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ISLAND IN THE SKY

A Fallstars Film

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ISLAND IN THE SKY is a short musical film created and produced by the same artists who feature in it. This results in a fun and authentic piece that also acts as a creative vehicle for the promotion of FALLSTARS’ music.

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FALLSTARS, who provide the score for ISLAND IN THE SKY consists of singer-songwriter Stu Groen and rapper Terry Newman (206collab), a cross-genre collaboration straddling Sydney and New York City. The name of the band is a reflection of the inherent hypocrisy in popular music, where artists are elevated to superstar status and are then faulted for being human and grounded in reality, sometimes mediocrity; fallible stars.

The short film takes us on a journey highlighting how different life experiences lead us through various feelings, actions and reactions in the search for solutions, where finally positivism and our physical and emotional survival are the ultimate drive of human life.

It was precisely in the midst of a tragedy that this project was born, with the departure of Stu, who left this world unexpectedly. A year later, his brother discovered a hundred sessions on his laptop, from sketches to complete songs. Some were produced specifically for FALLSTARS, the best of which were selected to become the basis for the six emotionally diverse tracks that make up this project. The themes of love and loss abound owing to the painful hole Stu left behind and Terry’s recent breakup.

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The sound is a fusion of indie rock and dub, intertwined with Terry’s introspective raps and Stu’s unique voice, which has a certain haunting power from the afterlife.

Stu had always reflected on the power of music in harmony with the moving image. His passing only brought that idea to the forefront, and this is how the FALLSTARS’ album became the soundtrack to the film, an auditory takeaway that evokes imagery reminiscent of the story told.

The FALLSTARS’ idea of showcasing their music accompanied by visuals makes perfect sense in a world where many young people consume music through video platforms like TikTok and YouTube. A short film was the logical next step in bringing back multi-track storytelling, not to mention in providing a unique point of marketability.

The short film format, however, should not undermine the narrative power of an album heard from in full beginning to end, so we also invite you to visit the band on Spotify:

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Island in the Sky has been on the International film festival circuit over the last year and has won Best Short Film (Lift-Off Film Festival) in Sydney, Best Musical (IndieBoom!) and Best Cinematography (Hip Hop TV) in NYC, with selections and nominations in Germany, Italy, and Ireland.

It wasn’t easy – the loss of life, love, production setbacks, and budgetary concerns all made the journey troublesome. But then, everyone goes through troubling times and eventually emerges from the other side stronger for it.

And so we invite you to listen to, enjoy and share Fallstars.

Island in the Sky had a resoundingly entertaining screening party and album launch at Syndicated Theater in Brooklyn NY on Stu’s birthday, Thursday, September 9. The evening was accompanied by commentary and performances by Terry, along with a special performance by the rap duo from Queens, Solflo.

You can also watch and enjoy Island in the Sky HERE.

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Follow ISLAND IN THE SKY
Website – Facebook – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB