The Tree Ring – “Brushbloom Glow” (from ‘Short Term 12’) (PopMatters Premiere)

Short Term 12, writer/director Destin Cretton’s latest film following his under-the-radar indie Not a Hipster, continues to receive raves following its explosive SXSW premiere, where it won the Grand Jury Narrative Feature Award and the Narrative Audience Award. Catching the headlines even more than Cretton is star Brie Larson, whose rise from reliable supporting player in films like 21 Jump Street and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World to powerhouse lead has hit a high mark with Short Term 12.

Another contributing factor to the movie’s appeal is the score by Joel P. West. In a solo capacity and as a member of the band the Tree Ring, he contributes a lovely set of tracks to Short Term 12, a highlight being “Brushbloom Glow”, the video of which PopMatters is proud to premiere below. After a gorgeous piano intro, with ascending/descending motion in the left hand and plinked octaves in the right, the song builds into a breathtaking climax, where the piano is joined by layers of strings, forming a huge, romantic tapestry of sound.The music is juxtaposed with images of children at the Monarch School in San Diego, where West is a regular volunteer. The Monarch Schools help children who come from backgrounds of homelessness, a fitting institution to promote given the subject matter of Short Term 12.

Watch the trailer for Short Term 12 below: