This song came about winter/20 after coming back from, what happened to be, my second last concert before the pandemic….remember those days? Anyhow, was a super concert of Alex Cuba’s and really inspired me to write a Spanish song even though I don’t speak the language. Writing music came along quickly enough but writing lyrics and singing in a different language - not so easy. I got some help from a friend with grammar, pronunciation, and how wording would go so I'm hoping the Spanish isn’t too laughable. First time playing fretless bass too which I thought was a fitting choice for the song.

Now Alex has won a Grammy for best Latin Pop album category for Mendo, so I thought I'd repost this track as he was the direct inspiration for it.

Todo Lo Que Necesita Es

CRÈME BRÛLÉE!

EDIT 7/14/14
Removed Ozone Mastering. Check Cello verb tails. Dropped Cello level at the end, last phrase.  Fixed Pedal at end to match piano key end. Fixed "Used to Be" in vox line x2 at the end... there were bits of noise, and it's a little better now.  Still two places in fist verse where I hear tiny crackle. I can't do anything about it. 


Remixed because he INSISTED that a little wail-y trill in the middle was completely ruining the mood.... I hope this appeases him. 

Other than that, no difference between this version and this older mix: https://soundcloud.com/juliannamcduffie/the-king-and-queen-of-nowhere

But maybe he can sleep at night now.

xoxoxoxoxox

Buy Mastered LP v.

The King & Queen of Nowhere (He Insists Mix, UNMASTERED VERSION)

I thought I’d like to share with you a cover I did back in 2021 while in the process of making my close-to-finished fourth album, "All That." 

One thing that gets me motivated to write songs in many styles are covering repertoire I’ve been checking out. I wanted to make my next album towards a jazzy, soulful edge like my favorite singer, Gino Vannelli. His early ‘70s albums from "Powerful People" to "Gist Of The Gemini" feature some jazzy, soulful, at times progressive combinations.

I first heard Vannelli’s song “Powerful People” in an archived stream DJ Questlove did on The Roots YouTube page. I then listened to the full Vannelli album, and thought about covering the title song, including the jazzy instrumental break. A lot of the orchestral synth sounds were played on my Nord Grand 88. The synth bass was played on my Moog Little Phatty, the organ on my Nord C2D, the chimes on my Korg Grandstage 88, the drums using Session Drummer’s Modern Basic kit (I can’t remember if I played the midi drums on my Nord or Korg…) The drums were first, as I often changed tempos throughout the song, not only to give the music a live band feel, but to make sure everything is played tight like having an incredible band!

I also studied a live recording of this song, which gave me the idea to extend the end of the vocal before the jazzy instrumental breakdown.

Anyway, covering this song helped me write “If I Could Change The Past,” which is going to appear on my next album. I hope you enjoy this cover.

Powerful People - Gino Vannelli Cover

Written by Kelly Wilson
A first dance wedding song. A duet exploring the start of a relationship.

Tiffany Chen : Vocal, Piano
Kelly Wilson: Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar
Dan Wilson: Drums, Bass, BGV

Without You

This is a re-imagining of my track, Lodestar, from 2021. Original song was with myself and a couple friends who provided bass and percussion. Mike John (check out his SC profile!) mentioned he liked the track and, when I listened to his music, I immediately thought a collaboration was in order - and I'm very grateful Mike took on the task. His piano playing and sense of arrangement and instrumentation has absolutely taken this song to the next level.

Composed & arranged by: Michael Lankin and Michael John
Acoustic guitar: Michael Lankin
Bass: Paul Hickson
Piano: Michael John
Percussion: Joe Kettlewell
Cello/Violin: Michael John and Michael Lankin

Feedback welcomed and thanks for listening!
Michael

Lodestar (Lankin, John)

Demo track for my preset pack named The Vital Sound of Merlin #2

29 instances of Vital by Matt Tytel. All sounds and wave tables created from init patch. This round we were allowed to use commercial plugins.

DAW: Reaper 7.28

Plugins: Tens by Klanghelm, Valhalla Delay, Valahalla Vintage Reverb, MConvolution EZ by Melda Production, Graphic EQ by Viator, Type B by Audiothing, TDR Nova, Comp FET-76 by Arturia,
Comp Tube STA by Arturia, EQuivocate by Newfangled Audio and DeBoom by Eventide.

Output bus: SmartEQ 4 and Smart Limit by Sonible, SOMA by Knif Audio and Widefire by Unisted Plugins.

Army Of Angels - Vital Presets Demo

This piece is in passacaglia form and composed in 2007 and remixed in 2024 by Michael John and Terry Fry, who wrote the bass line.

When They Built Cathedrals

My first song. It makes me want to start something.

(Art by Hasker Brouwer)

Invocation

Ambient acoustic tune, hopefully melodic. :-) Thanks to Freddy Holm who plays l
pedal steel guitar.

When They Built Cathedrals

MICHAEL JOHN