An oboe isn't an instrument you expect to find in a rock band—but for Newquota, it makes perfect sense. Made up of two couples, the band's warm sound and thoughtful lyrics quickly win you over.

Creative Approach

It was this offbeat blend that first drew me to the project: the music video for their song Unshakeable. The video embraces the absurd. The band perform using everyday household items: the drums become washing-up bowls, the oboe becomes a baguette, and giant living fruit (along with a Ferrero Rocher) are chased by a hungry fork.

The role of the grade was not to overpower the imagery, but to continue and enhance the work already achieved on set.

The cinematography was deliberately designed to frame the action in awkward, unconventional ways, intentionally breaking the usual rules of composition. The aim was to create a subtle sense of unease while reinforcing the idea that, despite everything happening around them, the band remained Unshakeable.

Finding the Look

It was important that the grade echoed this intention and supported the visual language already established through the photography. To achieve this, I introduced a subtle push towards sickly green and yellow tones to create an underlying feeling of discomfort. Built on top of a filmic image, the colours remain rich and nuanced, yet never quite feel natural—perfectly complementing the intended mood.

Designing Unease

Ultimately, every creative element worked together to reinforce the central idea of the band being Unshakeable. The role of the grade was not to overpower the imagery, but to continue and enhance the work already achieved through the performances, production design, costumes, props and cinematography.

When everything came together, the final result felt greater than the sum of its parts: an entertaining, inventive music video that perfectly reflects the band's own quirky personality. Projects like this are a reminder of how rewarding it is to collaborate with people who fully embrace creativity.