Milana Zilnik: Recent Episodes
Milana Zilnik
Playing piano since I was four and studied in a musical school for ten years. Though, I always felt that playing by notes and singing in a choir is not enough to become a musician. I needed to be able to play anything I want by ear so, by starting improvising, I've found my own style of playing. When I teach children to play piano or sing, I offer them improvisation right from the beginning. I wish I was taught that way, since until recently I had hard times to relax and believe in my ability to create my own music. SoundCloud has been a great inspiration for me: I've recorded several albums (songs and instrumentals) since I opened an account on SoundCloud in July, 2012.
Spotify: http://sptfy.com/93U Facebook: http://fb.me/ZilnikMilana Albums: http://www.milana.ws/albums
There is no a single particular genre on my cloud: my musical tastes are rather eclectic. Jazz and soft rock are my favorites but I also play blues, classical, folk, middle-eastern, New Age, ambient and others. Piano is my instrument but I also do some experiments with arrangement and orchestration. I'm glad you stepped by into my musical world and appreciate your comments and following me.
I've spent fantastic two years on SoundCloud collaborating with over 50 fellow soundclouders in 2012-2014. It's been a great experience and I've learned a lot from them. However, the sheer amount of collaboration requests I am receiving and the lack of time due to changes in my career made it impossible for me to accept such requests. Please take no offense if I refuse to collaborate with you, nothing personal, just the lack of time. I do, however, provide session services (piano and/or vocal), so if you are looking for a session musician, do not hesitate contacting me.
Services: http://www.milana.ws/services
The recording, mixing and mastering is done by my husband (@artyom-tchebotaryov). He is also co-writing some lyrics with me and generating ideas about the arrangement of my songs.
My early piano tracks on the cloud were recorded digitally using either Korg SP-250 keyboard or Yamaha Clavinova digital piano, the final sound is synthesized from MIDI in Propellerhead Reason 7. Recent piano recordings were done on Kawai GE-30 baby grand piano with a stereo pair Audio Technica 4041 mics via ART ProMPAII mic pre-amp and Rode NT mic. Vocal is recorded is recorded using a pair of Rode NT1 mics. For both piano and vocal recordings we use Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 audio interface. In the last couple of years we've been using Pro Tools for composing, mixing and mastering coupled with Native Instruments Komplete.
www.milanazilnik.com/albums/thelittleprinceTHE ALBUM IS COMING AUGUST 2nd!As a child, I had a truly magical time with stories, and my mom reading them to me. The way she intonated and impersonated each character was just so fascinating to me. Her voice was the music I always heard before falling asleep, and as soon as I would actually fall asleep, the music kept going. Which was and still is sometimes a torture as much as a pleasure.As an artist, I always come back to that child and those stories. They still resonate with me but on a much deeper level. The notes now combined with colors and smells, patterns become a dance or a soundscape rather than just a melody. So, I splash with my watercolors palette and watch the music as it merges with the world, and I invite the listener to this never-ending journey.“The Little Prince” was one of my favorite stories, one filled with quiet moments and hidden meanings, mystery, and gentleness, and humor - the kind of story that haunts you all your life. This story holds a philosophy that I resonate with: I feel myself just like the main character - wishing to create my own worlds, organize my thoughts according to my personality, and not to be put into the frame of adulthood. I feel the rebellious urge to wake myself up from a grey existence and use all the colors, humor, sounds, and smells that exist in the story of the Little Prince.It became even more special since my son was born. We painted the Little Prince on the window in a daycare room, the home daycare I used to run in our own house before embarking on the journey of a composer. At that time, we were surrounded by music and art all day long as my children grew up, and I was experiencing their enchantment with music and the Little Prince once more. In 2021 another miracle happened that was also related to the story: I received an email from Leipzig Ballet, asking for permission to use two of my compositions for their ballet show based on "The Little Prince". All that inspired me to write an entire album dedicated to the story.I am extremely grateful to my family: parents, children, and a wonderful husband who allows my inner child to grow into an artist. I believe we all need the magic of a storytelling experience, and I tried my best to awaken all the senses into it.
www.milanazilnik.com/albums/thelittleprinceTHE ALBUM IS COMING AUGUST 2nd!As a child, I had a truly magical time with stories, and my mom reading them to me. The way she intonated and impersonated each character was just so fascinating to me. Her voice was the music I always heard before falling asleep, and as soon as I would actually fall asleep, the music kept going. Which was and still is sometimes a torture as much as a pleasure.As an artist, I always come back to that child and those stories. They still resonate with me but on a much deeper level. The notes now combined with colors and smells, patterns become a dance or a soundscape rather than just a melody. So, I splash with my watercolors palette and watch the music as it merges with the world, and I invite the listener to this never-ending journey.“The Little Prince” was one of my favorite stories, one filled with quiet moments and hidden meanings, mystery, and gentleness, and humor - the kind of story that haunts you all your life. This story holds a philosophy that I resonate with: I feel myself just like the main character - wishing to create my own worlds, organize my thoughts according to my personality, and not to be put into the frame of adulthood. I feel the rebellious urge to wake myself up from a grey existence and use all the colors, humor, sounds, and smells that exist in the story of the Little Prince.It became even more special since my son was born. We painted the Little Prince on the window in a daycare room, the home daycare I used to run in our own house before embarking on the journey of a composer. At that time, we were surrounded by music and art all day long as my children grew up, and I was experiencing their enchantment with music and the Little Prince once more. In 2021 another miracle happened that was also related to the story: I received an email from Leipzig Ballet, asking for permission to use two of my compositions for their ballet show based on "The Little Prince". All that inspired me to write an entire album dedicated to the story.I am extremely grateful to my family: parents, children, and a wonderful husband who allows my inner child to grow into an artist. I believe we all need the magic of a storytelling experience, and I tried my best to awaken all the senses into it.
www.milanazilnik.com/albums/thelittleprinceTHE ALBUM IS COMING AUGUST 2nd!As a child, I had a truly magical time with stories, and my mom reading them to me. The way she intonated and impersonated each character was just so fascinating to me. Her voice was the music I always heard before falling asleep, and as soon as I would actually fall asleep, the music kept going. Which was and still is sometimes a torture as much as a pleasure.As an artist, I always come back to that child and those stories. They still resonate with me but on a much deeper level. The notes now combined with colors and smells, patterns become a dance or a soundscape rather than just a melody. So, I splash with my watercolors palette and watch the music as it merges with the world, and I invite the listener to this never-ending journey.“The Little Prince” was one of my favorite stories, one filled with quiet moments and hidden meanings, mystery, and gentleness, and humor - the kind of story that haunts you all your life. This story holds a philosophy that I resonate with: I feel myself just like the main character - wishing to create my own worlds, organize my thoughts according to my personality, and not to be put into the frame of adulthood. I feel the rebellious urge to wake myself up from a grey existence and use all the colors, humor, sounds, and smells that exist in the story of the Little Prince.It became even more special since my son was born. We painted the Little Prince on the window in a daycare room, the home daycare I used to run in our own house before embarking on the journey of a composer. At that time, we were surrounded by music and art all day long as my children grew up, and I was experiencing their enchantment with music and the Little Prince once more. In 2021 another miracle happened that was also related to the story: I received an email from Leipzig Ballet, asking for permission to use two of my compositions for their ballet show based on "The Little Prince". All that inspired me to write an entire album dedicated to the story.I am extremely grateful to my family: parents, children, and a wonderful husband who allows my inner child to grow into an artist. I believe we all need the magic of a storytelling experience, and I tried my best to awaken all the senses into it.
