The month of October is arguably the most emotionally complex time for baseball enthusiasts. Pharrell spearheaded Major League Baseball’s “October Hits Different” initiative on a Thursday (Sept. 25), preceding the 2025 playoffs.

“The show is about to start,” the Virginian says at the opening of the 30-second video. “Each pitch, each swing, each instant strikes with even greater force.” He is accompanied by the Voices of Fire choir group and a 25-piece live orchestra from the University of Miami, which performs as footage of playoff contenders such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and other teams is displayed on a projector screen.

“When these performers take the stage, the audience goes wild,” Pharrell continues. It’s time for these diamond experts to take centre stage. View the complete video underneath.

The core of MLB’s “October Hits Different” campaign is a track called “Are You Ready?” taken from Voices of Fire’s recently released album, OPHANIM. The song produced by Pharrell has been designated as the official anthem for the 2025 postseason.

“Virginia taught me the power of music and community,” Pharrell stated in a press release. “Bringing Voices of Fire to the postseason stage demonstrates the ability of unity-driven forces to be brought to life through sports.”

“We wanted to capture the spectacle of the postseason through music that feels just as monumental with our ‘October Hits Different,’ MLB Chief Marketing Officer Uzma Rawn Dowler noted.” “The anthem ‘Are You Ready?’ by Voices of Fire, co-produced with Pharrell Williams and supported by a live orchestra, captures the fervour and intensity of the journey to the World Series and encapsulates the thrill of October baseball.”

For all baseball enthusiasts, the postseason commences on September 30 with the Wild Card Series televised on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2.

OPHANIM debuted on September 12, with contributions from Quavo, Tori Kelly, CeeLo Green, and Teddy Swims, amongst others. The choir group also worked with John Legend on the 13-song project, following their joint appearance on Clipse’s “The Birds Don’t Sing” in July.