A Treasure Map hidden in Music?! Sounds…….like an awesome challenge! BornTalent has applied his musical talents to creating an exciting Armchair Treasure Hunt called The Golden CD! Clues given within 5 songs will take a searcher on a journey to discover a ‘Golden CD’ with a code! This can then be used to claim a cash prize; currently valued at $2,000!
Join the adventures, discover the clues, and follow the map to the treasure! That’s the mission! FUN! Let’s learn more about this musical quest from BornTalent! Enjoy!
Six Questions with BornTalent:
- 1Q) I love the introduction video to The Golden CD treasure hunt using Willy Wonka! How fun! What do searchers need to do to get involved in your hunt? What are the options?
Thanks Jenny. All they have to do is listen to the songs on “The Golden CD”. The Golden CD is available on both CD and USB flash drive on The Golden CD website. There is also an option to have PDF’s of the lyrics included, for those not into the music piece of it.
- 2Q) How long have you been a musician? What inspired you to create a treasure hunt using music as a way to provide clues?
I have been doing music since I was a kid in the 80’s, but my first ever time on the radio was in the mid 90’s. My style of writing music lyrics led me to doing tons of songs with “double meanings” where someone could listen to a song a few different ways and have the words give two completely different stories.
Many people in the industry often told me that the lyrics were “over peoples heads” and I should simplify things for casual fans. Instead of doing that, I thought of doing the opposite, by putting the “wordplay” to good use and forcing people to really pay attention and figure them out. Being that I have always been a huge fan of treasure hunts, I figured I would do a treasure hunt with the lyrics. So I created a story, complimented with nice beats, which can be listened to a few different ways.
You can hear the story of my lost CD and come on the journey to find it (which also is a metaphor to how I “lost the music that I loved” over the years to the new styles of today). The lyrics themselves have double meanings as well, and can help you create a treasure map that leads you to the CD.
- 3Q)Have you searched for other treasures? What do you enjoy about treasure hunting?
Yes, I have done quite a few over the years. Michael Stadthers “A Treasure Trove” and “Secrets of Alchemist DAR”, David Blaine’s “Mysterious Stranger”, We Lost Our Gold, Byron Preiss “The Secret”, Forrest Fenn’s hunt and most recently your website has introduced me to “Sandra Miller’s “Trove”, and a few others. I love reading a backstory and trying to get into the minds of the author. I often try to solve hunts by putting myself in their shoes and thinking “How would I have wrote this?”
- 4Q) There may be some searchers who will say I know nothing about the details of ‘music’! Are the clues in the lyrics enough to determine the location of the hidden treasure? And what is the value of the treasure?
All of the clues are in the lyrics, and you do not need any special knowledge. If you look at the words I use, and the way I say them, and follow along with the story… you can create your map. The treasure value is currently at $2000. I am funding everything by myself at the moment, but I am currently looking for sponsors to hopefully be able to raise the prize pot. As well as I will contribute $1 for each sale each time we hit 100 sales.
- 5Q) What did you enjoy most about making the hunt of The Golden CD? Do you feel it will be found quickly or take a while? Will there be additional clues, if needed?
I always enjoy making music, but I especially enjoyed the way I came up with the clues. I had written parts of it over the past 2 years, so sometimes I would take a break and come back to it, forgetting what some of the clues were… so I would have to solve it myself. I am really anxious to either have it solved or explain the details of the solve when it’s all over, because I really made it how I would want to solve it if I was playing.
I am hoping it is not solved immediately after all the hard work. It is not easy.. but it is not impossible either. I think finding the starting point, and the path you have to take is difficult.. BUT once you figure it out, it may be smooth sailing. If it seems people are really stumped, I am planning on dropping some hints every now and then. I am going to be very accessible online for the hunt as it goes along.
- 6Q) Can you give any advice on how best to go about solving your clues and finding The Golden CD? Is the Golden CD hidden in a public place and accessed 24/7 freely?
Yes, The Golden CD is in a public place, easily accessible and you won’t need to go digging up parks or property. When you have the map created and follow your path to the end.. you will 100% know you are in the correct spot. I have placed quite a few “confirmation” clues throughout the story, and the “final steps” to the location are spot on where you will 100% know you are in the correct spot.
Best way to solve the clues is to listen, think outside the box, and get into my head. Throughout the story, I am with you, guiding you through… so once you see what I am seeing… it will all fall into place. It doesn’t hurt to listen to a few past songs of mine to get my writing style down. There are no clues in older songs, but the way I tell two different stories by using the same set of words, is exactly how I wrote this hunt. You can google or youtube older song such as “Bad Side” (is it a casino trip, or a story about a relationship breakup?), “Cover Girl”, “The Essence”, “Playing The Game”, and a few others which I use this style.
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