The Music

ALMOST WITH YOU integrates 9 songs written and performed by Declan O’Rourke into its narrative, making them central to the storytelling. Having originally written the script with traditional Irish folk tunes in mind, once Declan was cast in the lead role of ‘Brendan’, Adam and he worked together to discover which of Declan's songs (both old and new) could complement the existing narrative. Some remarkable chemistry resulted - such as the devastatingly beautiful song about life during the famine (“Poor Boys Shoes”) that Brendan performs for a group of teenage music students, leaving them stunned; and the “Sarah” love song that Brendan writes for the woman he has just met in Albany. Declan wrote the song years earlier; Adam, unaware of Declan’s song, had already named the film's lead female character ‘Sarah’. 

Another Irish collaboration also resulted in the key music in the film. Initially approached about playing the “Lorcan” (older brother role), Irish revered singer/songwriter Luka Bloom instead offered his songs to be used as the film's instrumental score, resulting in 5 of Luka’s tracks appearing in the film. And as everyone in the Albany appears to be a musician, the film also includes performances by MJ Gibbs, The Albany Shantymen, and a particularly poignant live rendition of his song “Everysong” by Stephen Pigram. Lead actress Chloe Hurst also enters the film’s musical landscape, duetting briefly with Declan on his song “Whatever Else Happens”, which a casual observer would assume was written specifically for the film.

The final piece of the incidental Irish songwriting connection came in the form of Lorcan's character and the casting of Darren ‘Gallie’ Gallagher, also a well-known Irish singer-songwriter who has performed around Australia and Europe for many years. And finally, in a surprising cameo late in the film, former ‘Panics’ singer/songwriter Jae Laffer appears as Karl the Janitor; completing ALMOST WITH YOU’s deeply musical roots.