www.milanazilnik.com/albums/thelittleprinceTHE ALBUM IS COMING AUGUST 2nd!As a child, I had a truly magical time with stories, and my mom reading them to me. The way she intonated and impersonated each character was just so fascinating to me. Her voice was the music I always heard before falling asleep, and as soon as I would actually fall asleep, the music kept going. Which was and still is sometimes a torture as much as a pleasure.As an artist, I always come back to that child and those stories. They still resonate with me but on a much deeper level. The notes now combined with colors and smells, patterns become a dance or a soundscape rather than just a melody. So, I splash with my watercolors palette and watch the music as it merges with the world, and I invite the listener to this never-ending journey.“The Little Prince” was one of my favorite stories, one filled with quiet moments and hidden meanings, mystery, and gentleness, and humor - the kind of story that haunts you all your life. This story holds a philosophy that I resonate with: I feel myself just like the main character - wishing to create my own worlds, organize my thoughts according to my personality, and not to be put into the frame of adulthood. I feel the rebellious urge to wake myself up from a grey existence and use all the colors, humor, sounds, and smells that exist in the story of the Little Prince.It became even more special since my son was born. We painted the Little Prince on the window in a daycare room, the home daycare I used to run in our own house before embarking on the journey of a composer. At that time, we were surrounded by music and art all day long as my children grew up, and I was experiencing their enchantment with music and the Little Prince once more. In 2021 another miracle happened that was also related to the story: I received an email from Leipzig Ballet, asking for permission to use two of my compositions for their ballet show based on "The Little Prince". All that inspired me to write an entire album dedicated to the story.I am extremely grateful to my family: parents, children, and a wonderful husband who allows my inner child to grow into an artist. I believe we all need the magic of a storytelling experience, and I tried my best to awaken all the senses into it.
https://www.milanazilnik.com/albums/thelittleprinceTHE ALBUM IS COMING AUGUST 2nd!As a child, I had a truly magical time with stories, and my mom reading them to me. The way she intonated and impersonated each character was just so fascinating to me. Her voice was the music I always heard before falling asleep, and as soon as I would actually fall asleep, the music kept going. Which was and still is sometimes a torture as much as a pleasure.As an artist, I always come back to that child and those stories. They still resonate with me but on a much deeper level. The notes now combined with colors and smells, patterns become a dance or a soundscape rather than just a melody. So, I splash with my watercolors palette and watch the music as it merges with the world, and I invite the listener to this never-ending journey.“The Little Prince” was one of my favorite stories, one filled with quiet moments and hidden meanings, mystery, and gentleness, and humor - the kind of story that haunts you all your life. This story holds a philosophy that I resonate with: I feel myself just like the main character - wishing to create my own worlds, organize my thoughts according to my personality, and not to be put into the frame of adulthood. I feel the rebellious urge to wake myself up from a grey existence and use all the colors, humor, sounds, and smells that exist in the story of the Little Prince.It became even more special since my son was born. We painted the Little Prince on the window in a daycare room, the home daycare I used to run in our own house before embarking on the journey of a composer. At that time, we were surrounded by music and art all day long as my children grew up, and I was experiencing their enchantment with music and the Little Prince once more. In 2021 another miracle happened that was also related to the story: I received an email from Leipzig Ballet, asking for permission to use two of my compositions for their ballet show based on "The Little Prince". All that inspired me to write an entire album dedicated to the story.I am extremely grateful to my family: parents, children, and a wonderful husband who allows my inner child to grow into an artist. I believe we all need the magic of a storytelling experience, and I tried my best to awaken all the senses into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE" - the 2nd single from “METAMORFOSI” is LIVE on streaming platforms! And we have a short lot of magnificently illustrated CDs as well!This story is not about Alice. Although, we've all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me. When I hear different sounds in my head and then touch the piano, or the Hang, or sing it with my own voice - quite often I feel like falling down the rabbit hole into the world that only exists in the music itself, painted with the brush strokes of notes and in the silence between them.“The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well. ”Many thanks to Vitaliy Tkachuk for the magical guitar, Yoed Nir for the magnificent cello, Craig Akin for the dramatic bass, Phil DiMercurio for the orchestral drums and percussion, Diana Lloyd for shaping my voice, Justin Gray for bringing it all home in one stunning mix, and Anastasia Frenkel for illustrating the story in such a wondrous way! And, of course, thanks to my husband, Arty Sandler, for believing in three crazy things before breakfast and making them real!“Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end! I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?”----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"THE OTHER JOURNEY" - the 13th and the final track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the final chapter where the journey of Composer-Alice to the "Metamorfosi" land comes to an end... but this is just the beginning of the other journey..---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"A GAME" - the 9th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Queen of Hearts challenges Composer-Alice to the game of Steampunk-ish Chess. The Game begins and Alice faces the Queen and her army. Steam engines roar as Alice's Knights climb their mechanical Horses, charging at Queen's army to let Alice slay the Jabberwock in the final battle for “Metamorfosi” land.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"JABBERWOCKY" - the 10th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer-Alice faces the Jabberwock in the final battle for “Metamorfosi” land.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"REFLECTING THE SKY" - the 12th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer-Alice brings peace to the “Metamorfosi” land.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER" - the third track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter following her fall, the first encounter with the bizarre world of "Metamorfosi" on the other side.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me. My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky. Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"BENDING TIME" - the 11th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer-Alice slays the Jabberwock and gets the ability to rewrite history of the “Metamorfosi” land ridding it from all the evil.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"THE CHOICE" - the fourth track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer has to make the choice: to return back to reality or keep going to the "Metamorfosi" world.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eshttps://www.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"METAMORFOSI" - the 5th and the title track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer undergoes "metamorphosis", transforming into "Alice" to enter the "Metamorfosi" world.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eshttps://www.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"AT THE DOOR" - the 6th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer went through "metamorphosis", transforming into "Alice" and is ready to open the door and enter the "Metamorfosi" world.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eshttps://www.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"POINT OF NO RETURN" - the 7th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer completed their transformation into "Alice", opened the door and entered the "Metamorfosi" world. There is no going back to the real world.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQvbjp60Eswww.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"QUEEN OF HEARTS" - the 8th track from "Metamorfosi" album telling the story of a composer who wanted to write music for "Alice in Wonderland" and found herself falling through a rabbit hole opened in her piano. This track is the chapter where the Composer meets the Queen of Hearts, an arrogant, capricious and egocentric ruler of "Metamorfosi" world.---This story is not about Alice. Although, we’ve all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwocky, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me.My life has been swirling around Wonderland for a long time. I have two cats who are as mischievous as Cheshire’s smile. I have Mad Hatter for a husband, crazy enough to believe in three impossible things before breakfast and all day long, and even crazier to make them real. I have Tweedledee and Tweedledum for kids, complementing each other in curious ways. I have my own inner demons to fight against, be it the Red Queen or Jabberwocky.Together with my Mad Hatter we’ve been playing this eternal chess game of Metamorphosis, transforming dreams into reality. We both felt like Alice’s story just wanted to hatch through our music into the wonder of this world. And it finally did, bending time and reflecting the sky. All we had to do is making the choice to follow the White Rabbit down the Rabbit Hole. It took us to places we’ve never been before. And this journey becomes Curiouser and Curiouser ever.We are all mad here!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
https://youtu.be/9bQvbjp60Eshttps://www.milanazilnik.com/albums/metamorfosi"THE HATCH" - the opening track from the upcoming "METAMORFOSI" is LIVE on streaming platforms! And we have a short lot of magnificently illustrated CDs as well!This story is not about Alice. Although, we've all had Alice in our lives. As well as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Jabberwock, in one form or another. This story is about you. This story is about me. These insane days I feel like more than ever I want to open some hidden hatch inside my piano to fall through a rabbit hole into a fantasy land, away from all the madness that I see around..Many thanks to Yoed Nir for the magnificent cello, Vitaliy Tkachuk for the magical guitar, Craig Akin for the dramatic bass, Phil DiMercurio for the drums and percussion, Diana Lloyd for shaping my voice, Justin Gray for bringing it all home in one stunning mix, and Anastasia Frenkel for illustrating the story in such a wondrous way! And, of course, thanks to my husband, Arty Sandler, for believing in three crazy things before breakfast and making them real!----Composed by Milana ZilnikProduced by Arty SandlerPiano, vocals, Hang drums by Milana Zilnik (Canada)Cello by Yoed Nir (Israel)Electric and acoustic guitars by Vitaliy Tkachuk (Ukraine)Drums and percussion by Phil DiMercurio (US)Electric and upright bass by Craig Akin (US)Flutes by Boris Khodorkovsky (Canada)Mixed and mastered in stereo and in Dolby Atmos by Justin Gray (Canada)Illustrated by Anastasia Frenkel (Canada)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jrOSb8mlpk
In this turbulent time I didn't even know whether to post this song or not. It was supposed to be a present for my husband's birthday back in January. The world was different back then. We couldn't finish recording it on time, though, so we postponed it to Valentine's day first and to my own birthday next. It happened a month ago but I wasn't much online to upload it to SoundCloud. So here it comes.. And I will "hold on to memories of us", memories of the happier times when we celebrated our 18th anniversary together on top of Eiffel tower, "passing the people - strangers with no worries".
