PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase Heaven's Getting Closer (New style and mix)

I posted this song about 3 months ago with a bad mix. It was suggested then that I keep the song, but try the mix again. I wasn't able, due to losing the original tracks on a busted hard drive. Firesong tried to help out, including giving me the suggestion of trying a bluegrass mix - so here it is. It's my first try at bluegrass, so if you give it a listen feel free to leave any comments.

https://soundcloud.com/user-722422510/heavens-getting-closer-1 Heaven's Getting Closer (New style and mix)


This song started coming together when I was very sick. I had a tumor, blood clots, and other cancer complications in my mid and upper chest. The congestion began crushing my larynx causing me to lose my voice and not be able to speak above a whisper. Fluid was escaping into my chest cavity, collapsing my lungs, making it very difficult to breathe. I had lost the ability to walk, and could only stand with assistance. I was circling the drain, and a couple of doctors had already given up and said I wasn't going to make it. Fortunately, others wouldn't quit and I eventually pulled through. I had a whole new perspective on life and knew heaven certainly was getting closer every day. So knowing that I only had a limited number of words, breaths, and steps before that day would come, I began thinking about what I wanted to do with them - and then these lines started coming into my mind...

With every breath I take I’m lifting you in praise. With every step I make I’m stepping out in faith.
With every prayer I pray I renew my strength. I will run and not be weary. I will walk and not be faint,
because on eagles wings, Lord you lift me up. When I’m feeling weak you fill me with love.
And it’s your face I seek, you wipe my tears away, and Heaven’s getting closer every single day.

Heaven’s getting closer every single day. Oh glory Hallelujah, Lord don’t hesitate.
‘cause we’re going to see our savior face to face, when you come to take us all away.
Yeah, Heaven’s getting closer every single day. It’s got me feeling like a kid that just can’t wait,
But the waiting’s getting shorter, soon the waiting will be over
‘cause Heaven’s getting closer every single day.

With every word I say, Lord I will proclaim that you’re the King of Glory who forever reigns
‘cause you died on the cross to save all who were lost, but on the third day you came out of that grave and set the captives free and that included me. Now who I was is just a memory.
You made me brand new, old things passed away, and Heaven’s getting closer every single day.

Heaven’s getting closer every single day. Oh glory Hallelujah, Lord don’t hesitate.
‘cause we’re going to see our savior face to face, when you come to take us all away.
Yeah, Heaven’s getting closer every single day. It’s got me feeling like a kid that just can’t wait,
But the waiting’s getting shorter, soon the waiting will be over
‘cause Heaven’s getting closer…

With every breath I take. With every step I make. With every prayer I pray. With every word I say.
With every breath I take. With every step I make. With every prayer I pray, well I renew my strength.
With every breath I take. With every step I make. Oh Heaven’s getting closer every single day

Heaven’s getting closer every single day. Oh glory Hallelujah, Lord don’t hesitate.
‘cause we’re going to see our savior face to face, when you come to take us all away.
Yeah, Heaven’s getting closer every single day. It’s got me feeling like a kid that just can’t wait,
But the waiting’s getting shorter, soon the waiting will be over
‘cause Heaven’s getting closer every single day.
Oh the days are getting shorter, soon the waiting will be over
‘cause Heaven’s getting closer every single day.
Yeah Heaven’s getting closer every single day.

The Band:

Washboard: Jim McGilvaray, _PICKER.STY
Tambourine: Vine Ditrich, _BLUGTAM.STY
Bass: Dow Tomlin, _BG_BNJR.STY
Banjo: Scott Vestal, _BG_BNJR.STY
Rhythm Guitar: PG Artist, _BG_BNJR.STY
Lead Guitar: PG Artist, _GMB_GSO.STY
Mandolin: Andy Leftwich, _BG_BDMS.STY
Fiddle: Andy Leftwich, _BG_BDFS.STY
Dobro: Rob Ickes, _CTRNGS.STY
I did the hand clapping with my old Casio keyboard and some reverb.

Sounds like you went through quite an ordeal, Brad... I'm glad you pulled through.

The bluegrass style, although you say it is your first stab at it, seems to suit you very well!

Rob

Wow Brad you really have a tough time and I'm very glad that you made. Cancer ain't fun, been there done that.
You really nailed the Christian bluegrass genre.
Super vocal with outstanding lyrics.
Outstanding mix.

Two thumbs up.

So much energy in this song, it's hard to believe you've just recovered from a serious illness. More power to you, brother. \0/

Hi Brad
When you survive such severe illnesses you see life with completely different eyes
But the song says a lot about you
To combine this serious text with such a happy song shows that you don't let it get you down.
In any case, super that you have fought against the disease and we have here the opportunity to hear your great songs.
Many greetings Brad
Andi ;-)

Brad...your testimony is outstanding and encouraging...though a great price was paid on your behalf to gain it...this song is cooking now...bluegrass music expresses joy with such a light, energetic fervor and feeling and you nailed it here...if I could offer a few more suggestions and these are my opinions and you don't have to do any of them:

1. I would bring up the banjo (just below the volume of the vocals) and bass (it seems faint to me) the bottom seems weak
2. I would add a couple of tracks with you literally clapping to mix with the Casio (the claps you have don't seem realistic to me) the more the merrier
3. If you haven't I would add some reverb to the whole mix to put it all into a nice room environment (the mix seems dry to me)
4. Envision all your players on a stage and arrange them there like a BG band would...don't move them unless to move them to the middle when they solo...BG players perform on one center mic a lot.

