Her Life is Sunshine

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milo
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Her Life is Sunshine

Post by milo »

Here is my latest collaborative work, a song performed by a group of cousins about our aunt who died of cancer when she was a teenager, before any of us were born. Her death was a family tragedy for the generations just ahead of us, and we wanted to pay homage to her and to our grandfather. The song is written from his perspective.

Here it is: https://sanderson.band/2021/08/27/her-life-is-sunshine/ WARNING: It is a tear-jerker!

It was recorded, mixed, and mastered on Ardour 6.5 on AVL-MXE. The genre can best be described as folk/rock. Our aunt Steffanie played the flute, so I had to have a flute in the arrangement. Writing for this instrument was a new experience for me, and I think it turned out well.
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Rainmak3r
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by Rainmak3r »

Love the flute in this, it really gives a cool 70s vibe to the song!
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by Gps »

I am impressed this really sounds good to me.

Even though this is not in general my genre the song does touch me.

Great job :)
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by Basslint »

I find it very touching. Not only the song, but the fact that your son remembers so dearly a member whom he has never met (and I assume even you never did). Sadly our culture easily forgets those who showed us what life is really about...I said a prayer for her, too.
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by milo »

Hey, thanks everyone for your kind words. This song has been a good thing for my family, at least those of us who participated in the recording. I've been working on this song since about the time I joined this forum, which was now several years ago.

Yes, the flute definitely gives this recording a retro feel, which I think is good because it is an older story (1963-1964).
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by GMaq »

Wow, that was a tear-jerker but how nice for tribute to be paid for her story to be told!

The production is really good, very impressed with the acoustic guitar and flute in particular and of course the vocals. The production just keeps getting better and better!
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by milo »

Thanks, Glen. This is one of the more important songs I have ever done, I think.

I'm also pleased with the production. It's nice to line up the artistic and technical aspects of a recording. I couldn't do that as well a few years ago.
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by lilith »

Very nice indeed and great mixing!
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by Adrezonar »

That is really a beautiful song, I really like to hear it :-D
...just perfect
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by jeanette_c »

Hey hey @milo , this is a very sweet song. I found in it much more of the sunshine than the sad tears. It is very well mixed. It sounds like a really good live recording. The reverb glues the instruments well together. I love the flute performance. Big hand to your aunt!
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by milo »

Thanks, @jeanette_c! It's funny that you say it sounds like a live performance, because it was anything but. My sister did about 100 takes on the flute, recording one phrase at a time. I also did a lot of guitar and vocal takes. I'm glad we pulled off a convincing sound!
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by caprenter »

Yep, good. Really good. I also think it sounds like a live recording. I can imagine the players performing it. Good stuff. Well done.
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by Michael Willis »

Over the last few weeks I have kept thinking that I should respond to this, but I haven't been quite sure what to say.

The message really speaks to me. Years ago an immediate family member of mine died of cancer. I won't delve into that much here, so as not to detract from your story, but I will say that I think I understand the decades-long effects that you describe.

Musically, I agree with some of the other comments here that parts all seem so naturally blended together, like you got everybody into a room and hit the record button. I was really surprised to find out how many takes you put together to present some of the parts. In particular, I fell like the flute part flows really well.
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by milo »

Yes, my family is not the only one in need of healing. Death strikes everyone eventually -- life is universally fatal -- but we all know or will know people that it strikes too soon. It can make you feel like the sky is falling when this happens to someone you love.

I really wanted this recording to work musically, and I'm glad that it does. Hopefully that also allows it to work emotionally and spiritually, which was my real goal.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
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Re: Her Life is Sunshine

Post by folderol »

Late to this one somehow.
It's a simple but very effective song.
The Yoshimi guy {apparently now an 'elderly'}
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