Photo: Julia Gorton
The debate about balancing our roles in the workplace with our personal lives prompts us to consider the boundaries and tensions between conforming to societal norms and embracing our true selves. The key is finding a balance that allows for authenticity and self-acceptance in spite of the expectations and dynamics of the environments we encounter.
This is the theme behind the short art-film Ascend All Night, scored by Swedish-Spanish composer Victor Moreno. Renowned for his innovative compositions and work with Rio Noir, Moreno collaborates with sound engineer Rupert Clervaux for this project.
Ascend All Night delves into the search for solace amid modern life’s relentless pressures. This evocative seven-minute film contemplates self-discovery against the backdrop of societal success. Success, as depicted, is about remaining true to oneself—embracing passions and genuine fulfillment.
The film acknowledges the struggle of disconnection, mirroring the moon’s cycles. In an age of social media façades, it follows an ordinary man through his monotonous routine. After a draining day, a solitary dinner, and a scalding shower, he embarks on a transformative journey, seeking to reclaim his identity.
The evocative score, integral to the film’s essence, intensifies through a crescendo of textures—piano, violins, synthesizers, and a melodious Spanish acoustic guitar. Reminiscent of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis or Thom Yorke, Moreno’s composition intertwines synth and acoustic riffs, echoing a Vangelis on Spanish guitar or a slow-core Scott Walker.
Ascend All Night transcends conventional filmmaking, weaving the essence of a music video into its experimental fabric. Premiering globally at The Seattle Film Festival 2024, this avant-garde short earned a nomination for Best Soundtrack in a Short Film. Set for the film festival circuit from fall 2024 to 2025, it is already making waves, with selections for the San Diego Indie Film Festival in La Jolla and the Luleå Film Festival in northern Sweden, just below the Arctic Circle.
Watch the trailer below:
Moreno honed his craft at the Swedish Center of Electroacoustic Music and Sound Art (EMS). Here, he collaborated with luminaries like Oliver Ackermann of A Place to Bury Strangers, German photographer and artist Wolfgang Tillmans, and sound engineer Rupert Clervaux, renowned for his work with Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, and Beatrice Dillon, among others. This period was pivotal in shaping Moreno’s innovative approach to sound and composition.
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