Short version (21 minutes). CONTACT KEN FOR THE FULL 36+ MINUTE TRACK.  A lush drone-track, interlaced with gentle sound effects, to help you fall asleep, or just relax during the day.  Minor edit the 24 hours after release to enhance the beginning.  Built over a 36-minute recording of continuing thunder and rain by Ken on 7/21/23.  Copyright 2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell/Sam DeMaranville.  Composed, performed and produced by Ken Mitchell (Somnolienta) and Sam DeMaranville (Ensenada).  Sam’s piece's beginning appears as a lead-in, and then in its fullness further into the piece, and then Is woven into Ken’s repeating movements as a companion overlay, three more times over the 36 minutes the full-length piece runs.  Mixed locally and remotely by Ken (NH USA) and Sam (KS USA).  Mastered by Ken.

Dream Come True Overload

Somnolienta Ensenada

Copyright 1996/2023 Ken Smaldone (soundCloud artist "Kenny Dodge").  "All alone at Christmas...? Don't feel sad, just spark one up!!" - Words from my favorite in-house artist!  This wonderful alternative Christmas jingle is the first of a few of our wonderful collaborations I plan to put up here for your enjoyment!  As his publisher, I like to celebrate our projects and get him some airtime as well.  :)  Kenny did the vocal, guitar and bells. I then overdubbed the rest, then mixed and mastered with Kenny’s guidance. 

Guitar and vocals by Kenny Dodge; percussion, bass, keys and backing effects by Ken Mitchell at Mix Horizon Music, Exeter, NH.  Produced by the two Kens, mastered by Ken Mitchell.

The Christmas Song 2023

The Christmas Song 2023 W/Kenny Dodge

Copyright 2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell.  A Christmas gift to my son and his lady from their cats, adapting the lyrics of Jingle Bells to their experiences.

All performances, mixing, production and mastering by Ken.  Mixing assists: Janet.  Loops used were from Freesound.org.  Feebie supplied the meow.  :)  Parody written by Ken, Janet and Avery Mitchell, and Michelle Clock.

Jingle Bells
Original Music and Lyrics by James Lord Pierpont
Lyric Update by K., J., and A. Mitchell, Michelle Clock

(Fynn purring)	
Feebee:  “Hey, Fynn, look at that shiny new ornament at the top of the tree!  Let’s go get it!
Fynn:  “Nahhh, I’m getting a bit too old for that…you do it!”
(Tree crashes, ornaments break)
Feebee:  “Ooops!  They probably won’t notice.”
Fynn:  “Tell ya what!  You handle this!  I’m going under my blanket”
Feebee:  “You can’t go to bed!  We have to do that surprise for mommy and daddy!”

Jingle bells
Catnip smells
50 feet away            (TWO TIMES)
Oh, what fun
It is to run
Through dad’s sneaker tray

Fynn:  “Did you catch that YouTube video with the singing cat?”
Feebee:  “Yeah, we should try that sometime…”
Fynn:  “Aren’t we doing that now?”

Dashing through the house
On sleeping heads we play
O'er the couch we go
Tearing mom’s duvet
Ha ha ha
Watch those cat tails swing
Knocking down the lights
What fun it is to jump and run 
All through the Christmas nights

Jingle bells
Catnip smells
50 feet away           (TWO TIMES)
Oh, what fun
It is to play
In mommy’s baking day

(Feebee meows)
Fynn:  “Is mommy in the shower?”

Now the TV’s toast
Glad we got that done
No more CSI
That was really fun
Look!  A brand new stand
A fireplace to break
Now’s the time to mess it up
See how much they can take

Jingle bells
Catnip smells
50 feet away
Oh how we
Love to be
With you every day hey
Jingle bells
We can tell
50 feet away
That you’re here
To love us dear
And we loooove youuuu allllll thhhhhe waaaaayyyy

(Laughter by Aves and Mimi)

Feebee:  “Are they laughing at us?”
Fynn:  “Nope!  They are laughing WITH us!”