Hold me when I'm alone, Don't let me fall, And if you let me – I will become fearless. Only because you Told me that I am strong, I'll carry on. I will remember you from a few pictures...
Chorus: I will remember Paris in your eyes. I will remember how fast the time flies. I will hold on to memories of us. They belong to Paris in the past...
Look, those windows are doors Passing us by, Passing the people – strangers with no worries, only because The wind blows and by surprise Opens our eyes To all the street lights hiding inside stories.
Chorus
Bridge: Kisses under the bridge, Space with no time, Time with no limits, memories with no hurry. I will be gone When the wind blows, and by surprise opens our eyes to all that Paris with another end of story...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0z19i93eC4 I love it when my teaching process is fully mixed with my own studying of music. I often expand my own repertoire, while searching for singing student’s new challenges. And so it happens that this fun tune was a good challenge for all pianists and singers in my studio and, eventually, I liked it so much that I decided to do my own cover of it. It was truly delightful to hear many young students play and sing this beautiful melody 🙂
I hope you all will have a wonderful time in the upcoming days! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxpKNJFDUm4
Someone once said that symphonic orchestra is the most sophisticated musical instrument humanity ever invented. And I always felt like this is an ultimate challenge for a composer to write music for such a giant. I started my first shy attempts to compose orchestral music a few years ago. Of course, at that time it was all done using digital libraries. I did dream that one day I may experience the thrill of hearing a live orchestra performing my compositions but that was truly an ephemeral dream, no actual plans to do it. Until now.
This summer my husband and I took a composing course (focusing on film composing). As a part of that course I had a homework: to compose a piece for a string orchestra. I chose the solo piano piece I wrote earlier this year as a foundation. It took a few evenings to come up with the orchestral arrangements - again, using digital libraries... at first! But then my husband said that he feels like this piece deserves to be recorded with live orchestra. And so it happened - two months ago we hired a session orchestra from Budapest. We only had half an hour session to record 2.5 minutes of this composition. Gosh, it was such an amazing experience! When I heard 40 musicians playing the harmony I burst in tears. Then I was shocked again to learn that my composition was nominated for Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
I called this piece "Distant Memories". It was written during one of the lockdowns when I was on the edge of breaking down. I devoted it to my mom, who lives on the other side of Atlantic but she used to come here every year.. until 2020.. and then 2021.. I hope we will see each other next year. But meanwhile all we have are those "distant memories".
The original piano solo version is coming next week!
Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wCqGkalz4
It's been almost three months since "Abracadabra!" was released. I've been busy with some other projects since then, mainly recording and composing for clients. However, given how well "Abracadabra!" was received... we started working on the "sequel" :)
Meanwhile, here is the title track that gave the name to the album.
I want to thank again everyone who was a part of this project: - Phil DiMercurio (aka PdubJamz) for his drums and percussion truly transformed the album. - Yamaha Artist Yoed Nir for the wondrous cello. - Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray for the amazing vocals. - Producer of several Grammy-nominated artists, Matthew Shell, who supervised mixing & mastering of "Abracadabra!", Erik Fredriksen for mixing and Steven Vagovics for mastering. - Anastasia Frenkel for drawing such amazing artworks for each track! Vibrant, mystical, haunting, surreal - just like we envisioned this album to be.
And, of course, I'd like to thank my husband who was behind the whole production of the album and the upcoming music video.
BandCamp: milana.bandcamp.com/album/abracadabra-2 Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/7piU2Ry3jjqwogqEbwktGH Apple Music: music.apple.com/album/abracadabra/1530195886 Amazon Music: music.amazon.ca/albums/B08H1WBVQS
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-wCqGkalz4
Abracadabra! It is time to begin the journey! Abracadabra! It is time to face the new challenge behind the mirror... Abracadabra! It is time for new encounters, for things that are lost and things that are found... Abracadabra! It is time for enchantment, witchcraft and alchemy! Abracadabra! It is time to find Spirito Incantato! Abracadabra!
With great pleasure and excitement I want to invite you to this magical journey into the world of "Abracadabra!". This album took us a whole year to compose and record - from August 2019 to August 2020. When we were close to finishing it up, we faced this difficult choice - what track to select for making a music video. It was a challenge! This whole album was composed as a cinematic adventure, so, basically, any track from it can be turned into the music video. We ended up asking all the participating musicians for their favorite tracks. It was quite symbolic that "Time" - the opening track - won the majority of the votes. This music video is the result of few months of scouting for locations, shaping the costume, makeup and accessories, filming and editing. We all hope you will enjoy it.
I want to thank again everyone who was a part of this project: - Phil DiMercurio (aka PdubJamz) for his drums and percussion truly transformed the album. - Yamaha Artist Yoed Nir for the wondrous cello. - Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray for the amazing vocals. - Producer of several Grammy-nominated artists, Matthew Shell, who supervised mixing & mastering of "Abracadabra!", Erik Fredriksen for mixing and Steven Vagovics for mastering. - Anastasia Frenkel for drawing such amazing artworks for each track! Vibrant, mystical, haunting, surreal - just like we envisioned this album to be.
And, of course, I'd like to thank my husband who was behind the whole production of the album and the upcoming music video.
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/abracadabra-2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7piU2Ry3jjqwogqEbwktGH Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/abracadabra/1530195886 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B08H1WBVQS
Video: https://youtu.be/3TtIgdcgtHE
I like to see every musical project of ours as a journey - a journey from the idea to the final result, where the result itself is not that important. What is important is the journey itself. This piece is one of my favorite on this album, and to name it "Journey" was quite natural as it sounded like a caravan walking across a vast desert. The inspiration for this piece came from Cirque du Soleil - we attended their show a year ago, it was the third time seeing them and that time it was "Alegria". To say that we were impressed is to say nothing. It was an absolutely overwhelming mystical experience. I must say it influenced the entire album. But "Journey" is special in a way as I subconsciously quoted a short motif from "Alegria's" music. A very short motif, just couple notes in the vocal line and I realized that only later.
I hope you will enjoy the music along with this timelapse of the artwork being drawn by the talented Anastasia Frenkel. She drew artworks for every single track of the album - they all are quite amazing! Vibrant, mystical, haunting, surreal - just like we envisioned this album to be. We included all of them in a booklet that goes with the CD. We have a limited lot of CDs and I will happily sign one for you (https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/abracadabra-2).
