ReMix: NiGHTS into dreams... 'Twin Seeds Flyby'

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NiGHTS: Lucid DreamingNiGHTS into dreams...

Lucid Dreaming simultaneously had great variety and great consistency, with every track offering inspired arrangements built on solid production. Next up we've got another cut from album director Level 99. Stevo writes - at length:

"I'd like to say that every song on the NiGHTS OST were reasons Lucid Dreaming got off the ground, but personally, this is one of the ones that really pushed it for me. The source tune has an unbelievable feeling of flying, almost to the point of elation and bliss. It conveys the context well: the level is the last real one in the game, and instead of playing as NiGHTS you're actually playing as either of the human characters flying around their home town of Twin Seeds. You're soaring through the clouds, the city below you and all around you, dashing through balloons, rings, stars, and the Twin Seeds building. I know that I and countless other people have had dreams where they are flying around their towns, and I wanted to capture that with this song.

I spent over a year slowly working on this and getting the mixing as close to perfect as I could. The track may stand on the legs of the acoustic guitars but it's the variation of instruments and interplay between the various synths and leads with the lead guitar that holds it together. There's lots of Dimension, Rapture, UltraAnalog, and EWQL Silver spread throughout the track. I even got up the nerve to sing almost-falsetto notes for the backing voice. It is said that a musician puts a bit of their soul into each of their creations. This is one of the songs that I poured my soul into at great length. I must give thanks to Shaun (Avaris) for his initial willingness to make this a collab, then being alright with my request for it to be a solo track (I ended up working on it so much that I ended up doing the things he was initially going to do) and still giving me helpful tips throughout.

So, just to end on a sappy line: To anyone who's ever dreamed of flying, this song is for you."

Synth pad swirls in & upbeat acoustic guitar strumming + electric lead melody circle the runway before drums roll in & lift off at 0'16". I must say, the two-note backing vocal motif really adds a lot - quite cool that Stevo recorded this himself, and I think it speaks to his technical & emotional investment in this specific mix. Synth leads tumble & soar, integrating naturally with their fretted counterparts in the night sky. I think Mr. 99 described the track and his process in creating it rather well, so I'll just make one overarching comment: This mix completely succeeds at its goal of capturing a feeling of flight & freedom. That's all you really need to know.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
Does anyone put more emotion into an acoustic ReMix with a airy beat behind it than Stevo? This does have a flying vibe to it, so mission accomplished, but I do want to say that the first part sounds more like a soaring, speedy, deliberate kind of flight and as the ReMix goes on, it becomes more light and drifting-like. I just love that little tick. I haven't had any flying dreams (my dreams are horrible and disconnected, sadly), but this would go great if I did. Love it.

- Crulex on November 8, 2012
Well, It's about time I get around to writing a review of this. I remember that the day it came out, Stevo himself said this song was one of the highlights of the album. While that may sound somewhat self-centered as he made it, it's true. Every song on that album is great, but this one stands out. I'm not sure what gives it it's polish, but it may be the fact that everything seems so planned out. no random sounds stuck in, everything is the right mood. Makes me feel energetic and excited. This synth is the perfect fir for a guitar (playing in this style of course) and is reminiscent of early synths. This is a great mix, one of my favorites from the album. Keep it up Stevo! (no pressure though...)

- Crossing on December 11, 2011
I got to hear this mix awhile back, and it's a nice relaxing listen throughout. It really exudes some country vibes to me and in a way I can approve. Great mix from Stevo, definitely a highlight in his repertoire!

- Bahamut on December 11, 2011
I remember loving the preview in the trailer when it came out, and when the track made its showcase properly, it still remained epically strong. Seriously, how the hell did Stevo end up with a lot of the BEST songs from the NiGHTS score? :razz:
So arrangement-wise, it starts pretty safe towards the source material, down to the solos (liking the glide work being done to that synth btw), though by the time the glockenspiel comes in at 1:30 the track starts to show a lot of Stevo's colors in regards to improvisation. Excellent.
The production itself similarly feels slick; a little off-time at times with the rhythm guitar timing though, but a lot of the pros with the details easily outweight it. It even surprised me that those falsetto vocals were even him; of all the times I heard his voice through OverClocked After Dark, I wouldn't have assumed that he'd push his voice up THERE for some reason o_O
All in all we have this firm arrangement that reflects on the joyous atmosphere of the source material and shows Stevo's nature as a performer. IMO it's one of the best tracks from Lucid Dreaming; you should be proud of taking the reigns on this one!

- Rexy on December 6, 2011
Probably my favorite Stevo-mix ever. The synth solo is mildly jarring, but it works very well, in context and feels very off-the-cuff, and the section where the distorted rhythm guitar comes in briefly sounds strangely mixed, but isn't around for long. The strengths this mix has are numerous, from the energetic acoustic guitars to the soaring vocal motif. DJP mentioned this is almost like the sister song to Deia and I's track, and I think the two combined cover a lot of emotional ground.
I love it!

- OA on December 5, 2011
Nothing less than spectacular. 5 seconds of this song convinced me it was 5/5. There's not many songs I can give that rating to after only one listen through.

- Locke on September 24, 2011
Absolutely love this track. I've never played NiGHTS, so Lucid Dreaming was a bit of a background listen for me, but this track instantly caught my attention. There's almost a... I want to say "stumbling" feeling to the way the lead notes are timed throughout this track, that rather than feeling clumsy is just extremely charming. Everything's just right, there's honestly nothing I can think of that I would want to change, which is quite rare... really speaks to the amount of time and care put into crafting this song. So thanks for that effort, and thanks for sharing it :-)

- Fridge on September 20, 2011
I dunno, I've never held any issue with the synth solo... I love the free-form, looser sound it has.
But I've gotta say, this track is one of my most listened to tracks off the album... probably THE most. I've always loved this source, but Stevo's take is my FAVOURITE version of this track. Everything about it... it just makes me happy. It's gorgeous.
The vocal sample Stevo created warms my heart, and this ReMix is by far his equivalent of 'Mona Lisa' or other pretentious artistic reference. A sentiment I know Stevo himself shares.
Great work man... everything that's good about NiGHTS all condensed into one track. Stellar.

- AkumajoBelmont on August 29, 2011
Man, I wish that first synth solo could have been tightened up, it still sounds waaaaay out of time to me :-(
Aside from that though, this song is pretty much untouchable. It's one of the most accessible and enjoyable mixes from the whole NiGHTS project, I'll echo everyone else who said that this mix makes you feel like you're flying, because it really does. It's fantastically evocative and emotional, I really love all the various vocal touches as well. That's some classy stuff, Stevo.
Love this!

- Emunator on August 25, 2011
WillRock;804470 wrote: the vibe is KILLER.
Like ALL Stevo's stuff. Lotsa emotion into what he does.

- PROTO·DOME on August 25, 2011
I've always loved this to bits. Still do. The instrumentation and production is a little rough around the edges, but the vibe is KILLER.

- WillRock on August 25, 2011
Oh man, what a feeling of soaring through a summer sky with this. Wish they'd remake NiGHTS and use your music!! Great work!!

- WesternZypher on August 25, 2011
How lovely! You nailed the "flying" vibe. Really dig those vocal touches, and the synth/guitar work is top-notch. Seriously, can't stop listening to it.

- docnano on August 25, 2011
I've always enjoyed this mix from the first time I heard it on that early preview. The synth solo timing is a little rough but I think on the whole this is really some of your best work, bro! :nicework: Love those backing vocals.

- Brandon Strader on August 24, 2011
What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

- djpretzel on August 24, 2011