Something Up Her Sleeve

Fynn's & Feebie's Jingle Cats

Copyright 2023 Kenneth A R Mitchell (lyrics)/David Hallinan (music).  Recorded at MARE Studio, Exeter, NH.  Musicians: Dave (vocal, rhythm guitar, synth horns, piano, strings); Ken (harmony vocal, drum tracks, synth bass, shaker, treatments, expansions/enhancements).  Mixed, produced and mastered by Ken.  A rich, uplifting piece of pop cake, Eno-Martin style.  :) Remaster 3/26 0905                                LYRICS follow:

I WILL ALWAYS
Lyrics Kenneth A R Mitchell
Lyrics tightening David Hallinan
Music David Hallinan
Copyright 2023

I will always be true to you 
One of one, through and through
Keep me young, make me sing
I owe you everything

We know that that friends are hard to get
They come and go, we soon forget
We are the ones, with guiding stars. 
You and me, eternal heart

CHORUS 

Thank the heavens, thank the earth
Giving truth, giving worth
All I am now, because of you
Being ourselves: what we do

INSTRUMENTAL

Time goes by, a wispy breeze
Lifts us well above the trees
So let me say, my through and through
I will always, be true to you. (Repeat)

Roadtrip

I Will Always

A song written for my trainer and dear friend at my first weather job.  She left to focus on her pregnancy and motherhood, and we all missed her greatly.  I sang it to her live in our office just before she left.  

Copyright 1982/2024 Kenneth A R Mitchell.  All performances (drum reprogramming and live second track) played live by Ken Mitchell.  Mixed, mastered and produced by Ken.

LYRICS:  

Mother to be, how old under someone’s eyes
Do I have to be, to be remembered, when you’re free
Mother to know you’re going when I’m barely in place
Makes me colder, I can remember, seems a dream

Will you give us the right to never forget you
To always regret you went away
When you leave us tonight I’ll never forget you
Just want to let you hear me say

Mother to be, can “Hey, I love you my friend” really say it
You know already, I really pray it
That you’ll give me the right to never forget you
Just want to let you hear me say

Mother to be the world is such a lovelier place
Because you’re in it, because you’re in it
A new beginning, mother to be

Mother To Be

Copyright 1982/2024 Kenneth A R Mitchell.  A "cleaner" mix to accent my piano track throughout (more Elton-like), but essentially maintaining the second-half buildup of the original.  A song written for a dear coworker leaving work to focus on motherhood.  I sang it to her live in the office back then. All instruments/vocal performed live (save drums); mixed; mastered; produced by Ken Mitchell   LYRICS FOLLOW:

LYRICS:  

Mother to be, how old under someone’s eyes
Do I have to be, to be remembered, when you’re free
Mother to know you’re going when I’m barely in place
Makes me colder, I can remember, seems a dream

Will you give us the right to never forget you
To always regret you went away
When you leave us tonight I’ll never forget you
Just want to let you hear me say

Mother to be, can “Hey, I love you my friend” really say it
You know already, I really pray it
That you’ll give me the right to never forget you
Just want to let you hear me say

Mother to be the world is such a lovelier place
Because you’re in it, because you’re in it
A new beginning, mother to be

Mother To Be (clean alt mix)

A Satori is a short period of existence when you are suddenly at total peace, one with all things.  I had one in my late 20s and it was/is an astonishing gift to see how life CAN be.  This track incorporates a NASA clip of the Sun's "song", which turns water molecules into perfect crystals.  And hence our own water molecules.  This is a "Zen-ambient" piece to honor my own Satori, and to help you find yours.   The 7 Chakra-cleansing frequencies are courtesy of Jagadamba of Freesound.org, as are the birds and waves sounds.  I used a guitar loop from Apple, and Logic's metronome (which appears at the start and end to simulate the end and restart of time).  The rest is me playing.  

Copyright 2024 Kenneth A. R. Mitchell.  Performed, recorded, treated/mixed, and mastered by Producer Ken Mitchell.  Thanks to Sam D for the pre-publishing quality check.  Remastered Oct 24 using Waves.com's Curves Equator

Satori (Song of the Sun)

Copyright 2010 Andria Mason.  https://kenmitchell.bandcamp.com/track/lost-this-fight to buy :)

Andria Mason:  vocal and guitar.  Ken Mitchell: percussion, synths and treatments.  Recovered, produced, treated/mixed, and mastered by Ken Mitchell

LOST THIS FIGHT
Copyright 2010 Andria Mason

Honey don’t mean to hurt you, there's just so much I need to work through
In my mind, in my mind
Wish that I could find the words to make it all seem worth it for you
To hang on, to hang on

I can’t say just what it is I’m livin' for
I can’t stop you this time from walking out that door
If you ask me to make up my mind tonight
Well honey I just lost this fight

There’s so much that we’ve both been through
No and I’m not trying to cause you pain
Cause you pain
But it’s my mind that’s not at ease
No and I’m not easy to please sometimes
Oh, sometimes

