This set contains all my collaborations with other soundclouders made in 2013.

Important remark :) Some tracks in this set may contain piano, which is not played by me :) I feel rather uncomfortable when I receive warm comments for the piano, which I can't take credit for, so, please, pay attention to the track description :)

Collaboration map

Collaborations with other SoundClouders (2013)

Truly loved this piece composed by http://soundcloud.com/stephan-beneking and thought I'd give it a try and play myself :) Though, it was rather short and I felt like I want to make it a little bit longer so I took the liberty of improvising on the theme.

This piece can be be "Flattered" by pressing the "Flattr" button! Please join www.flattr.com to support creativity!

Picture: Albrecht Dürer, Junger Hase, 1502

Petit reve bizarre #14 by Stephan Beneking - Variation on the theme by Milana

There was a long story behind this cover :) Steve offered to sing it together about a month ago but then lots of stuff happened, bad and good, and finally here is the result of hard work of four people :)
Thank you Steve for offering this and singing it with me!
Thank you Dave for adding your magical sax and redoing my dilettantish bass line :))
... well, thank you Arty for mixing it together :P
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Music by Burt Bacharach 
Lyrics by Hal David
Piano and Vocal by Milana
Vocal by @steveferguson
Sax and Bass by @dave-mckeown
Production by @artyom-tchebotaryov

The look of love - Milana (vocal, piano), Steve Ferguson (vocal), Dave McKeown (sax, bass)

I was asked by Chris (@nu-ionmusic) if I can sing this song for him about a week ago but because of the accident with my son I didn't really have much time for collaborations. So, today I got some time to sing some collabs but  saw a lovely version sung by @emma-shanley :). I asked Chris if he still wants me to sing another version of the same song and got his approval. So here it is, something unusual for me :)

Long goodbye - nu-ionmusic (music, lyrics), Milana (vocal)

Milana's playing on this is just so good ... and her husband Arty did a great job on the mixing front.

Bridge Over Troubled Water (Milana Zilnik piano: Simon & Garfunkel cover)

It must be the first time I get two collaborations finished the same day :) Maybe not the best thing to publish them both the same day but I am not patient to wait :))

Music and lyrics by @progrockdan1
Vocals and piano by Milana
Mixing & mastering by @artyom-tchebotaryov

We were good friends - ProgRockDan (lyrics, music), Milana (vox, piano)

When Andreas (http://soundcloud.com/Shoemansky) wrote me and asked if I am open for a collaboration it was like a big "wow" cause I'm a huge fan of his songs! So we chose the motif of one of my piano improvisations for the start (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/on-the-other-side-milana) and used the words I wrote myself when I was thinking to turn that impro into a song. And here is the result :)

Llyrics, vocals and piano by Milana
Vocal, arrangement and production by @Shoemansky

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You lay and wonder, if it is the end, 
And if there is a way  to escape this ending... 
Your tried your best, you made your final stand... 
An empty heart can't deal with no more pain!

Stop the scene, I want a ticket out. 
It makes no sense to keep this engine going... 
You bleed and scream and fill yourself with doubt, 
Your self defense is falling, falling.

On the other side.... on the other side there is hope, there is light..
Can we make it?

I search the ruins for survivals left. 
The grief is burning, but the fear is freezing. 
I'm scared to death to meet the living dead.
These dead are us, if we're afraid of living.

Stop the scene, I want a ticket out. 
It makes no sense to keep this engine going... 
You bleed and scream and fill yourself with doubt, 
Your self defense is falling, falling.

Burn this place, it can be saved by light. 
I rip and crash, until my hands are bleeding. 
If words were blades then I could win this fight, 
But all that's left in me is leaving, leaving...

Stop the scene, I want a ticket out. 
It makes no sense to keep this engine going... 
You bleed and scream and fill yourself with doubt, 
Your self defense is falling, falling.

Is it the end - Milana (lyrics, vox, piano), Shoemansky (vox, arrangement, prod.)

After making the first collab with Elle (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/my-favorite-things-milana-elle), I knew I want to make another one :)) I also knew it will be some musical :)) One of my all times fav is "Phantom of the Opera". Arty & me even went from Ottawa to New York especially to see that musical a couple of years ago. So, here is our interpretation of one of the songs from the musical. It was a tough decision to choose the singing roles but then Arty got an idea to make both versions.

-----------
Piano & orchestration by Milana
Meg's vocal by Milana
Christine's vocal by http://soundcloud.com/elleshell8
Phantom's vocal by http://soundcloud.com/artyom-tchebotaryov
Christine's vocal by Milana
Meg's vocal by http://soundcloud.com/elleshell8

Phantom of the Opera - Angel of music - Milana (piano, vox) - Elle (vox) - Arty (vox, prod.)