I must also thank all the participating musicians: - Phil DiMercurio (aka PdubJamz) for his drums and percussion truly transformed the album. - Yamaha Artist Yoed Nir for the wondrous cello. - Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray for the amazing vocals. - Producer of several Grammy-nominated artists, Matthew Shell, who supervised mixing & mastering of "Abracadabra!", Erik Fredriksen for mixing and Steven Vagovics for mastering.
And, of course, I'd like to thank my husband who was behind the whole production of the album and the upcoming music video.
The album will be released on October 30th along with the music video.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0hO8mFquxLcmM1xYAt1KA8 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/abracadabra/1530195886 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B08H1WBVQS
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk-eEcY0Q4I
What encounters you're going to have when you pronounce "Abracadabra!" and find yourself in the magical land "behind the mirror"? This must be the most jazzy track of the upcoming album - Hang-driven, arranged with piano, cello and vocal. This is also one of three tracks where the vocals are mine (on all other tracks the vocals are by the award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray).
I hope you will enjoy the music along with this timelapse of the artwork being drawn by the talented Anastasia Frenkel. She drew artworks for every single track of the album - we will release it on CD with the booklet of all her drawings.
I must also thank all the participating musicians: - Phil DiMercurio (aka PdubJamz) for his drums and percussion truly transformed the album. - Yamaha Artist Yoed Nir for the wondrous cello. - Producer of several Grammy-nominated artists, Matthew Shell, who supervised mixing & mastering of "Abracadabra!", Erik Fredriksen for mixing and Steven Vagovics for mastering.
And, of course, I'd like to thank my husband who was behind the whole production of the album and the upcoming music video.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3UMHnrPUuxETP2g7nbnu4E Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/abracadabra/1530195886 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B08H1WBVQS Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bv6b7lpcod25rlxrzhmnj5ieg2m
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKkIvRtxPFY
We've been so busy this year working on our upcoming album. It was the most challenging musical project we've ever attempted before - first composing it, then working with all the session musicians and audio engineers. The album will be released on October 30th along with the music video. Today we release one of the tracks as the first single - "Behind the Mirror", this is where our journey begins! I hope you will enjoy the music along with this timelapse of the artwork being drawn by the talented Anastasia Frenkel. She is currently drawing artworks for every single track of the album - we will release it on CD with the booklet of her drawings.
I must also thank all the participating musicians: - Phil DiMercurio (aka PdubJamz) for his drums and percussion truly transformed the album. - Yamaha Artist Yoed Nir for the wondrous cello. - Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray for the amazing vocals. - Producer of several Grammy-nominated artists, Matthew Shell, who supervised mixing & mastering of "Abracadabra!", Erik Fredriksen for mixing and Steven Vagovics for mastering.
And, of course, I'd like to thank my husband who was behind the whole production of the album and the upcoming music video.
What is there - Behind the Mirror? It's Magic! Let's the journey begin!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1Sl1SQ3oY8J089yySmTQg7 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/abracadabra/1530195886 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B08H1WBVQS Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bhenk4qv6x6ub32jg3mghqtjmdy
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXTK758pFG4
To tell the truth, I didn't feel much of a change with all the quarantine and stuff. I was living mostly in my musical cave before and just kept doing the same. Maybe not exactly a "creep" but I'm such a weirdo. A couple years back, when my husband showed me the version of this song covered by Post Modern Jukebox, I fell in love with it. So, here it is - a cover on a cover. I hope you will enjoy it! Oh, and, btw, in real life I am not talking to myself as in the video.... yet :)
And the other news: the production our "Abracadabra!" album is entering the next phase! All the recordings are finally DONE! The album is being sent for mixing and mastering, all 10 gigabytes of 200 something tracks in total. Can't wait to hear the final result and share it with you in just three months!
Video: https://youtu.be/Hkwc-CXJ0Oo
For my mom who introduced me to the beauty in sounds and colours. For my father, who shaped my diverse musical tastes and pushed me into improvising. For my husband who inspired me to come back to music and keep going no matter what challenges I might face. And for my amazing children, who I love and hope to pass this tradition to...
These past months have been challenging for all. I've been into my musical cave working on my upcoming album - the most challenging album we've ever attempted to produce. Almost all the recordings are done: Hang, drums and other percussion, piano and cello, even vocal for some tracks. What is left is to finish all the vocal recordings, hopefully, next week. This album will feature Phil DiMercurio on the drums, Yamaha artist Yoed Nir on cello and Canadian singer-songwriter Alexa Ray on most of the vocals. And then it will all be mixed by Grammy-featured Matthew Shell. Such a cool lineup and we all hope that you will enjoy this album when it goes out on Halloween. The name is "Abracadabra!" and it's full of magic, enchanting spells and mysterious witchcraft. Stay tuned :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ffqbo8UYtg
This tune is my deepest connection to my dad , who recently celebrated his 70th birthday... Whenever my dad, the maestro of jazz, would start playing this, I would melt and give up anything just to be able to play like him one day... one day when I grow up...
I practiced this only for one month, I admit. Because ever since he stopped playing "Moonlight Serenade", I had almost forgotten it... And a month ago, while doing my daily reading of music, I bumped into this piece again. All the memories and gratitude came back and this is my attempt to transfer my dad's birthday into Valentine's Day, and just share this moonlight from our studio...
By the way my dad stopped playing around my current age, and then, 20 years later, while visiting us in Canada, he just played this tune, perfectly in Bill Evans style...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdRfsD0XnzM
This musical became one of my favorites and many of my students took vocal lessons from me to sing this song and then performed it at our semi-annual recitals (and quite nailed it!). So, I thought, it's time to actually record my own version of it. Though, I am never satisfied neither with my singing nor with my playing, "Never enough" - it's like my mantra, to keep going and keep doing what I love with the person I love. Who (the person) decided that one "copy" of me is not enough, so he "cloned" me. Oh, and for the first time we used our shiny new AKG414 to record the vocal and the piano. I hope you will enjoy it!
On a different note, we keep working on our most ambitious album ever. 12 tracks are fully composed with two more on the way to complete the story. I hoped to finish everything by the end of the last year but, oh well, the life got in the way - we had recording sessions for several clients, including my own student. I am sooo looking forward to finishing the composing step and moving onto the recording stage.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1EEWAwzYZk
In these last days of 2019 I want to wish you all Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! and I hope you will enjoy this jazzy take on the famous tune :)
This year has been very fruitful and busy. My husband and I released 3 full-length piano solo albums and one EP with 4 jazz quartet tracks. We had 23 recording sessions in our studio for other composers and clients, arranging and recording our piano and my vocal for their songs and instrumentals. We also started scoring a new documentary. And, btw, the opening song from the first documentary that we scored two years ago along with a track from "Notte" album that we released this year - they both were nominated for Hollywood Music in Media Awards! So, we went to Hollywood! For the first time! It was such a cool experience sitting next to some of A-list Hollywood composers like Alan Silvestri. We didn't win the actual award but even being nominated next to such names as Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, Ellie Goulding - that was a huge deal!
We're also working on what will be our most ambitious album. Not a piano solo this time! It will include our hang drum, piano, vocal, cello and some other instruments! We've finished composing eight tracks and are yet to compose 4-5 more tracks for this album but this will be just the very first step. After finishing all the compositions we will have to transcribe them into scores and then record live instruments. We even upgraded our recording equipment to get a better sound than we had before.
Enjoy the Jazzy Jingle Bells and I wish you a lot of musical adventures and achievements in the upcoming year!
Do colors have their own special sound? What if colors sounded like piano? Red of the warm and cozy fireplace? Yellow - playful and sunny? The relaxing serenity of Green? The deep and moody Indigo... I invite you to the world of colorful piano! Today is the time for ORANGE!
Artwork by Anastasia Frenkel
Do colors have their own special sound? What if colors sounded like piano? Red of the warm and cozy fireplace? Yellow - playful and sunny? The relaxing serenity of Green? The deep and moody Indigo... I invite you to the world of colorful piano! Today is the time for GREEN!