I can’t say just what it is I’m waiting for
I can’t stop you this time from walking out that door
If you ask me to make up my mind tonight
Well honey I just lost this fight
Honey, I just lost
Honey I just lost this fight

Lost This Fight

Copyright 2009 Andria Mason.  https://kenmitchell.bandcamp.com/track/when-youre-gone to buy.  :) Second release from this wonderful EP, Lost This Fight!  Gorgeous writing and performance.  Andria Mason: vocal and guitar.  Kevin Dambruch: eletric guitar and bass.  Ken Mitchell: percussion, synths.  Recovered, produced, treated/mixed, and mastered by Ken Mitchell

When You're Gone

Copyright 2009 Andria Mason.  https://kenmitchell.bandcamp.com/track/best-hand to buy.  :)  The third release from this wonderful EP, Lost This Fight!  Gorgeous writing and performance.  Andria Mason: vocal and guitar.  Kevin Dambruch: eletric guitar and bass.  Ken Mitchell: percussion, synths.  Recovered, produced, treated/mixed, and mastered by Ken Mitchell

Best Hand

Copyright 2019 Kenneth A R Mitchell.  A song for the special night!  Remastered and slowed a bit.  Performed, produced and mastered by Ken Mitchell.  Photo courtesy Paul Lacourse. 

(CHORUS)  IT’S FRIGHT NIGHT, THE RIGHT NIGHT
TO PRETEND YOU’RE SOMEONE NEW
IT’S TRICK OR TREAT WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO…   GO BOO!!!

IT’S HALLOWEEN, CAN’T WAIT TO BE SEEN
I’M DRESSED UP LIKE A WIZARD
I’VE GOT MAGIC MOVES AND MY MAKE-UP GROOVES
MY PARTNER’S OUT AS A LIZARD

IT’S THE TIME OF GHOULS AND THERE IS ONLY ONE RULE
TO GET A TON OF CANDY
BUT IF YOU’RE FEELING FEAR ‘CAUSE THE SCENE’S TOO WEIRD
JUST KEEP YOUR LIGHT SWORD HANDY

CHORUS    

IT’S THE WITCHES’ MOON AND THERE’S A SPELL THEY’RE BREWIN’
IT’S BEST YOU GET ON BY
BUT IF THEY DRAG YOU IN, I SUGGEST YOU BEGIN
TO SCREAM LIKE YOU’RE GONNA CRY

INTRUMENTAL  

KEY SHIFT (yikes!)

IT’S THE TIME OF OWLS AND THE GRAVEYARD HOWLS
THE WOODS ARE DARK AND CREEPY
ALL THE CHILDREN KNOW THAT IS NOT WHERE YOU GO
IT’S WHERE THE ZOMBIES ARE SLEEPING


IT'S THE AUTUMN GIG, IT'S GOTTEN REALLY BIG
JUST DECIDE WHO YOU WANT TO BE
THERE’S A LOT OF CHOICE, AND THE STREETS ARE MOIST
BUT DON’T DRESS UP LIKE ME

(CHORUS)  IT’S FRIGHT NIGHT, THE RIGHT NIGHT
TO PRETEND YOU’RE SOMEONE NEW
IT’S TRICK OR TREAT WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO   GO BOO!!!

It's Fright Night (The Halloweeb Song)

Fright Night (The Halloween Song)

Copyright 2012 Andria Mason.  https://kenmitchell.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-have-left to buy.  :)  The final release from this wonderful EP, Lost This Fight!  Gorgeous writing and performance.  Captured from an mp3 recording.  Andria Mason: vocal and guitar.  Kevin Dambruch: eletric guitar and bass.  Ken Mitchell: percussion, synths.  Recovered, produced, treated/mixed, and mastered by Ken Mitchell.

ALL I HAVE LEFT

All I Have Left (w/ Ken Mitchell)

An original song by Dave, celebrating Christmas Eve is a soulful and beautiful way

Christmas Eve

Originally a Fostex mixer 1988 recording,  Put through splitter, then  treated, remixed and mastered.  New strings track added to enhance very weak original.  Othwerwise, as recorded 40 odd years ago.  Used an old 80s trick of singing most of it with a sped up voice, then ending it Bowie-like with normal voice in the outro repeats :). Lyrics follow:


DON’T PRACTICE YOUR LAUGH
C 1988 Kenneth A R Mitchell

Don’t practice your laugh, don’t laugh for real
Unless you want to know how bad I really can feel
Unless you want to hear how loudly I can scream
Don’t practice your laugh, don’t practice your beam

