"Alongside his acute attention to detail and astounding skill set, David's infectious enthusiasm for all things creative simply makes him a joy to collaborate with. He brings an integral level of professionalism in his approach to composing that aids in enforcing an effective work environment. He is simply an invaluable asset to have on any production." Jude Bourne, Red Hat Productions.

“Keep On Climbing” (2022) is a coming-of-age short film by Jude Bourne (Red Hat Productions), which represents and celebrates love and friendship within the LGBTQIA+ community.

It tells the story of Eli, an ambitious and hopeful teenager who leaves home and travels to a big city in search of a new life. He arrives looking for work, but instead befriends a group of carefree misfits. Amongst this group is Riley, an eccentric nonconformist with no plans for the future. The two quickly bond, and through this newfound connection learn the importance of empathy, the effects of privilege, and the joys of life.

My sultry summer soundtrack uses romantic and reflective piano and strings to underscore this narrative of friendship, uncertainty and growing up. In line with the title, the motif which represents Eli always rises before falling a little, implying that he must keep on climbing. On the other hand, Riley’s motif is far more playful and bumbling, matching his character. The light orchestration of the music reflects the light-hearted tone of the film but can still pack a punch in its emotional moments.

The film premiered live on Saturday June 11th at the Everyman Cinema, Bristol. After many months of work, it was so exciting for the whole team to see it on the big screen - not to mention hearing my soundtrack in full surround sound.

The film and soundtrack album were released a week later. The film is available through an unlisted YouTube link – for a taster, view the trailer here. The soundtrack album can be played across streaming services, including Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Deezer.

Afterwards and to celebrate the launch of Keep on Climbing, I sat down with director Jude Bourne in a little featurette to discuss the music behind the film. In the featurette we discuss:

• the collaborative composition process we had working together
• how music for specific scenes was created
• ambient, chordal underscoring that avoided overpowering drama
• our favourite musical cues in the film
• re-occurring motifs and their meaning
• queer experience in the film

Watch the featurette here to find out more.