Artwork by Anastasia Frenkel
Do colors have their own special sound? What if colors sounded like piano? Red of the warm and cozy fireplace? Yellow - playful and sunny? The relaxing serenity of Green? The deep and moody Indigo... I invite you to the world of colorful piano! Today is the time for YELLOW!
Artwork by Anastasia Frenkel
Do colors have their own special sound? What if colors sounded like piano? Red of the warm and cozy fireplace? Yellow - playful and sunny? The relaxing serenity of Green? The deep and moody Indigo... I invite you to the world of colorful piano! Today is the time for RED!
Artwork by Anastasia Frenkel
Video: https://youtu.be/K6I7YMnO9F4
That time of the night when you are deep into another world, surreal and mysterious. It's 4am on my musical clock, it's time for dreams...
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/RgG1CJm2onQ
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
It’s Midnight on my musical clock - that special time when Tomorrow turns into Today.
Today! Today "Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp (I'll have a short lot of CDs soon!)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkJW9QZ5dVs Pre-save this album on Spotify: https://show.co/EdhwVZO Pre-order an autographed CD on BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
This is not my usual style of playing but sometimes "less is more". And it was a wonderful challenge to compose a whole album of minimalistic piano pieces. I called it "Notte", which means "Night" in Italian. I don't speak Italian but many musical terms came from this melodic language, so I feel attracted to it. Besides, "Notte" - it's almost like "Note", which is also very musical.
...Notte... Night.. the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves. It's 8pm on my musical clock. The Night is yet to fall onto the Earth. It's time for Shadows.
piano #minimalistic #composer #night #nocturnal #nocturne #noire
https://youtu.be/Sjbnl30bbHU
...Notte... Night.. the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves. It's 10pm on my musical clock. The time in between shadows of the evening and the darkness of the night. The time of Twilight.
This minimalistic album is set to be released on June 1st!
I will truly appreciate it if you pre-save this album on Spotify: https://show.co/EdhwVZO
You can also pre-order it (digital or an autographed CD!) on BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
piano #minimalistic #newage #composer #night #nocturnal #nocturne #noire
Video: https://youtu.be/JjHDdbdR0sg
It was kind of a personal request coming from my husband: he wanted me to sing this song that always leaves him in tears... Then he asked me to make an arrangement for a choir. The version he loves has strings on it but he thought to make an all acoustic version in our studio... and since we don't have strings.. but have my voice.. so he got this idea - to record a "choir" of me. It was the first time we actually arranged nine voices!! Seven voices singing the harmony and two more singing short melodies. And, well, the lead vocal as well. It was a nice challenge. We hope you'll enjoy our rendition.
Video: https://youtu.be/zzaEIr15gm8
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
It’s two hours past midnight... it's calm, dark and quiet.. all you can hear is distant echoes..
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/Rh8lNltykFI
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
It’s 1am on my musical clock - the time when you may feel especially lonely and longing for someone.
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/G_HefRm5K08
What is the sound of the silence? What do you hear in the absence of all sounds? It's 3am on my musical clock and the silence is so prominent that it is... ringing!
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/81SfBHc4Twk Pre-save this album on Spotify: http://show.co/EdhwVZO Pre-order an autographed CD on BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
...When Shadows cover the Earth and Twilight paints the Skies, this is the time for Calmness and Tranquility... It's 11pm on my musical clock as we are diving deeper into the Night...
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
This minimalistic album is set to be released on June 1st!
I will truly appreciate it if you pre-save this album on Spotify: https://show.co/EdhwVZO
You can also pre-order it (digital or an autographed CD!) on BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
piano #minimalistic #newage #composer #night #nocturnal #nocturne #noire
Video: https://youtu.be/gWOime-aCoE Pre-save this album on Spotify: https://show.co/EdhwVZO Pre-order an autographed CD on BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
...Notte... Night.. the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves. It's 9pm on my musical clock. It's Sunset and the Night is falling onto the Earth.
piano #minimalistic #composer #night #nocturnal #nocturne #noire
Video: https://youtu.be/lud3lhqxC2E
When everything is still and you lie in your bed without making a single movement... it's 5am on my musical clock... it's time of quietude..
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
I am happy to announce the release of the printed sheet music book! All twelve pieces are carefully transcribed and engraved. It's available in both perfect and spiral binding variants. If you want to play these minimalistic pieces, leave a comment and I'll send you the link for ordering an autographed copy ;-)
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/pNpDmfVF8W8
When you are about to wake up but still balancing between the dream and the reality, when your thoughts are full of reflection on what was and what is going to be, when rays of the first light sneak through the curtains to reflect off the walls.. it's 6am on my musical clock... it's the time of Reflection..
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
I am happy to announce the release of the printed sheet music book! All twelve pieces are carefully transcribed and engraved. It's available in both perfect and spiral binding variants. If you want to play these minimalistic pieces, leave a comment and I'll send you the link for ordering an autographed copy ;-)
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://youtu.be/1NVuOQ0Wfr8
When morning sounds pull you from the dreams...when the dark sky turns into the twilight just before the sunrise.. it's 7am on my musical clock and this is when our nocturnal journey comes to an end..
...Night... Notte... the time of silence, dreams, reflections.. the time when the music happens in between notes more than in the notes themselves.
I am happy to announce the release of the printed sheet music book! All twelve pieces are carefully transcribed and engraved. It's available in both perfect and spiral binding variants. If you want to play these minimalistic pieces, leave a comment and I'll send you the link for ordering an autographed copy ;-)
"Notte" is released on all major platforms! You can listen to the entire album on Spotify or Apple Music, or get it on Amazon, Google Play or BandCamp. I can also send you an autographed CD!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XxXuipva4MjptSkfvgmQD
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/notte
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/album/notte/1463908431
Amazon MP3: https://www.amazon.com/Notte-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07RNC5VZK/
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bc7lkxwftw3cwj6c4n3xlrblf4q
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD_rDw-1Qbw
While Giants prepare to roam the Earth on my upcoming album, here is a dream from the Una Corda land for you. This one is all about the dialogue between major and minor, wherever it goes.
We are working days and nights on the upcoming album with the accompanying sheet music book. Transcribing some old recordings by ear, engraving the scores, mastering the audio. It's challenging but fun. 2 scores are prepared and ready for being included in the book, 12 more to go.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlp1ZJmERe0
I've been so busy lately, working on my upcoming album and spending quality time with my parents who came to visit us from the other side of Atlantic ocean. Alas, today is their last day and tomorrow they fly back home... which inspired this bluesy improvisation - "Teardrop blues".
As for the album, yay, it is finished! All 14 pieces are recorded, the album was mastered and sent to the distributor and CD printing company. All 14 pieces are transcribed and engraved, the scores are sent for proof-reading. Everything goes according to the plan so far and the album and the accompanying sheet music book will be released on September 27th! I will have a small lot on my hands for sending signed copies ;-)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQEWFrraIKU
Una Corda is such a light and dreamy instrument but it can also be dark and dramatic at times. I hope you will enjoy it. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUUHrROnrMs
Sometimes it's good to let your worries go and just "zoom" into what's more important: new day, new Spring, new moments, new magic, new dreams. Zoom into this "Una Corda Dream", my jazzy way to play Una Corda (unique piano created by David Klavins).
