LOS ANGELES — Butter Music and Sound (https://www.gimmebutter.com), the international music and sound collective, has opened a European headquarters in Prague. The new headquarters is headed by executive producer Steve Walsh and executive creative director Viliam Béreš. Butter launched a Berlin studio in 2017, helping to lay groundwork in the hip European music market. Walsh will use his diverse experience in both the European and US markets to translate Butter’s stateside musical prowess to appeal to European sensibilities.
Photo (L-R): Viliam Béreš and Steve Walsh
After working in Nashville for many years as a producer/writer, Walsh relocated to Prague, where he joined forces with Béreš, a Czech-born composer and producer. Their partnership quickly blossomed and the pair created the original music score for the Caritas film, One Human Family. They followed up with original music for the dry Samdex/Samsonite campaign featuring a trio of disgruntled baggage handlers, and for Post Bellum, a Czech-based non-profit dedicated to documenting witnesses’ memories and personal experiences of historical events from throughout the 20th century. Most recently, their music for Ikea and the Red Cross has helped to bring attention to the issues of domestic abuse and mental health during the COVID period.
“Butter is thrilled to announce the addition of Butter EU, located in Prague, CZ, which is truly a full-circle moment for our company,” says Andrew Sherman, owner/CCO of Butter Music + Sound. “Steve was our first additional composer hired in 1999, six months after we opened our doors. Since then the company has grown tenfold, and it makes perfect sense that he would be back to lead the EU team from halfway around the world. The talent and resources in Prague are really second to none, and we are thrilled to continue this adventure with them in our arsenal."
“Butter is a one-of-a-kind company with amazing people, and coming full circle to where I got my start feels like coming home,” adds Walsh. “In an industry where first-class music is the price of entry, Butter’s success is built on deep and meaningful client relationships which we are excited to expand and develop with our European partners."
Walsh began his career in New York as Butter’s (then Fluid) first staff composer. After departing to produce and compose music independently full-time, he joined Bang Music + Audio Post as executive producer before returning to the Butter network with Butter Music + Sound in February 2020. Butter EU ECD Béreš is known for his bespoke music scores and cutting-edge electronic tracks. He also plays in the Czech-indie band Lanugo.