If you’re looking for an audio and visual treat, there is no need to search when Andre Colquhoun’s EP and short film Short Term are here for our enjoyment.
Made up of 4 songs, this cinematic sound contains so much love, and I definitely think the song With You could be played when you enter the gates of heaven. It’s a strong statement, but with such a cool beat yet different emotions and styles running through the songs, there really is something for everyone. Whether you like dramatic soundtracks like me, or something you can dance to in a club, these songs feel tropical, yet have a grit to them that leaves you thinking after hearing the lyrics. Paired with spectacular visuals with the short film, Short Term creates a beautiful, larger than life experience.
Exploring a mix of loneliness, adoration and power, I had the chance to ask creator of Short Term, Andre Colquhoun, some questions.
Q: First of all, congratulations on the release of your EP and the short film running alongside it. When did you know this was the project you wanted to create and release?
A: Much love! Music has always been a part of my life and I knew I needed to use my God-given gifts and tell my story. At first, it just started with the EP, but as things progressed, I decided to create the short film. To be honest, I never really wanted to put out visuals alongside the EP. I just wanted the music to speak for itself. I only chose to create the short film because the idea for all four songs kept plaguing my mind and I couldn’t just ignore it. I’m truly happy with how it all turned out and glad I listened to my gut feeling.
Q: As an actor, filmmaker, singer, songwriter and record producer, I’d love to know where your passion for all of these things began. Did one come first, and another naturally follow? Or did something else push you to these?
A: Performing and singing have always been in my DNA. I was truly a weird artsy kid growing up. As a child, I would literally wake up at 5:00AM, go downstairs, and start a movie, TV, and music marathon. To this very day, nothing has really changed. As I grew older, that’s when I realized I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. I started taking things very seriously and truly started honing my craft.
Q: When musicians are creating their albums, we see a mix of visual and audio content. It’s interesting to learn about inspirations and how both pieces come to be, whether a melody or an image pops up first. For you, what comes first with a mammoth project like this, the sound or the visuals?
A: The sound definitely comes first when creating a project of this nature. My go-to instrument is the piano. I start playing until something connects with me. Once I’m happy with what I’ve created, I start singing gibberish until actual words come out. After listening to the finished song a couple of times, colours and visuals start to burst forth.
Q: I really love your EP. It feels larger than life, yet grounds us with certain sounds and the emotions it can provoke. What is the journey you went on when creating it, and is the final product different from your initial vision?
A: I appreciate the kind words. Each song on the EP started on the piano then transferred onto my digital audio workstation. Once everything is set, I start adding the different elements and structuring everything. I’m also a drummer so creating the beats came naturally. As for mixing and mastering, I didn’t want to mix and master the EP myself because I believe having a second set of ears is very beneficial. That’s when I connected with Sylo Nozra. Sylo’s a great musical artist, record producer, and mixing and mastering engineer. His music truly speaks to me and I definitely wanted him to be a part of this project. The EP cover art was photographed by the crazy talented Zeik Inocencio.
On the film side of things, I connected with the cinematographer Julian Lomaga. After watching Julian’s music videos and films, I knew he was the one. His work is beautiful and grounded in truth. I definitely took on a lot of different hats during the creation of this project, but it was truly a collaborative effort. The final product is the same as my initial vision, just richer.
Q: The short film is essentially a music video for each song, and even though they all seem very separate, they come together to create something really powerful. What was it like playing yourself/the characters through the different sections of the short?
A: It was me playing myself in an enhanced version. Meaning, some of the elements involved weren’t actually me, but definitely comes from a real place. For any actor, you should never act. You should be. Being real and in the moment will definitely give you the best outcome. As for singing, that’s all me. The most challenging aspect was the scene for the song Awful Misery.
Performance and technical wise. Time was limited and we needed to get six different shots. The great thing, my entire team for this project was outstanding and we got the job done.
Q: After creating such a spectacle for your first piece of art released to the world, what can we expect from you next?
A: I’m definitely working on more music and I also have a narrative feature film in the works. Life is way too short and I want to use my abilities to the fullest. I’m not in the entertainment industry for fun and games, but because I have a burning fire within me that cannot be put out.
Love it!
I enjoyed Short Term a lot. Nice talk.