisher and Samuel Ferrara, joined by guest arrangers Julie Lee, Andrew Vogt, Allison Dettlof, and Victor Hugo Morales. Performers include Genevive Tabby (Cello), Jinty McTavish (Violin), Rita Andrade (Viola), Sabrina Tabby (Violin), Allison Dettloff (Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Recorder, Tin Whistle), Andrei Oltean (Recorder), Ben Elliot (Percussion), Carlos Carty (Pan Flute), David Erik Ramos (Ocarina), Davide Bonomo (Piccolo, Flute), Eamon Coughlan (Bouzouki), Gianluca Cucco (Trumpet), Jamie B Jordan (Bodhran, Irish Whistle), Jenice Rosen (Bassoon), Jennifer Kirby (English Horn, Oboe, Oboe da Caccia), Kelly O’Donohue (Trumpet), Ken Candelas (Drums), Liza Saracina (Oboe), Maisie Ireland (Oboe), Meredith Moore (French Horn), Michael A. Grant (Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon), Michele Fortunato (Trombone), Pablo Dominguez (Cajon, Guitar), Scott Hearn (Bass Trombone, Trombone), Shane Cox (Trombone), Tim de Man (Accordion, Guitar), Tim Stoney (Trumpet), and Victor Hugo Morales (Piano).