Appreciate your shares, subscriptions and comments :)
Here is the playlist with all my "Una Corda" pieces, including the improvisation on the real Una Corda! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU9uelwWUtufbGbPkAk7ODg6grLMMY2Er
And the playlist with all seven (including the recently published one) episodes of "The making of The Snow Queen Waltz" where we talk about how we created "The Snow Queen Waltz": https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU9uelwWUtueV99rF5r57od0t0PSW72G1
And "The Snow Queen Waltz" itself, The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 The animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
Video: https://youtu.be/s4LXKfQIXpU
-25C feels like -38?! Yes, this is the weather today and this whole winter turned to be quite cold. I am begging for summer, lol :)
Here are some of my recent videos, just in case you missed them :)
"Escape of the mind", another Una Corda improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmnqPLgd87A
My take on "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59twlzokY0
4th episode of "The making of The Snow Queen Waltz" where we talk about how the decorations were designed and made: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHnT9nu9QPA
And "The Snow Queen Waltz" itself, The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 The animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xrt9OM7ts8
Yesterday it was raining and the ripples on puddles inspired this spontaneous improvisation on Una Corda. And today we got the first snow :)
It was a nice escape from all the busy life lately. Haven't had any chances to record anything because we've been so busy filming the music video for my theatrical song. The video shoot went great! It was challenging, yet it was a lot of fun! If you are on Facebook, you are welcome to join this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnowQueenWaltz/
We post all kinds of updates and behind-the-scenes photos and videos. If you are in Ottawa, you are welcome to join our release party on 16th of December - we'll show the music video to all the guests before publishing it online later the same day.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn0SUXtIe1k
Continuing with Una Corda series that we spontaneously recorded last weekend.
Only three weeks left till the release of "The Snow Queen Waltz" - our theatrical music video, the first one set on the stage with decorations, dancers, a video crew - over thirty people who participated in this project. If you are on Facebook, you are welcome to join this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnowQueenWaltz/
We post all kinds of updates and behind-the-scenes photos and videos. If you are in Ottawa, you are welcome to join our release party on 16th of December - we'll show the music video to all the guests before publishing it online later the same day.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmnqPLgd87A
Days go by, the New Year is just around the corner and it's -25C outside. This year was full of surprises, challenges and incredible outcomes. Thank you and have a wonderful New Year ahead! And I hope you will enjoy this ambient "Escape of the Mind" from the "Una Corda Dream" series.
Just in case you missed my latest uploads, here is the list:
My take on "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy": https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/sugarplum-fairy-dance-p-tchaikovsky-performed-by-milana
2nd episode of "The making of The Snow Queen Waltz" where we talk about how the music was composed, arranged and recorded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZG9FsauOA8
And "The Snow Queen Waltz" itself, The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 The animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
https://youtu.be/UH30wtT-5BA
Underwater Tango? I don't know how I came up with this title but I kept seeing underwater scenery while improvising this piece. And it sounds like Tango at parts. Enjoy another dream on Una Corda piano!
And some exciting news! Some of you have heard these exciting news already but I wanted to share them again to my SoundCloud friends! Last Saturday "The Snow Queen Waltz" won "The Classical Song of the Year" Award at IMEA Awards ceremony!!
Thank you so much everyone who took time to vote for "The Snow Queen Waltz" during the fan voting period!! Your votes together with the votes of jury and the votes of IMEA members made it happen! My first red carpet and my first big award!
Here is my nervous, totally unprepared improvised speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddyDPdywF-Y
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kUbsoqfq2I
My upcoming piano album is shaping itself! It will include 14 tracks, played on The Giant. Some of the tracks you've heard already, others are in the making. The album will tell a musical story of visiting a dream land, where Giants Roam the Earth. We plan to release the album somewhere in September, so stay tuned ;-)
Meanwhile, here is something simple on the dreamy Una Corda, something as simple as love...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE9QWWsyU6o
This year has started quite busy not leaving much time for new recordings. Here is another popular song that some of my students asked me to teach them how to play and sing it.
On another note :) Last year thanks to your votes I got the chance to play on the stage of Berlin Philharmonie! This year you can help me perform in Place des Arts in Montreal! All I ask you to do is to nominate my album! For that all you need to do is just to send an email to eprawards@gmail.com with the subject "EPR NOMINATIONS" and the following text:
"Milana Zilnik Where Giants Roam The Earth Best Solo Piano Album"
Thank you!
Video: https://youtu.be/qSCmRq85lPU
Happy Valentine's Day to you and your beloved ones! I haven't really planned to record this cover but one of my students practiced this song with me for a couple months and it got stuck in my head :) So, to "unstuck" it, here is my rendition of the song. Be sure to check our recording of my student's performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nbhAO1lIh0 !!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHeSEp9k6w
So, I got a new instrument to explore :) My husband made me this present and it turned to be a present for the entire family because we all are obsessed with it now.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn7FKPfaKDc
This is NOT "Carol of the Bells" but I hope my improvisational version will put you in the Christmas mood nevertheless :)
Video: https://youtu.be/HM3Y8PuoaIo
Yay, today the soundtrack album for the first documentary that I scored is released on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp and can be streamed on Spotify as well!
Enjoy the main theme song from the film and the album! "Frozen Song" for Arctic and Antarctica - the film directed and produced by our friend, Liss Ross, who visited both frozen lands.
https://arcticantarcticafilm.com/
Nature themes can be heard in my music quite often, yet it was intriguing and challenging to write music about the Arctic and Antarctica – places I’ve never been to myself. What music could suit those frozen deserts? Ambient, haunting and cold are the first epithets coming to one’s mind, yet this relatively short film was packed with different, often contrasting moods. Of course, there was a place for the haunting and ambient atmosphere but it was so much more: the adventurous journey, playful encounters, diving into mysterious deeps, edgy life-threatening situations and a sweet nostalgia when it was the time to bid farewell.
These were the scenes and the moods I aimed at writing the music for: different emotions, different styles, different instruments – the whole world of music coming together to meet at the Earth poles. There was a soaring vocal ballad inviting you to the Arctic and Antarctica. There was a Latin tango of the journey to those distant lands, driven by ethnic percussion, groovy bass, sweet accordion and a singing sax. There was a humorous swing and rag with tribal ethnic drums, percussion and... tuba! Tuba always sounds a bit funny and cartoon-ish to my ears – so were the penguins and seals, playful and clumsy. There was a dark mysterious ambient synth taking you to the freezing underwater. There was a tribal vocalization, primeval and shamanistic, and there was an ethereal elegy with an exotic eastern touch. A song and a tango, a swing and a blues, a groove and a rag, a ballad and an elegy, a nocturne and a requiem – all those were inspired by watching Liss’s film.
These days with the permission of Liss I am posting some snippets from the film, accompanied by the music I composed for it. I hope you will be inspired as much by watching and listening to it!
The album is available:
Bandcamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1397137281 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMRVF2X Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5zNin5iBOo6LHuA99qTyJD
Video: https://youtu.be/c4x5Rpmdf-4
This soundtrack from "The Arctic & Antarctica" film is one of the most humorous one! What can be funnier than clumsy penguins? When composing music for the penguins scenes I tried to find the rhythms that reflect the way penguins are walking. I looked for ethnic instruments and when I heard African Bolon it "clicked". I added some more ethnic percussion like Calabash and claves to simulate birds sounds. Then came wooden mallets for the melody that was a bit on the edge between being funny and being bluesy. You know, those birds, while being funny, are stuck in that desolate distant land - it sounds a bit blue, isn't it?
If you missed the first soundtrack, "Wind Elegy", below is a copy of what these snippets are all about ;-)
Coming soon! The soundtrack album for the first documentary that I scored. The film was directed and produced by our friend, Liss Ross, who visited both frozen lands: Arctic and Antarctica.
https://arcticantarcticafilm.com/
Nature themes can be heard in my music quite often, yet it was intriguing and challenging to write music about the Arctic and Antarctica – places I’ve never been to myself. What music could suit those frozen deserts? Ambient, haunting and cold are the first epithets coming to one’s mind, yet this relatively short film was packed with different, often contrasting moods. Of course, there was a place for the haunting and ambient atmosphere but it was so much more: the adventurous journey, playful encounters, diving into mysterious deeps, edgy life-threatening situations and a sweet nostalgia when it was the time to bid farewell.
