Original score from the 2025 documentary feature film directed by Shawn Clear Sky Davies and Michael Del Monte, produced by M Films, released by AOD Films (Canada).

THE STORY: Shawn Clear Sky Davies battles addiction and cultural disconnection through psychedelic therapy and a cross-country quest to confront his mother.

THE SCORE: “For Clear Sky, director Michael Del Monte and I wanted the music to feel deeply connected to Shawn’s inner journey. The film moves through addiction, identity, distance running, psychedelic therapy and Shawn’s gradual reconnection with his Anishinaabe culture. The score needed to hold both the darkness of where he had been and the possibility of hope for the future. Much of the music grew out of simple words or ideas: movement, nature, searching. There is a physicality to Shawn’s story, particularly through his passion for running, but also a spiritual dimension as he begins to recover a sense of culture, belonging and connection to the land. I wanted those worlds to feel intertwined, using textural colors, strings, piano and flute alongside more atmospheric and impressionistic elements. A big question was how to represent Shawn’s indigenous identity in the score and we tried to approach that part of the film with restraint and respect. The music often sits alongside his longing for his culture rather than attempting to speak for it, allowing moments of ceremony and cultural embrace to retain their own weight. As the film progresses, the score gradually moves from this cycling restlessness toward something a little more open and resolved. Cues such as ‘Running’, ‘That’s in Me’ and ‘Forgive Myself’ trace different parts of that transformation. Ultimately, I wanted the music to feel like it was searching alongside Shawn, moving through his anger, addiction and disconnection toward forgiveness, identity and a sense of belonging.” – Hanan Townshend

THE COMPOSER: Hanan Townshend is an award-winning composer known for his poetic orchestral scoring and evocative, cinematic commercial work. A longtime collaborator of legendary filmmaker Terrence Malick, Townshend made his mark in film with his piano arrangements for the Palme d’Or-winning The Tree of Life (2011). He went on to compose the score for Malick’s To the Wonder (2014), collaborating on sonics with acclaimed producer Daniel Lanois, followed by Knight of Cups (2015), Voyage of Time (2016), and ongoing contributions to Malick’s future projects. Beyond his work with Malick, Townshend has scored an array of acclaimed feature films, including Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle (2021) and The Long Game (2023). A native of New Zealand, Townshend studied at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University before furthering his education in film scoring and production at the University of Texas. He now composes for international projects from his studio in Austin, Texas.

RB260036 CLEAR SKY (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Music Composed by HANAN TOWNSHEND
Release date: August 21, 2026