Tennessee is mixing two beloved traditions—music and food—into a unique dining experience. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development launched a campaign called Sound Bites. This initiative lets visitors enjoy food in a whole new way by pairing it with music.
Sound Bites features local chefs and musicians teaming up to create special dishes and original songs. The idea is simple: music can enhance how we taste food. This phenomenon is known as “sonic seasoning.” Research by Dr. Charles Spence, an experimental psychologist at Oxford, shows that music’s tempo, pitch, and style can change how we perceive flavors. For instance, fast music might make a dish taste sweeter, while slower tunes might enhance its richness.
To showcase this concept, the campaign has produced three short films highlighting these culinary and musical partnerships:
- East Tennessee: Country artists Lee Brice, David Tolliver, and Billy Montana paired with Chef Jeff Carter from Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro.
- Middle Tennessee: Singer-songwriter Ben Rector collaborated with Chef Philip Krajeck of Rolf and Daughters.
- West Tennessee: DJ Paul from Three 6 Mafia, along with Southern Avenue, rapper Lil Wyte, and Boo Mitchell, joined Chef Felicia Willett from Felicia Suzanne’s in Memphis.
The campaign’s commissioner, Mark Ezell, asks, “For centuries, food has been paired with wine. Why not with music?” He believes Sound Bites captures what Tennessee excels at: bold flavors and unforgettable tunes.
Sound Bites also introduces an interactive tool on TNSoundBites.com. This feature lets users create their own music-and-food pairings. When you enter a dish, the tool identifies its main flavors and suggests playlists that complement them. Diners can explore how different songs affect their tasting experience.
The idea of sound influencing taste isn’t new. Studies have shown that different musical elements change our perception of food, making it an exciting field for chefs and culinary artists. Enhancing meals with music could become a lasting trend in dining experiences.
For more information about this innovative campaign and to check out the films and pairing tool, visit TNSoundBites.com.