These were the scenes and the moods I aimed at writing the music for: different emotions, different styles, different instruments – the whole world of music coming together to meet at the Earth poles. There was a soaring vocal ballad inviting you to the Arctic and Antarctica. There was a Latin tango of the journey to those distant lands, driven by ethnic percussion, groovy bass, sweet accordion and a singing sax. There was a humorous swing and rag with tribal ethnic drums, percussion and... tuba! Tuba always sounds a bit funny and cartoon-ish to my ears – so were the penguins and seals, playful and clumsy. There was a dark mysterious ambient synth taking you to the freezing underwater. There was a tribal vocalization, primeval and shamanistic, and there was an ethereal elegy with an exotic eastern touch. A song and a tango, a swing and a blues, a groove and a rag, a ballad and an elegy, a nocturne and a requiem – all those were inspired by watching Liss’s film.
These days with the permission of Liss I am posting some snippets from the film, accompanied by the music I composed for it. I hope you will be inspired as much by watching and listening to it!
The album is available for preorder with the immediate download of the main theme song: Bandcamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1397137281 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMRVF2X
Video: https://youtu.be/DGgIUQzKtMs
This snippet from "The Arctic & Antarctica" film is all about the journey to the frozen lands. I tried to put different feelings into this this soundtrack. Of course, the obvious one is the anticipation of seeing the snowy world but I also added the melancholy of leaving your home. It turned to be a fusion of Latin jazz and some French vibes with a bit odd mixture of instruments. Cajon drives the adventurous rhythm, occasional sci-fi synths underscore the dangerous waters on the way to the alien lands, a bass guitar and an accordion add a bit of sweet nostalgia and a saxophone sings "Sailing Tango" of the epic journey.
You might've paid attention that all the soundtracks got musical-themed titles - it, actually, was intentional as this film doesn't have any narration but is very musical instead. So, it is opened with "Frozen Song", followed by "Icicles Staccato", "Sailing Tango", "Penguins Swing", "Misty Ballad", "Birds Blues", "Seals Rag", "Wind Elegy", Underwater Nocturne", "Exotic Vocalizzo", "Icy Requiem" and ends up with "Farewell Groove".
If you missed the first snippets, below is a copy of what these snippets are all about ;-)
Coming this Saturday! The soundtrack album for the first documentary that I scored. The film was directed and produced by our friend, Liss Ross, who visited both frozen lands: Arctic and Antarctica.
https://arcticantarcticafilm.com/
Nature themes can be heard in my music quite often, yet it was intriguing and challenging to write music about the Arctic and Antarctica – places I’ve never been to myself. What music could suit those frozen deserts? Ambient, haunting and cold are the first epithets coming to one’s mind, yet this relatively short film was packed with different, often contrasting moods. Of course, there was a place for the haunting and ambient atmosphere but it was so much more: the adventurous journey, playful encounters, diving into mysterious deeps, edgy life-threatening situations and a sweet nostalgia when it was the time to bid farewell.
These were the scenes and the moods I aimed at writing the music for: different emotions, different styles, different instruments – the whole world of music coming together to meet at the Earth poles. There was a soaring vocal ballad inviting you to the Arctic and Antarctica. There was a Latin tango of the journey to those distant lands, driven by ethnic percussion, groovy bass, sweet accordion and a singing sax. There was a humorous swing and rag with tribal ethnic drums, percussion and... tuba! Tuba always sounds a bit funny and cartoon-ish to my ears – so were the penguins and seals, playful and clumsy. There was a dark mysterious ambient synth taking you to the freezing underwater. There was a tribal vocalization, primeval and shamanistic, and there was an ethereal elegy with an exotic eastern touch. A song and a tango, a swing and a blues, a groove and a rag, a ballad and an elegy, a nocturne and a requiem – all those were inspired by watching Liss’s film.
These days with the permission of Liss I am posting some snippets from the film, accompanied by the music I composed for it. I hope you will be inspired as much by watching and listening to it!
The album is available for preorder with the immediate download of the main theme song: Bandcamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1397137281 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMRVF2X
Video: https://youtu.be/VwpjNTegGvE
Coming soon! The soundtrack album for the first documentary that I scored. The film was directed and produced by our friend, Liss Ross, who visited both frozen lands: Arctic and Antarctica.
https://arcticantarcticafilm.com/
Nature themes can be heard in my music quite often, yet it was intriguing and challenging to write music about the Arctic and Antarctica – places I’ve never been to myself. What music could suit those frozen deserts? Ambient, haunting and cold are the first epithets coming to one’s mind, yet this relatively short film was packed with different, often contrasting moods. Of course, there was a place for the haunting and ambient atmosphere but it was so much more: the adventurous journey, playful encounters, diving into mysterious deeps, edgy life-threatening situations and a sweet nostalgia when it was the time to bid farewell.
These were the scenes and the moods I aimed at writing the music for: different emotions, different styles, different instruments – the whole world of music coming together to meet at the Earth poles. There was a soaring vocal ballad inviting you to the Arctic and Antarctica. There was a Latin tango of the journey to those distant lands, driven by ethnic percussion, groovy bass, sweet accordion and a singing sax. There was a humorous swing and rag with tribal ethnic drums, percussion and... tuba! Tuba always sounds a bit funny and cartoon-ish to my ears – so were the penguins and seals, playful and clumsy. There was a dark mysterious ambient synth taking you to the freezing underwater. There was a tribal vocalization, primeval and shamanistic, and there was an ethereal elegy with an exotic eastern touch. A song and a tango, a swing and a blues, a groove and a rag, a ballad and an elegy, a nocturne and a requiem – all those were inspired by watching Liss’s film.
In the upcoming weeks with the permission of Liss I will be posting some snippets from the film, accompanied by the music I composed for it. I hope you will be inspired as much by watching and listening to it!
This snippet is one of the most ambient ones, so I went for the "breaths" of windy synths, low ominous bass, surreal sci-fi inserts to underscore the alien atmosphere and... Santur. I felt like the eastern Santur perfectly expresses the exotic vibe of a desert.
The album is available for preorder with the immediate download of the main theme song: Bandcamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-arctic-antarctica-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1397137281 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DMRVF2X
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0_JNV-Z64A
This was the song of my youth. I wanted to sing it for over 20 years yet only now I felt like I am ready for that. Like many others I was shocked this year to know that Dolores is gone. This cover is our little tribute to her and her unique voice. I hope I did it justice. Many thanks to my husband Arty who is always there for me and who produced this video. Many thanks to Diana Sharp for helping me to find my voice.
Video: https://youtu.be/5ffk_-7VzYY
Enjoy this moody autumnal track from the newly released album "Where Giants Roam The Earth"!
The last couple of weeks have been quite intense. We had an amazing trip to Berlin where I got the chance to perform on the stage of Berlin Philharmonie and meet with many extraordinary pianists from Enlightened Piano Radio. It was a wonderful surprise and a honor to receive "Best Solo Piano" Award for my previous album "Yet Another Love Story". And then, the next morning right after coming back from the trip, Arty and I had an interview with a local newspaper, talking about the new album "Where Giants Roam The Earth".
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iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth/1431530487
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Giants-Earth-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07GMWQSRD/
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BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth
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CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/milanazilnik4
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Stream it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/35tpF1wSnXrNbJOFsYM5eM
The album has received some terrific reviews already!
