ReMix:Final Fantasy IX "Homecoming" 5:05

Over OCR's history, we've had several great examples of present and future married folks teaming up on ReMixes, including on Valentine's Day. This year, we've got a great way to celebrate the holiday of love thanks to Earth Kid and Seth Tallman's FF9 couple's collab!

• Earth Kid: arrangement, lyrics, production, vocals, harp, recorders (soprano, tenor), hammered dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, piano, percussion
• Seth Tallman: djembe

I feel like she stole all the instruments and just left Seth alone with a djembe, reading that list :) Earth Kid (Natalya May) writes:

"Hello! After a long while, here's a new submission from me! This folky arrangement is part of my contributions featured originally on Pixel Mixers' own Final Fantasy IX album, Beyond the Mist, released in 2019. Hope you enjoy it. :)

"Terra" has always resonated with me -- from the prominent harp to the rearranged "Home" theme that features in the game. Since FFIX is my favorite game, I gave this remix my all and wanted to do my best to capture the same nostalgic, mysterious wonder I felt arriving in Terra for the first time.

The lyrics I wrote are in two perspectives. The verses are inspired by Garland's point of view, while the choruses are in Zidane's. I performed all the vocals, harp, soprano and tenor recorders, hammered dulcimer, Irish bouzouki, piano, and percussion elements (tambourine, egg shakers, rainstick). I also invited my husband Seth to play the djembe for me, which really helped bring the track to life. I love the way the "Terra" melody sounds on the recorders, so I decided to do a sort of "call and response" in the verses as well as featuring the soprano recorder later on in an instrumental section. The densely layered vocal harmonies in the final chorus may have had an influence from Appalachian folk music (particularly the Carter Family), as well!

I think this is one of the best arrangements I've done so far (I finished this in February), so I hope my love for this game and its music comes through here!"

Beautiful vocals & lyrics, a diverse array of well-performed live instruments, and an elegant, intimate atmosphere & flow do indeed combine to make this one of Natalya's strongest arrangements. Gorgeous work, and while the lyrics aren't strictly lovey-dovey V-day material, this collab has the depth & warmth appropriate for the occasion, or just curling up by the fire on any *other* day, for that matter. Lovely!