PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase All The Heaven I Need (w/ rayc)

Hi, all:

Well, here’s the second collaboration I spoke of in my song post last week. This one is with rayc. Ray did all the music and production work; I penned the lyrics and provided the vocals.

Ray really worked his magic on this production, weaving together multiple piano tracks; meshing them with the organ; auditioning multiple guitar leads until we found one that worked; and adding some pretty touches along the way, including (my favorite) the flute in the third verse.

And to boot, he created a video to go with.

Here it all is. Appreciate the listens and kind feedback!

Deej

Here’s the Song:

ALL THE HEAVEN I NEED

Here’s the Video:

VIDEO--ALL THE HEAVEN I NEED

Here’s the Lyric:

Out upon that far horizon
The sun is setting rusty red
Lazy houses line these dusty roads
And we’ve got miles and miles ahead
Ain’t no direction that we’re going
We’re just wandering where they’ve led

I don’t know about tomorrow
I can’t see the future clear
Let the fortunes take us where they will
As long as I can have you near
Through the blue and black
From here to hell and back
Standing tall or on my knees
I ain’t searching for salvation
You’re all the heaven that I need

All the loves we left behind us
I still can hear your mother’s call
I wonder if she’ll learn what binds us
Did she take our picture off her wall
Funny how our passions blind us
We’re only human after all

Somewhere west there lies the ocean
How about we go there, you and me
Let’s raise our arms up to an endless sky
And shout our love defiantly
And if it means we’re on some path to hell
Baby that’s all right with me

Here’s the Band and Production Details:

RT 1570 Chop Guitar
RT 1169 Lead Solo
RT 1405 Held Piano
RT 2693 Rhythm Piano
Drums: RockSw16^2 Drums NashvilleBrushesBalladPushEv16_085
RealVideo: Drums & Piano
Strings & flute are click written midi through a Redtron Mellotron VST with light compression, a fender twin amp sim, spring reverb vst & top end roll of in EQ
Bass: Vantage through a BDI21 later "vintaged" with Bass Preamp by Roland Passion VST
Squire Mustang through a Joyo ACTone.
Mixed in Reaper with Density II & Modern Deathcore compressors on bass n drums
All VSTs are freebies or stock with Reaper.
Mastered by Fran Ashcroft HappyBeat Studio.

The song is well written, well sung and the mix allows you to hear all the instruments. It's a great job and a great collaboration.
Laurent

Good production and performance here.
One sugg: Bring the vocal up a tad. The lyrics are worth hearing.

Vic

Good track, both the music and write, and of course the vocal is top notch.

Nice collab Deej and Ray, enjoyed!

Good collaboration.

Solid write. Big cohesive backing band.
Good job on bass & guitars.
Strong vocals.
Good mix.
All the boxes checked.
Good music.

Your best video.

fj

Really nice collaboration. Love the instrument choices and Deej's vocals. Epic lyrics in a classic rock style, and a nice dynamic arrangement. So much goodness here. In the area of nits, I'm losing the vocals in the mix around "Through the blue and black..." and at the outro. Also, the volume jump in the mix at 4:30 or so might be a tad too much. Or not. Love your song, guys!

Deej / Ray,

Outstanding collaboration. Love the song, melody and arrangement. Production is great, as is the excellent vocal.

You both have really hit a high mark with this one. Love it all!

Bob

Thanks for your generous words folks.
It was an easy, enjoyable collaboration.
A quite note of clarification:
Deej wrote the lyrics together with the melody, chose the key, consulted re: the arrangement, collaborated on the mix, tracked as well as treated his vocal parts and encouraged me all the way through the process.

It's sung with nostalgia and just the right amount of energy, with a well-crafted chorus that builds to a crescendo, quite distinct from the verses. Great job, guys!
At 4:34, things really take off (great electric guitar riff). Nicely done

Dej and Ray...this is another example of the super music produced on this forum...great lyrics Deej...Ray's productions are always cool! I listened with my earbuds (forced to do that right now) and whether it's the panning of the vocals or an effect...it seemed to me the harmony track was lagging behind the lead vox...maybe you meant to do that as an effect...if so...cool...I rarely listen in phones so maybe the stark separation heard in this medium drew my attention there...nevertheless...another terrific song!

Hi, Deej and Ray.

Anything with Deej singing on it is going to be great. Hearfelt lyrics.

Good work with the arrangement - nice space with the mix, love the punchy kick. Clear mix with some cool builds.

The vocal is a bit on the losing end around 4:35. That's the sort thing I'd cheat on and use TrackSpacer to carve out some frequencies.

I enjoyed the ride!

Deej & ray,

This is a strong song. Every track plays well with the others. Working with Ray is always a pleasure - and he's always so accommodating.

Deej, your vocal is so good - maybe a small amount of volume increase would further highlight it.

Another super collaboration on the forum!

Alan

Deej

Really nice song, very good melody, excellent vocal and nice playing and mixing by Ray.
Excellent work all round.

Peter

Good lyrics, and man, the way you deliver them is _really_ good.
Pretty good production, and a good video for free.
Great work by all involved, I love everything about this song.

Deej and Ray, great job on this one.
I agree that towards the ending the band's volume increased but the vocals do not, thus they get buried.
Other than that this sounds great.

Thank you sir.

Thanks Vic,
the vocals are where Deej wanted them &, as the song has been mastered, it is as it is.

Thanks.
Yep, the vocal is the X factor.

Thanks fj,
a bit of a cheat vid but it does work.

Thnaks DC,
Yeah, Deej does the classic rock thing oh so well. The slightly buried vocal in the final section is deliberate - not popular but what we were going for.