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In Our Hands (For all those we've lost)

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AdamHarkus

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« on: December 02, 2020, 09:46:02 AM »
Here’s my new song: In Our Hands, with it’s accompanying video. Written, produced, and performed by Adam Harkus.

In Our Hands was written almost nine months ago now, right at the start of the first lockdown when I was still in shock and basically living in fear over the COVID pandemic. Around that time I’d bought a new acoustic guitar (a Yamaha FG850) so the COVID theme was apt for my first song written on it.

This is one of those songs that developed quickly, about 30 minutes all in. I put myself in the shoes of a man about to pass away. A final goodbye but also a final message.

If we live our die, our way of life’s In our Hands.

After I’d put pen to paper, I rushed out to the garden shed to get it down on tape, a hot-off-the-press live video was uploaded, and that’s where it stayed, until now.

When I came to producing it for real, I wanted to package it up as a sort of Lockdown Diary. A celebration of all that was good about 2020, those that went the extra mile, a thank you to our services sector, particularly the NHS.

Production of In Our Hands:
In Our Hands was produced on an iPad running Garageband.
All Drums, Keyboards, Guitar and Vocal FX: Garageband.
Guitars: Yamaha FG850, Squier Telecaster Custom II, Stagg Bass.
Interfaces: RODE VideoMic Me, TC Helicon GO Guitar Interface

The Lyrics:
There’s no one here
No one by my side
I’ve nothing left
I’m almost out of time

And looking back
The things I love today
They’re not coming back
I slowly fade away

But anyway, I’ve nothing else to lose
I feel this pain, but tomorrow I am through

Seems to me, as I lay on my bed
If we live or die, our way of life’s in our hands
Plain to see, these thoughts run through my head
If we live or die, our way of life’s in our hands

The time is here
I feel it deep inside
I’ll pass away
For others to arrive

In Our Hands – By Adam Harkus 2020.
So, without further ado, here it is. Hope you like it!

Please feel free to comment, like, and subscribe. I’d love to know what you think!



YouTube:


« Last Edit: December 02, 2020, 04:51:25 PM by AdamHarkus »
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

Wicked Deeds

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« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2020, 11:17:22 AM »
@AdamHarkus,

A very accomplished offering Adam. You have a fine voice and are an accomplished musician.  That's a lovely acoustic guitar tone and the bass sounds mighty you fine too.  Everything has it's place in the musical production.  The addition of backing vocals is always an asset and demonstrates a devotion that often escapes must contributors, including myself at times.

I would struggle to write such a lyric.  Mainly as I my offerings mostly tend to embrace my life experiences or connect with them in a creative manner. My review is therefore directed towards the melody and musical facets of your production. 

It's great to have you on board here at the forum and I will look out for future posts.  Welcome and well done with the beautiful playing and production that is clearly evident on this song.

Paul

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2020, 11:26:13 AM »
Thank you so much Paul.

My first issue is.... I have no idea how to tag people back!

I greatly appreciate both your time and your kind feedback. Makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Happy to be part of the group.

Thanks again.

Adam

The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

Wicked Deeds

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« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2020, 11:30:38 AM »
@AdamHarkus,

The prefix @ followed by the forum name is used to reply to a particular forum contributor. 
I'm not sure if you have reviewed many songs from other contributors yet. If not, I'd jump in with a few reviews and you'll find that the forum will open up for you and that you will receive many more reviews.

Hope this helps

Paul

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2020, 11:32:33 AM »
Thanks @Wicked Deeds

Hey it worked!

i'll be sure to review some material. Thanks for the heads up!
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2020, 11:35:39 AM »
Also @Melina @Sebandme ...

Here you go this is the finished article + video, hope you like it.

Now to do some reviews :)
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

pompeyjazz

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« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2020, 02:19:21 PM »
Hi @AdamHarkus Nice acoustic sound and good vocals. One point on the vocals - They seemed to be panned more to one side than in the centre ? It's an accomplished production with well chosen instrumentation

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2020, 04:20:45 PM »
Thanks @pompeyjazz.

Can't believe I missed that... Just off centre, completely by mistake!
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2020, 04:50:58 PM »
@pompeyjazz

Here you go!

The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

moraamarolaloba

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« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2020, 05:36:51 PM »
Hola @AdamHarkus
I think I have lost my mind, I thought I had commented to you in your song and now I see that I have not, but here I am.
I really liked the song, a clean sound although I want to tell you that in my  headphones the leader voice appears on the right side? Maybe you want it to be like that to leave the bass and second voice on the left.
But apart from this observation I really liked it, a very clean sound and very natural drums and very deep lyrics.

Stay safe

Mora
I did not know that to live we had to die so many times
My Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaK7mFK7fUpf1E99I1Qtow

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2020, 08:15:21 PM »
Thanks @moraamarolaloba

That's so frustrating when you think you're done and you realise you've accidentally panned the lead vocal.

It's been sorted now and is on the 'remastered' SoundCloud clip, I also uploaded a new version of the vid.

Thanks again, appreciate it!
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

ChrisPrice

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« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2020, 09:08:33 PM »
@AdamHarkus,
A sad song which seems very appropriate in these difficult times. Great vocal and guitar. The recording sounds good to me - I notice that something was mentioned about the vocal panning but that seems fine now. Excellent.

AdamHarkus

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« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2020, 02:09:21 PM »
@ChrisPrice Thanks a lot listening and for this forum for pointing out the (now correctly panned) vocals.

Glad I got the message across. Maybe when we lose everything the only thing we have left is to warn others?
The Blogging Musician @ https://adamharkus.com

pompeyjazz

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« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2020, 02:19:12 PM »
@AdamHarkus Yes - The mix seems better now that you have corrected the vocals. You're song keeps on being bumped to the top of the pile as quite a few folks have bothered to take the time to listen to and critique your song - That's great  :) However, it's a two way thing on this forum and it's only polite to take a bit of time to listen to and review some of the other member submissions. You'll get a lot more feedback if you take some time to do this  :) :) :) :)

MichaelA

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« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2020, 07:10:22 PM »
Hi @AdamHarkus , welcome to the forum. You've got a very appealing sound here achieved with that sweet acoustic and original vocal texture. There's an easy restraint in the song and I just drifted long with it, very nice. If you are looking for suggestions I'd say you could maybe lift the chorus a bit more, maybe with vocal layering or whatever, just to make it stand out a bit more from the rest of it.

I enjoyed the mid break, again you seem to very much know what you're doing. Nicely mixed too.

Yep, sensitively done! Good luck with your writing.
My latest novel: pls check it out!

‘Gavin & The Bodysnatchers’, a quirky comedy crime thriller. Easily found on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09GZ7C8M7?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860