HEILBRONN is the 2nd track off my new experimental improvised album called TAKE CONTROL. HEILBRONN was written at my family’s cottage, a place deeply connected to my roots. My Oma and Opa originally came from the city of Heilbronn, Germany, and later moved to Canada after the war. Being in the environment where they lived, surrounded by old photos and memories of that city, I felt inspired to name the song after it. It’s interesting to think that this piece wouldn’t exist if my dad’s parents hadn’t come from there in the first place.
I started by recording myself improvising a loose structure on the drum kit, then overdubbed guitar, saxophone, synth bass, and percussion using MIDI, along with some atmospheric textures from my MicroFreak. I don’t really know how to play saxophone; I just used my ear and went with what felt right. The saxophone part is more emotional than technical, but I think that rawness suits the song perfectly.more