Warner Music Announces A Romantic, Neo-Noir Thriller Podcast, "Underwater"

  Interval Presents, Warner Music Group’s (WMG) in-house podcast network, has unveiled the cast and details for its upcoming romantic, neo-noir thriller, “Underwater.”  Primarily set in a high-end island resort, the scripted podcast series follows the compelling journey of Nico, played by Jason Derulo and Ana, played by Alexandra Shipp, whose deep romantic connection is threatened by lies and deception — both Nico’s covert mission and the skeletons in Ana’s closet.

Produced by Clamor and Temple Hill Entertainment and set to release on October 31, “Underwater” is a rollercoaster love story told in the form of a narrative album. The series features brand new, original music from Jason Derulo woven into the story and score, creating an innovative and immersive listening experience and making for a groundbreaking event at the cutting edge of audio entertainment.

Underwater, primarily set in a high-end island resort, follows the compelling journey of Nico, played by Derulo and Ana, played by Shipp, whose deep romantic connection is threatened by lies and deception — both Nico’s covert mission and the skeletons in Ana’s closet. The scripted podcast series is a rollercoaster love story told in the form of a narrative album. The series features brand new, original music from Jason Derulo woven into the story and score, creating an innovative and immersive listening experience and making for a groundbreaking event at the cutting edge of audio entertainment.

“As an artist, I’ve always believed that music and storytelling go hand in hand, shaping emotions and connecting people in unique ways. Podcasting provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the storytelling experience, and “Underwater” intertwines new music with all of the drama, thrills and romance of the story itself,” said Jason Derulo. “Interval Presents is the perfect partner because of their deep roots in music and expertise as an established podcast powerhouse. They share in my vision of merging artistry and narrative to create a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for listeners.”

Derulo, of course, is a popular American pop and R&B singer and songwriter. Since the start of his solo recording career in 2009, he has sold over 250 million singles worldwide and has achieved eleven platinum singles. 

 "Delving into the world of audio storytelling has been an exciting new chapter for me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the immensely talented Jason Derulo as well as the teams at Clamor, Temple Hill and Interval Presents, to bring this project to life," said series star Alexandra Shipp. "I can’t wait for listeners to immerse themselves in the world of 'Underwater' and experience the power of this thrilling romantic series."

Alexandra Shipp is an American actress and singer who rose to prominence for portraying singer Aaliyah in the Lifetime television film Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014) and Kimberly Woodruff in the Oscar-nominated film Straight Outta Compton (2015).

Shipp is probably best known for playing Storm in the X-Men franchise, starting with X-Men: Apocalypse,

Alongside Derulo and Shipp, the cast includes Beau Bridgland, Michael Dearie, Aneesha DuBois, Andrew Frankel, Melissa Greenspan, Alice Hunter, Jeremy Jordan, Josh Keaton, Tara Langella, Jonathan Leon, Donis Leonard Jr., Michael McGlone, Carla Renata, Giancarlo Sabogal, David Shatraw, Andre Sogliuzzo, and Cameron J. Wright, each contributing their unique voices to the series.

"Interval Presents is committed to pushing the boundaries of audio storytelling and this stellar cast exemplifies an unmatched combination of music and acting talent that is sure to engage and entertain our listeners,” said Allan Coye, General Manager of Interval Presents and WMG's Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development. ’Underwater’ is a project that seamlessly weaves music and narrative, and perfectly aligns with our goals of elevating WMG artists, while staying true to the core values of Interval Presents."

The first two episodes of “Underwater” will premiere Tuesday, October 31, 2023, on all major podcast platforms. New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays following the launch.

What I continue to like about these Warner Music Group podcast launches is that, in some form, these podcasts revolve around music, an area where Warner has pre-existing expertise. The involvement of talents such as Derulo and Shipp bodes well for the success, and the quality of the upcoming podcast.