I had so much fun working on Milana's open collaboration last month that I asked her if I could do another of my choosing.  She graciously said yes.  This beautiful piano meditation really struck me, so here is my interpretation of her original composition, http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/running-on-a-dark-meadow.  

http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik

To leave Milana a comment on her wonderful composition, go to her cloud:
http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/running-on-a-dark-meadow-ray-mcginnis

Running on a Dark Meadow - Milana Zilnik (composer, pianist),  Ray McGinnis (producer, arranger)

Another take on a Sarah Mc Lachlan Song. 

In The Arms Of Angel - Piano by Milana Zilnik, Vocal by Cindy Eichardt

After making a beautiful version of "Marching pumpkins" (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/marching-pumpkins-open-collaboration) @ray-mcginnis asked me if he can use another improvisation of mine to work on :) The choice was made to use one of my old improvisations: http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/running-on-a-dark-meadow  .... and this is the masterpiece that Ray created out of it :)

All the credit for arrangement, production and the photo goes to Ray :) 
http://soundcloud.com/ray-mcginnis/running-on-a-dark-meadow

Running on a dark meadow - Milana (composition, piano), Ray McGinnis (arrangement, production)

Original song by @doug-roossien (http://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien/if-only-autumn-mona-lisa-smile)
Cover by Milana (piano, vocal, arrangement)

If Only Autumn - Doug Roossien (lyrics, original), Milana (piano, vox, arng)

music and lyrics: Doug Roossien (http://soundcloud.com/doug-roossien)
piano and arrangement: Milana Zilnik (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik)
vocals: Cindy Eichardt
mix: Frank Zernsdorf (http://soundcloud.com/frank-zero)
Remix: Arty Sandler (http://soundcloud.com/artyom-tchebotaryov) 

We’re not making love…words & music by Doug Roossien 1988

Tonight you’re not forgiving me…the way you always do
You always talked about goodbye…but then you’d give love one more try
I don’t know the reason why…but this time…love just died
I knew we weren’t making up tonight…when you turned out the light

You said we can’t…make love…out of something…that’s just not there
You’d like to believe…there was still…some hope…somewhere
But you can’t make love…out of nothing…the feelings…just not right
We’re not making love…we’re not making up…tonight

Maybe if I’d given you…a single rose of truce…
You’d of had a reason…not to leave…you’d of had faith in you and me
Maybe if I told you then…the way I’m feeling  now
It might have opened up your heart…enough for a fire…to make a start

But I can’t…make love…out of something…that’s just not there
If you hadn’t left…there’s have been…some hope…somewhere
But I can’t make love…out of nothing…and there’s no one…left to try
We’re not making love…we’re not making up…tonight


You can’t make love…out of something…that’s just not there
I’d like to believe…there was still…some hope…somewhere
But you can’t make love…out of nothing…there’s no one left…to try
We’re not making love…we’re not making… up…tonight

I don’t know about you…
But we’re not…
Darlin’…whatever… we’re not…
We’re not making love
I don’t know about you…
But we’re not…
We’re not making love


We Are Not Making Love (Douglas Roossien/Milana/Cindy Eichardt) Arty Sandler Remix

I would love to present you another improvisation of mine orchestrated by @ray-mcginnis :)

All the credit for arrangement, production and the photo goes to Ray :) 
http://soundcloud.com/ray-mcginnis/its-about-time-milana-zilnik

It's About Time - Milana (orig. piano composition) - RayMcGinnis (orchestration)

I'm taking some break from collaborations to devote time to recording my original material. But here is the long promised collaboration :)  Not too proud of my singing here.. but some songs work and some don't. I had hard times trying to get the feel of it.

Original song and back vocals by http://soundcloud.com/jon-davies-2
Arrangement and everything else (piano, bass, guitars and so on) by me :)

Broken Promises - Jon Davies (orig. song, back vox), Milana (arrangement, vox)

After some short chat with Dirk, I decided to give it a try and improvise on the theme of one of Dirk's wonderful compositions :) Here is the result.

The original piece: http://soundcloud.com/ascoltadi/dirk-maassen-to-the-sky
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I would also love to use the opportunity and announce the release of my piano album "Filling the emptiness" that is available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, BandCamp and so on. For all the links: http://www.milana.ws/albums.html

Variation on the theme of "To the sky" (Dirk Maassen) by Milana

A couple of weeks ago Milana uploaded a piano improvisation that stroke my heart immediately. Innerly I heard more sounds for this track and I asked Milana if she would like to make it a collaboration. I am very glad she agreed :)))  Since Milana's piano improvisation was not 'clicked' the main creative challenge appeared to be adding the drums ;) I managed these my way though and enjoyed the process very much :)

Piano improvisation by Milana Zilnik (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik)
Piano mix by Arty Sandler (http://soundcloud.com/artyom-tchebotaryov)
Fender Jazz bass, African percussion (created with Milana's piano midi), drum programming, acoustic rainmaker and final mix by Mike Spring

