Love is the Healer – Music for the Heart
Two years in the making, Aeone delivers a powerful yet, inspiring body of work in her 6th studio album – Love Is The Healer. Jeff Silverman (www.palettemusic.net) and Aeone (www.aeone.com) produced and arranged the album. Jeff also mixed, mastered and engineered the project and co-wrote on a number of tracks.
This beautifully crafted 10 -song album brings Aeone's signature ethereal voice and sound with a touch of the ancient Celt together, in a cinematic blend of otherworldly pop and organic rhythms. Hypnotic and uplifting, the 10 songs follow a path of grace and beauty deep into the heart of love, as Aeone weaves her story in a tapestry of voice and sound from the romantic poetry of love to the dark ancient longings of the soul. Taking us from multi layered vocals, ambient grooves, in soundscapes with ethnic instruments down to the single purity of her clear and haunting voice – an emotional and ambitious body of work - well worth the wait and well worth listening to.
Aeone was honored to have Ricky Kej, Best New Age, Grammy award winner, co-write Boat of Angels with her. It was produced by Aeone and Jeff Silverman and arranged by Aeone, Ricky and Jeff Silverman with Varsha Kej playing the sitar.
Run Home - The hypnotic and rhythmic opening song, has a feeling of momentum created by Jeff Silverman’s ‘slap guitar’. The song is about the calling to return home and looking back down the years with an open heart to reclaim that which has been lost or forsaken.
Love is The Healer – The uplifting title song with its ethereal pop production - speaks to love as our birthright, the true undercurrent of life. The longing for love and yet when it is found, the tremendous strength and courage that is needed to open up and be present to it.
Scarborough Fair (Remix) – To me this is a reflection on what one seeks from love. There’s a dream-like quality to the words, a wish that is sent out of how “she” wishes to be loved. It also speaks to those who were not capable of it and gave up on her. Musically reflected in the answering vocals and whispers and the otherworldly soundscapes around them - there is also a sensuous quality in the rhythmic groove and bass.
Boat of Angels - Is about the transcendent moment between two people that connects the human experience of the heart with something more holy. The song is a subtle melding of Indian and Celtic elements that starts in the ethereal and builds to a powerful uplifting end.
Where Lilies White Grow (Acapella) - “I’ve always had a great affinity for 18th century English romantic poetry. This is written from that place, an ode to the newly arrived beloved, the romantic grace of love’s early hours. The song becomes even more of an intimate message when sung acapella.
Who Wears the Crown – Written as a faerie story, it speaks to letting our true light shine. Showing our true face and standing in our fullest glory to claim the crown that is truly ours in every aspect of life. The mystical feel at the beginning of the song leads into a dance-feel on the chorus and a melding of ancient and modern worlds. Dulcimer and bagpipes are heard alongside the dance grooves and arpeggiators creating an uplifting call to life.
Across The Fields – Is about the sensuality of nature, our connection to it. The rhythm of the earth as it calls to lovers in a primal language - carries them away in each blessed moment in the last golden light of the day. This feeling is echoed in the music with primal drumming, layered sounds and repetitive piano theme. The bass and groove are sensual and act as the reminder of that feeling within us. The vocals, especially on the choruses are a wistful part of this memory.
Light the Sky – When looking up at the stars, I saw them as a symbol of the kindly light of hope that has guided me onwards and felt this upsurge within. The music reflects this feeling with a repetitive vocal figure and ethereal voices rising and answering – atmospheric pads and bell-like parts that build to uplifting, dramatic moment with percussive groove and drums – then down to the single pure acapella vocals.
She Walks With Me (Remastered) - Reaching back into the ancient part of the female self – into that place of ritual that comes to light when the moon is full and there is a sense of enchantment. To not forget the connection to this deep magical self - a place inside where love exists in its most ancient form. Vocal counterparts soar above atmospheric pads against earthly mandolin and dulcimer and deep rhythmic groove, creating juxtaposition between the worlds.
