Kindred

VR film soundtrack

The brief

To create an aspirational and immersive soundtrack for KINDRED, a VR short animation film that tells the emotional true story of an aspiring LGBTQ+ parent's groundbreaking journey through the difficult adoption process in the UK. The film is intended to be an important and timely story that raises awareness of the challenges faced by non-binary parents in the adoption process.

Creative idea

KINDRED tells the story from the perspective of the parent Syd, using a combination of 3D, CGI, and experimental techniques to create a visually stunning and immersive experience that helps the viewer feel as if they are in Syd's shoes.

Supporting the mission of universal storytelling, the original music was composed by ILĀ our Creative Director who is also the co-founder of the UK's first ever professional trans+ choir Trans Voices.
The soundtrack uses non-verbal vocal melodies and non-binary voices, echoing with all target audiences.

Ilā created the music Kindred using mostly their voice, in a call and answer dialogue in an instinctive playful way to represent Syd and Ollie's story but also how the voices of trans+ non-binary people are in dialogue with the dominant culture. 
Ilā says: ‘My voice is so precious to me - we have been through a lot together and it's been incredibly liberating for me to finally be really embracing the full gender agnostic nature of my voice.This whole piece has been a wonderful reminder that queer joy is an act of resistance.’

Key takeout

Debunking bias, highlighting universal challenges, and informing people is made easier when using the art of storytelling and the visually creative craft of modern animation and innovative music.

KINDRED challenges prejudice about non-binary parents and celebrates the love between all parents and children.  It was selected as part of the official Venice Immersive selection in 2022 and was shown alongside some of the best VR and XR projects from around the world, with work on display from nineteen countries. The experience has also been nominated for two awards at Raindance Immersive, for their Film Festival in 2022.