Rocking Waterfall - with Milana Zilnik

It was very fun to work with Iohannes on this track, as well as Milana for adding her lovely vocals to it.  It was very fun to work with both of you on this! :)

"Like" me on Facebook

Breathless - Iohannes & David Ackerman Feat. Milana Zilnik

I am very happy to release the new track. This tune is based on a wonderful piano improvisation by Milana (https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik). Milana's playing inspired me to play an Indian bass Bansuri, a double bass, a German glockenspiel and to fine tune the mix. I hope you enjoy this collaboration in between Italy, Germany, Israel and Canada. Do not forget to click 'I Like' if you liked it ;o) Cheers, Mr. Thomas

"I won't give up - Milana and Mr. Thomas"

So, I tried to play that structured improvisation (http://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/milana-i-wont-give-up) and thought of it more like a "work in progress", same as I think of most of my improvisations - just "moments in time", one take recordings, no editing (unless we include some improvisation into an album - then we do polish it a little bit).

A couple of days later  I got a message from @german-mister-thomas who offered to add Indian bass Bansuri on top of the piano. The result truly brought tears, it was so fascinatingly haunting... Then Thomas also added double bass and a German glockenspiel. Here is the final result. Please visit Thomas's cloud, you won't regret :)

The painting, the instrumentation and the production by @german-mister-thomas

I won't give up - Milana and Mr. Thomas

Dutch version of "IF I KNOW YOU", a song by Ian Melvin: @ianmelvin
Many thanks to @milanazilnik for the creation of the wonderful piano track.

This Dutch version is part of a translation project by Ian Melvin to create as many versions of "IF I KNOW YOU" in other languages as possible. 

For all the other translations please visit Ian's group:
soundcloud.com/groups/if-i-know-you-like-i-do

DUTCH LYRICS

ALS IK JOU KEN 
Als ik jou ken, echt goed ken 
Zou je ooit weggaan? 
Had jij die wens? 

Had ik jou minder lief, dan zou moeten 
Waar zou je't zoeken? 
Wat kon ik doen?

Ik voer over grote oceanen 
Ik bedwong de hoogste berg 
En ik bracht dan uit de diepste zee 
Die zwarte parel mee 
Alleen voor jou 
om wie je bent 
als ik je ken

Als je mij kent, echt goed kent 
Zou ik ooit weggaan? 
Had ik die wens?

Had je mij minder lief, dan zou moeten 
Waar zou'k het zoeken? 
Wat kon jij doen?

We bevoeren grote oceanen 
We bedwongen elke berg 
En we brachten uit de diepste zee 
Die zwarte parel mee 
alleen voor jou 
om wie je bent 
als ik je ken 

LITERAL TRANSLATION (out of Dutch)

IF I KNOW YOU 
If I know you, really know 
Would you ever leave? 
Could you wish for this? 
  
If i loved you less, than I should 
Where would you be looking? 
What could I do?

I could navigate large oceans 
I could conquer the highest mountain 
And I brought then out of the deepest sea 
That black pearl 
Only for you 
for who you are 
if I know you

If you know me, really know 
Would I ever leave? 
Could i wish for this?

Did you love me less, than you should 
Where would i be looking? 
What could you do?

We could navigate large oceans 
We could conquer every mountain 
And we brought out the deepest sea 
That black pearl 
only for you 
for who you are 
if I know you

Painting: Stefan Krikl

Als ik jou ken (Collab with Ian Melvin and Milana Zilnik)

Playing piano since I was four and studied in a musical school for ten years. Though, I always felt that playing by notes and singing in a choir is not enough to become a musician. I needed to be able to play anything I want by ear so, by starting improvising, I've found my own style of playing. When I teach children to play piano or sing, I offer them improvisation right from the beginning. I wish I was taught that way, since until my mid-30s I had hard times to relax and believe in my ability to create my own music. Twelve years ago my husband (@arty-sandler) finally convinced me to record some of my improvisations and we opened this account on SoundCloud - it happened in July, 2012.

You won't find a single particular genre on my cloud: my musical tastes are rather eclectic. Jazz and soft rock are my favorites but I also play blues, classical, folk, middle-eastern, New Age, ambient and others. Piano and vocal are my main instruments but together with my husband we also experiment a lot with different arrangements and orchestrations. 

When we started uploading our music to SoundCloud back in 2012, it was first shy attempts to record my improvisations straight from a keyboard. Many things have evolved since then. Over the years we've grown into a professional recording and composing studio, with a conservatory grand piano in an acoustically treated room and a bunch of microphones and other recording equipment. We scored a few documentaries, short films and animations. This year my orchestral and piano solo works were performed by Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra for Bryan Arias’s ballet show based on “The Little Prince” story. We've published three books with my original scores for solo piano and released twenty original full-length albums (solo piano, multi-instrumental and original songs in various genres) and numerous singles that have been streamed over 70 million times across multiple platforms.

I am glad you stepped by into my musical world and appreciate your comments and following me.