Kyrie - Everything in life begins and ends with a prayer of thankfulness.
Love is the Healer - Album credits
Produced and arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman at Palette Music Studio Productions (MSP) and Virtual Studio Networks (VSN) - Nashville, TN
Recording of Aeone's vocals and music at Angleterre Music Studios - Los Angeles, CA by Aeone.
Run Home
Written by Aeone (words and music) and Jeff Silverman (music)
Angleterre Music, BMI - Palette Songs, SESAC
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Piano, Synths, sound design and drum programming - Aeone
Acoustic Guitar Slap, guitar, synth bass, vocoder arrangement, drum programming and additional sound design - Jeff Silverman
Love is the Healer
Written by Aeone
Angleterre Music, BMI
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Piano, synths and sound design - Aeone
Electric and synth bass and drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Scarborough Fair (Remix)
Traditional
Produced and Arranged by Aeone and Jeff Silverman
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Synths, sound design, drum programming - Aeone
Synth bass, drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Boat Of Angels
Written by Aeone (words and music) and Ricky Kej (music)
Angleterre Music, BMI - Raveolution Studios, BMI - Palette Songs, SESAC
Produced by Aeone and Jeff Silverman
Arranged by Aeone. Ricky Kej and Jeff Silverman
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Synths, piano, dulcimer, sound design, drum programming - Aeone
Keyboards, piano, sitar, synths, synth bass, sound design and drum programming - Ricky Kej
Sitar - Varsha Kej
Electric bass, sound design, drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Where Lilies White Grow (Acapella)
Written by Aeone (words and music)
Angleterre Music, BMI - Palette Songs, SESAC
Additional music - Jeff Silverman
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Vocoder arrangement - Jeff Silverman
Who Wears the Crown
Written by Aeone
Angleterre Music, BMI
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Piano, synths, sound design, bass and drum programming - Aeone
Synth bass, drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Across the Fields
Written by Aeone
Angleterre Music, BMI
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Piano, synths, sound design, bass and drum programming - Aeone
Electric and synth bass, drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Light The Sky
Written by Aeone and Jeff Silverman
Angleterre Music, BMI - Palette Songs, SESAC
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Synth bass, synths and sound design - Aeone
Synth bass, synths, sound design, drum programming - Jeff Silverman
She Walks With Me
Written by Aeone (words and music) and Jeff Silverman (music)
Angleterre Music, BMI - Palette Songs, SESAC
Produced and Arranged by Jeff Silverman and Aeone
Mixed, Mastered, Engineered and Digital Editing by Jeff Silverman
Vocals performed, arranged, produced and engineered by Aeone
Synths, dulcimer, sound design and drum programming - Aeone
Mandolin, synth bass, synths, sound design and drum programming - Jeff Silverman
Kyrie
Written, arranged and produced by Aeone
Angleterre Music, BMI
Mixed and Mastered by: Jeff Silverman
Palette Music Website & Graphic Design, CD Cover Design: Debra Silverman, DLS Graphics
Photography: Front Cover by Spike Geilinger
Video Stills: Chris Dane Owens
Hair and Make-up: Barbara Lamelza and Rae Padgett
Dedication:
For those of us who walk this path of life with an open and fearless heart.
"Be not in yourself afraid - Love is the healer of the brave"…
Special thanks to: Jasmine Kostraba, Johnathan Gale, Jill Freeman, Norma Margot, Ricky Kej, Barbara Lamelza, Paige Padgett, Xue Ran Chen, Tom O'Keefe, Matt Berlowe
My endless thanks to:
Bebe and Nicky, Gracie and Neil - I thank you for your endless love and belief
Jeff Silverman for this incredible co-creative experience. It has been a journey of wonder and inspiration that I will always remember and for which I will always be grateful.
... and to Debra Lyn and Jeff Silverman for inviting me to be a part of Palette Records and their artistic vision.
Debra Lyn - thank you for your enduring support, input and the amazing web design, cd and graphics
Chris Dane Owens for your gift of the beautiful video and for bringing your light, your endless talent, creativity and vision to each and every moment of it.