Laughing, laughing, laughing like a rabid hyena
No one could believe this, not unless they had seen it
Someday you’ll be hurt, they’ll practice laughing at you
If to see just how you take a turn of the screw

Don’t practice your laugh, don’t laugh for real
It’s gonna take a while for this infliction to heal
It’s gonna take some time before the medicine work
Don’t practice your laugh, don’t practice your smirk

Laughing, laughing, laughing that insensitive chortle
Echoes through the house, it doesn’t even sound mortal
Someday you’ll discover what revenge is about
When someone comes and practices a punch in your mouth

Instrumental


Laughing, laughing, laughing that delirious cackle
Echoes in the night, it’s nothing I would come back to
Go and practice practicing on somebody else
Better yet it’s better you go laugh at yourself

Don’t practice your laugh, don’t laugh for real
You’ve gotta give my heart a little time to heal
You’ve gotta give my eyes a little time to dry
Don’t practice your laugh, don’t practice your smile
Don’t practice your laugh, don’t laugh for real (3x)

Don't Practice Your Laugh

Copyright 2018 Written/performed/programmed/produced Ken Mitchell.  My first non-love song after a 14 year break, this song poured out of me in less than an hour.  I was playing covers at an open mic, and the fellow in charge said to bring in self-compositions.  This one poured out.  Used garage band drum track, since it was just right for the song.  This Logic remix was to get the most out of the early recording techniques. Remastered Jun/Nov 2023.

Hidden In Plain Site

I've Got An Answer

I've Got An Answer 2023

Copyright 1983/2019 Written/performed/produced Ken Mitchell

I wrote this song for my bride to be/our wedding, performed it during the ceremony, had our first dance to it as the band learned it in advance...and recorded it several times way back when.  But this is the pristine digital version, using the same arrangement as before, slightly different effects.  So glad this sonically pure now. Mastered in 2023 on Waves Abbey Road and other software.

I Vow My Love

I Vow My Love 2023

Copyright 2019 written, performed, produced by Kenneth A R Mitchell.  My first dive into using loops, a few from GarageBand, the rest my own.  My partner wanted an instrumental, and this is a blending of those loops into a nice ambient-like piece.  This is a very modern production in that no music piece in this work is longer than 8 beats.  :)  Remastered Dec 2023.

Jae's Waves

Jae's Waves 2023

Copyright 2019 Kenneth A R Mitchell.  Written, performed, produced by Ken Mitchell.  A track for self-healing, containing a shamanic trance beat to induce a deeper healing.  Do not drive or operate machinery listening to this.  5-part harmony as well.  :) 2021 version remixed and mastered on Waves Abbey Road and other software.  Mastering touch-up Nov 2023...and again in Oct 2024.

I Am Healing 2024

NOTES FOR FOLLOWERS:  HTTPS://WWW.MIXHORIZONMUSIC.COM/whats-up.  ALSO:  HTTPS://WWW.MIXHORIZONMUSIC.COM/new-music
RECORDING HISTORY:   About me:   A few decades of experience!   I’ve been writing, performing and producing music since my late teens, keeping up with tech advancements. With my recording, practices and live performances in bands, I have well over 10,000 hours of experience! 

I am on the Waves subscription plan, which with my DAW, Logic Pro, and other software purchases, gives me lots  of options to get the best sounds and loudness!  Add my speaker system and studio reference headphones, constant software and skills upgrades, and I am ready and able!

Musicianship:  I play drums, electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, and keyboards. I sing, harmonize well. Primary influences: Beatles (and George Martin), Brian Eno, David Bowie, Elton John, & Leonard Cohen. 

I am in this for the joy of creating music.  It has always been that way, since my first transistor radio (!) to hours of absorbing the masterful sounds of my influence for hours on end…and blending them with my abilities.

I started on two cheap reel-to-reel recorders in 1970, using  a surprisingly successful sound-on-sound technique (in my late teens and early 20s).  I moved to a professional reel-to-reel sound-on-sound for a spell (later 20s), and then eventually to 4-track cassette mixing recorder, mixing to reel, with several effects units (later 30s). 

I took a 14 year break from the mid-90s on, as work and family became all-consuming.  I retired from working in July 2018.  I then began writing/recording again that August, now in the digital era with GarageBand at first, then Logic Pro late winter of 2020.  

I also played drums, then guitar, and sang, in the local covers-band, Revolver...which I left in 2021.  I record/produce other artists and add instruments as needed.  Thanks for reading all this!

KEN MITCHELL

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