For years, filmmaker and composer Jeroen Houben dreamed of combining his two great loves, music and film, into one project. The result is the musical film Torch Song, which he not only wrote and directed but also took on the music composition for.
TORCH SONG
Houben wrote several songs from the perspective of the main character, Liz; an eccentric singer from America who comes to the Netherlands to visit her estranged half-brother. Her role is played by Swiss actress Carla Juri, known for Blade Runner 2049 and Wetlands, among others. Her singing was recorded entirely live on set, giving the film remarkable authenticity. You can hear her voice on the album’s feature track ‘You’, accompanied by a music video with shots from the film.
Houben: “I felt it was important that the songs in the film should not become some sort of musical interlude, but really serve a narrative function. Each song is part of the story, and helps you get closer to the character of Liz.”
Torch Song has been selected by the Netherlands Film Festival for the Gouden Kalf Competition 2024. The film, produced by Family Affair Films, will premiere on September 21 at the Netherlands Film Festival and will be released by Gusto Entertainment on January 23, 2025.
JEROEN HOUBEN
Growing up in his parents’ TV shop, Jeroen Houben’s fascination with cinema began at a young age with the creation of short films and animations. Graduating as a graphic designer and filmmaker, he made music videos for artists such as De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig and Ronnie Flex, and wrote and directed several internationally acclaimed short films, including BEST WISHES, HOME SUITE HOME, and GIPS.
Houben has been a lifelong musician and previously composed music for various short films. His feature film DE MATCHMAKER attracted more than 100,000 visitors to Dutch cinemas and earned him a Gouden Film award.
‘Torch Song (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’ is now available for streaming on all platforms and available on CD, Vinyl, and Digital Download via Snowstar Records