Jennifer Barlow - 'Faerie cuz' for your huge talent and graceful energy.
Spike Geilinger - for your inspired film work and for bringing your amazing creativity to the project.
Scott Williams - for your love and inspiration
Love Is The Healer was created by Aeone and longtime collaborator, veteran producer and songwriter Jeff Silverman, 2000 miles apart in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville, TN. During the entire creative process, including recording, mixing and mastering, Jeff and I used Palette’s VSN virtual studio set up to communicate. Files were sent back and forth via the internet until the mix/ mastering stage. This process was a continual “passing of the torch.” For the creative process, files were constantly being traded off to each other as we were working on the arrangements. When it came to the mix, Jeff would take the torch and paint his picture. Then send it off to me to listen and comment. Then we both would hook up via VSN, streaming audio directly out of Jeff’s Pro Tools session, screen sharing and talking on the phone while making our final mix /mastering tweaks.
Jeff and I have worked on many projects but, hadn’t worked on an album of songs for a number of years, so it was both an inspiring and highly creative experience to work with him again and take my sound and music to a new place.
I am so proud of the work we have done together, each song feels seamless - where one person’s ideas end and the other’s begin. It was not only a great collaboration, but also a tribute to Jeff and his unique ability to tune into where I wanted to go as an artist and expand on that, rather than change it for the sake of making his mark. That being said, his imprint and input are absolutely apparent throughout the album.
Musically, whilst wanting to stay true to the 'Aeone' sound, we also wanted to take it to a different, more accessible place, yet still in keeping with the beautiful ethereal vocals, soundscapes and cinematic, mystical feel. So there is a strong percussive and rhythmic element to many of the songs, which along with sensuous bass, create a rhythmic and hypnotic bottom end to the mystical etherea. As always, I wanted the sound to reflect the story within each lyric, for a complete and transporting experience.
A great example of this was in the co-written opening track 'Run Home' - musically this was based on a rhythmic musical drone throughout the song and some layered vocalized vocals that already existed, which I used as a background for the new song, with atmospheric soundscape, piano and loops. Jeff took this all to an incredible place by re-editing all the sections of the song and then following his inspiration to play a 'slap guitar' part he kept hearing, along with acoustic guitar. He created and played an amazing part with this “slap guitar” which is the main driving force of the track and gives this feeling of forward movement - it is like the answering musical voice of the song. Jeff’s bass and work with the percussion and drums add further to the feeling of rhythmic movement and is cinematic and hypnotic.
Another beautiful collaboration was 'Where Lilies White Grow' - which was the last track we did for the album. The vocoder has been a theme in much of our past work and we used it on a number of songs on this album as well. Jeff's idea was to have an acapella piece for the album and specifically use a vocoder and the voice and nothing else. Initially, it was going to be simple vocalized piece. We had considered ‘Lilies’ earlier in the album process but, we felt it was perhaps for a later project. Then 'Lilies' came to mind again for the acapella. I gave the vocal stems to Jeff along with just the synth and piano midi parts and my “aah” samples of my voice. Many, many hours in the studio later, Jeff had come up with some amazing chords by adding to or using what was there in different unique ways to trigger the vocoder, so blending the lead vocal and the harmonies with it and created a beautifully intimate and compelling acapella version of the song, which in many ways is the central piece of the album.
"Who Wears the Crown" - was a song I had worked on for a long time but, couldn't quite meld. The idea was to do a mystical Celtic song that built into a dance track which was uplifting and euphoric - I was using 4-to-floor beats and arpeggiators, along with the bagpipes, dulcimer and all the other atmospheric sounds to create an otherworldly feel - so a blending of these two worlds. Jeff loved the idea and got what I was going for. Working with the arpeggiated parts and further into the groove, drums and loops, he solidified the dance beat on the choruses and throughout the rest of the song created moments of drama and release. Several bass lines added to the bottom end and groove.
