Among Strange Worlds is an 8-track audio-visual album created by composer Ethan McInerney. The project will release in early 2027, as a sequel to Ethan’s 2022 audio-visual album, Among the Stars. Alongside the album, it will feature a collaboration with returning animator and artist Dean de Barros, resulting in a short film based off the original story of Among Strange Worlds. The project is generously supported by the Youth Music NextGen Fund – you can find out more about this below.
It’s story follows the same protagonist as Among the Stars, this time set 50 years into the future. A strange signal in space kicks off the story, with the protagonist trying to verify it’s source, leading to an investigation that has massive ramifications for not only itself, but for the whole of humanity. Among Strange Worlds explores themes of mental health, neurodivergence and finding purpose.
Follow the story of it’s production on both Ethan and Dean’s social Media linked below. More exciting information about the project will follow soon! Stay tuned….
Ethan McInerney is backed by the Youth Music NextGen Fund, to make his “Among Strange Worlds: An Audio-Visual Album” project a reality. The Youth Music NextGen Fund has been made possible thanks to the Players of People’s Postcode Lottery, and support from Amazon and PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited).
Among Strange Worlds will have it’s world premiere at a venue in Northamptonshire, UK. Exciting news about this premiere of the project will be coming very soon.
Follow Ethan’s social media to be the first to find out!
Meet the creatives
Ethan McInerney:
Ethan McInerney is an award-winning UK trumpeter and composer, based in Northampton, performing across theatre, jazz, touring productions and classical stages, including major national venues. He composes cinematic scores for film, TV, theatre, and other media, blending orchestral expertise with modern flair. He has appeared on BBC one, Songs of Praise, ITV News and BBC Radio, and he has performed and had music showcased in nine countries. A Trinity Laban graduate, Ethan collaborates widely across the arts, working with filmmakers, ensembles, and multidisciplinary creatives. His compositions have featured in films that have gone on to win “Best Film” and the “Choice Award.”
It feels amazing to be stepping back into the world of Among the Stars! I loved crafting the first story and bringing it to life through music, alongside working with Dean to put Terra Firma to the screen. I’m so excited to start work on this new audio-visual album and bring unique musical content to the table, bringing out the story’s emotional core. This story is very meaningful to me, so I can’t wait to do it justice in this special format. Also, it’s great to have Dean back on board for a brand new short film that we will produce together! Many thanks to Youth Music for funding this project through the NextGen fund!
– Ethan McInerney, Composer and Project Manager
Dean de Barros:
Dean is an award-winning UK artist and animator, producing mixed media projects and videos. They work across the animation pipeline in visual design, story and screenplay, and in VFX and post-production for music videos and short films. An University of Oxford graduate, they approach their work with delight and curiosity, honed in earnest by their masters of Digital Direction at the Royal College of Art. Dean works with a plethora of individuals to tell fantastical and auto-ethnographic tales, placing great emphasis on the power of collaborative storytelling. Their films have been shown at art exhibitions, films festivals, and amassed a growing audience online.
I’m overjoyed that I get to continue working on this story. Terra Firma felt like a pivotal moment in mine and Ethan’s creative development, so this chance to show our growth is such a treat!
Music is the background to the collage of my life, work, and memories. I see it as pivotal and transportive in the language of film, and love translating it through my work! It excites me that I get to collaborate with Ethan again, to travel Among the Stars, and to take everyone with us on this journey once more through the vision we create.
Thank you Youth Music for funding this opportunity through the NextGen fund!
– Dean de Barros, Artist and short film co-director
the story so far…
Among the Stars told the story of a journey from Earth, through outer space to settle on another planet. The album musically takes the listener through a story of discovery through the universe, encountering many space phenomena. This album, along with the short film produced for it, Terra Firma, tackles themes of finding your place of belonging and purpose. Among the Stars features 8 musical tracks and a short film entitled ‘Terra Firma’.