What version of BiaB are you using if I might ask?

I hope these suggestions help rather than confuse things...I love it when people suggest things for my mixes...I don't always change anything but sometimes I have found that a tip here and there really helps improve the quality of the mix and thus helps me improve the impact of the song...love the song! Dan

Hey thank you Rob, but I can't take the credit for the bluegrass style. That was Dan's (Firesong's) suggestion, but it was a fun challenge.

Thanks for listening Mario. Boy, you're right - cancer stinks. Glad you made it through too, and hopefully have fully recovered, I'm learning it can be a long process!

Thank you for the comments and well wishes Ghostgum. I'm still in the recovery process, may not ever fully recover, but it sure beats where I was heading for a while!

Great to hear from you Andi - love the stuff you're putting out there. I'm afraid I really can't take the credit for getting through it, and believe me, there sure were some unhappy times while going through it, but God pulled me through.

Thanks for all the help Dan, you're quite an inspiration.

Brad

Thank God for the healing for sure, Brad! Good job with your first jump into bluegrass - probably my favorite genre to listen to. A couple of suggestions: 1) The style you picked seems a bit on the high end for beats per minute. Was the style you chose in the recommended range? Regardless, there might be a more amenable bluegrass style that fits a little more comfortably; 2) As a bluegrass purist, the hand claps might be too much. Again, it's just my personal preference and I'm sure several will disagree with me.

Great job and I agree with others that this genre suits your voice really well.

Na zdrowie!

Dewey

Brad, that was a great suggestion from firesong! This song perfectly lends itself to the Bluegrass style. You did a fine job with it. T

Man, what a wonderful story, Brad. The energy in your vocal raises high in gratitude, and the energy in the song lifts it even higher. It's a wonderful "happy to be alive" song. Good band. Your closeness is quite catchy.

Brad,

Glad to hear that you are healing!

A good "update" on this.
Those Bluegrass RTs are some of the best of BIAB. Great choice.
Well sung. Mix sounds good.

Well done. Keep 'em coming...

fj

I didn't hear the first mix but you really captured the feel and vibe this time. Enjoyed.

Charlie

Hi Brad ...

I echo Mario ... cancer sucks. Been there done it, too. Almost 8 years back.

It's a tough way to get inspiration. But following the trail of inspiration can have as big reward at the end of the trail.

Great song and performance. As Floyd said, the Bluegrass RTs are pretty dang good. Mix is good - perhaps a little more volume on the bass would be good, though.

Glad you're doing well. Wishing you continued good health and music endeavors.

Alan

Thank you for the input Dewey. I've re-mixed it again and took the handclapping completely out and also boosted the bass and banjo a bit. I don't remember the recommended time setting for the style I used, but you may have a point there. I put the new mix on soundcloud, but I didn't post it to this forum because I didn't want to just keep posting the same song with relatively minor adjustments. I too, am a fan of BG music, just never was talented enough to feel comfortable playing it much. When I was a kid my brother and I got the chance to meet Bill Monroe, and that was quite a memorable experience!

Thank you Torrey, Dan's been very helpful. Being able to communicate and receive input and ideas from such talented people is a great aspect of this forum.

Thanks Marty, I've really been enjoying the stuff you and your gang are putting out too.

Hey Floyd, thanks so much for the encouragement. I really appreciate all the suggestions you've given me along the way, they've helped me a lot on songs that I'm working on.

Thanks for the listen Charlie. This mix is quite different than my first. With all the electric guitars and such it sounded much different than this, and I like the BG sound better than the first one. On the first one a friend of mine, Shawn Moore, sang bass BGV's, which I would have liked to have put on this one. Dan (Firesong) tried to help me out with that, but I wasn't able to make it work. That's really the only thing I miss about the old mix.

Thank you Alan, and I'm glad you made it through as well. It's hard to really relate just how difficult it can be, until someone goes through it themselves... and far too many have.

Glad you are feeling better Brad. Life can sure throw curves at us. Super vocal and excellent backing track. Well done....

The bluegrass style seems to suit the song really well, Brad.

This quote that Janice read the other day came to mind when she listened to your song: “Gratitude is a vital component to joy.” Your appreciation for your recovery is helping you to help others.

Well done!

J&B

PS Bud played in traditional Bluegrass Bands for 40 years and Janice for 15 years or so. So we would like to offer a comment or two from that perspective. In bluegrass the bass is the "kick" and the mandolin chop is the "snare." Those two along with a good guitar boom/chuck rhythm are the backbone of bluegrass. So...what's missing here is the mandolin chop -- there is a RT that will do that. Fully realizing that you have likely stuck a fork in this production we only offer this for future reference. And a big ole FWIW.

Thanks for the listen and the comment Scott, I appreciate it.

Sure appreciate the feedback Janice and Bud. I don't know when another one will come along, but I plan to use your suggestions when it does. Thnaks.