André 3000 releases short film 7 piano sketches on MUBI

The short follows André as he journeys to work, carrying a piano strapped to his back and a notebook of sketches in hand. Along the way he encounters a series of characters, each with their own distinctive traits, that complement the instrument he carries. The film draws on comedic elements of the silent film era, treating the passing of time and the urge to create with a lighthearted absurdism.

The EP that soundtracks the film is a collection of solo piano instrumentals. Part of it was composed and recorded prior to New Blue Sun, André’s infamous 2023 flute album that earned three Grammy nominations including Album of the Year. The beginnings of 7 piano sketches actually date back nearly a decade, when André was staying in a house in Texas with his son – a space that contained little more than a piano, beds, and a TV.

Speaking about the EP upon its release last year, André offered a characteristically candid take. He said the original title was “The Best Worst Rap Album In History”, explaining in his liner notes: “It’s jokingly the worst rap album in history because there are no lyrics on it at all. It’s the best because it’s the free-est emotionally and best I’ve felt personally. It’s the best because it’s like a palette cleanser for me.”

The film, while wordless in its narrative structure, extends that sentiment – using physical comedy and visual storytelling to explore the same themes of artistic compulsion and human connection.