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Pam Asberry: https://pamasberry.com/2018/09/26/album-review-where-giants-roam-the-earth-by-milana-zilnik/
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Kathy Parsons: https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/milana-zilnik-where-giants-roam-the-earth
I still have a dozen CDs (out of 100) and a couple of sheet music books (both perfect and spiral binding) on my hands that I will personally sign for you if you order via BandCamp. Thank you very much for your support! Any proceeds from album sales go back into music - we got some plans already for the next musical project that will take about a year to complete.
piano #autumn #Ottawa #pianoalbum #pianosolo #solopiano #pianocomposer #pianist #composer
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8lqjh8Hvw
Where Giants roam the Earth there is a Giant piano - The Piano As Big As a Tree.
In the summer of 2015 I had the amazing chance to play the biggest upright piano in the world - "The Giant", made by David Klavins (@thepianoguy), the renowned pianomaker.
When I touched "The Giant" for the first time, this very piece was born under my fingers. We called it "The Piano As Big As a Tree".
I knew right away that one day I would compose a whole album for this extraordinary piano.
This year my dream finally came true! Thank you for the inspiration, David!
Don't miss the music video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8lqjh8Hvw
The digital album is available on:
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iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth/1431530487
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Giants-Earth-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07GMWQSRD/
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BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth
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CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/milanazilnik4
The album has received some terrific reviews already!
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Pam Asberry: https://pamasberry.com/2018/09/26/album-review-where-giants-roam-the-earth-by-milana-zilnik/
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Kathy Parsons: https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/milana-zilnik-where-giants-roam-the-earth
I still have a limited edition CDs and sheet music books (both perfect and spiral binding) on my hands that I will personally sign for you if you order via BandCamp. Most have been preordered already, so act fast ;-) Thank you very much for your support! Any proceeds from album sales go back into music - we got some plans already for the next musical project that will take about a year to complete.
Video: https://youtu.be/euRvpQigjUA
The summer has been so busy for me that it flew by and I barely noticed it actually happened. So many things were going on, all at the same time: going to IMEA Awards, working days and nights on the upcoming album and the sheet music book, preparing for filming the upcoming music video, spending some quality time with my parents who visited us here in Canada...
To celebrate the end of summer, here is one of the tracks from the upcoming album for you: a "Summer Tale", as bright and joyful as a perfect day in July. And.... the album is available for preorder!
The digital album is available for preorder on:
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iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth/1431530487
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Giants-Earth-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07GMWQSRD/
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BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth
I also have a limited edition CDs and sheet music books (both perfect and spiral binding) that I will personally sign for you if you order via BandCamp.
Video: https://youtu.be/O7SxwkV9mFM
It feels like Spring is finally here! At least we are getting sunny days and all the snow and ice start to recede. I hope you will enjoy this Spring soundtrack from the album "Where Giants Roam The Earth" that was released last year!
Thanks to your votes this album was nominated for Enlightened Piano Radio Awards, yay! I got the chance to perform on the stage of Place des Arts in Montreal in September!
Also, it's 88th day of the year, a special day to celebrate 88 keys of piano - it's the Piano Day!
On another note, we are currently working on a new album, which is a bit challenging for me... because it will be a minimalistic piano! Why is it a challenge? Well, because, you know, usually, my piano pieces are far from being minimalistic. Anyways, the first four tracks of the album are already composed and recorded! It will be a conceptual album called "Notte" ("Night" in Italian) and it will include 12 tracks, covering hours from 8pm to 7am, from Sunset to Dawn with Shadows, Twilight, Calmness, Echoes, Silence, Dreams and Quietude in between.
piano #spring #Ottawa #pianoalbum #pianosolo #solopiano #pianocomposer #pianist #composer
Video: https://youtu.be/GxrGQVF54RE
Journeys can be amazing, exciting and adventurous but at the end there is nothing like coming back home. Enjoy "Coming Home" - this cinematic piano track from the album "Where Giants Roam The Earth" is one of my personal favorites.
The album is getting its first awards already: Silver Medal for “Contemporary Classical Album” from Global Music Awards and the title track earned “Best Instrumental Song” Radio Music Award (from Indie Music Channel). Yay, this has been quite a generous year!
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iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth/1431530487
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Giants-Earth-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07GMWQSRD/
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BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/where-giants-roam-the-earth
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CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/milanazilnik4
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Stream it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/35tpF1wSnXrNbJOFsYM5eM
The album and its tracks have received some terrific reviews:
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Pam Asberry: https://pamasberry.com/2018/09/26/album-review-where-giants-roam-the-earth-by-milana-zilnik/
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Kathy Parsons: https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/milana-zilnik-where-giants-roam-the-earth
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Dan Lis: https://composerstoolbox.com/2018/11/24/milana-zilnik-winter-tale/
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Ear To The Ground: http://www.eartothegroundmusic.co/2018/11/30/discovering-truly-unique-neoclassical-music/
piano #PianoDay #autumn #Ottawa #pianoalbum #pianosolo #solopiano #pianocomposer #pianist #composer
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFYQLU1OBuA
So many things are going on, all the same time and yet again I feel like a squirrel in a wheel. Among all this I periodically need an escape, to meditate and relax. Enjoy the "Solitude"! What's keeping me busy these days? I've got several remote sessions for recording piano and vocals and a couple of composing/arrangement requests. I am also working on arranging my new song. Arty loved it as much as he loved "The Snow Queen Waltz" and jumped on planning the next "Big Music Video" for it. I don't know where we gonna get the budget for it, maybe we'll have to run another IndieGoGo campaign :) Meanwhile, being DYI kind of guy, he paid a couple visits to the local Home Depot to get some materials and build rails for outdoor filming (he is going to film at least part of the music video himself). Speaking of "The Snow Queen Waltz", it got another award! Bronze medal in "Female vocal" and "Song" categories at Global Music Awards! And I am also preparing for the IMEA Awards ceremony, where I will learn if "The Snow Queen Waltz" got another award (it was nominated as "Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year"). It will be my first red carpet event! In just two weeks, wow!
Video: https://youtu.be/_DiqH38NGjc
When a teenage daughter joins her mom, the girls power can be... Radioactive!
I hope you will enjoy our rendition of "Radioactive" by "Imagine Dragons" (one of my daughter's favorites). Sheana is on drums and.. I miss her! She is currently away on her first tour across Ontario with her school jazz band where she is a drummer and one of the percussionists.
Oh, and this was the very first time my husband tried to record drums, so... well, he apologizes for the quality of the recording :)
Video: https://youtu.be/g8EZno9jxqY
I hope you will enjoy this orchestral soundtrack that was originally commissioned for a game under CC license (so, I can also post it over here). The author of the game asked to aim for something hopeful, meditative, optimistic and encouraging, he said "try thinking of it as the music for a ritual, a sort of initiation" and didn't put any limitation on what the genre or instrumentation should be. So, we went for this short orchestral cue. The original name was "New Hopes" but when my husband compiled the visuals from the VideoBlocks free stock videos we decided to rename it to "Dream of a Child".
Below are the links to the game (which is under development): https://github.com/sprite-guard/Boss-Rush https://www.twitch.tv/spriteguard
Video: https://youtu.be/5_fCbYh7TwM
This year is so generous to musical surprises, when finally after many years of improving my piano and singing skills, composing, songwriting - they all blend into the wonderful reality. I am happy to share it with you. I invite you to my musical dream...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFTRFa1UHI
Here is something contemplative and moody.. and a bit melancholic and nostalgic... like walking away..
Video: https://youtu.be/R59pREGwSuY Dedicated to my teenage girl who loves this song as much as I do and who immediately stole this jeans jacket that took us whole two days to find across the multiple shops in the city (specifically for this recording). And I felt like rocking on the piano. Video is on YouTube as usual these days :)
Video: https://youtu.be/4fcV41sdwJc
Lately I feel like a squirrel running in a wheel, trying to catch up with everything, while everything is slipping through fingers.
Thank you for everyone who has voted for our song, "The Snow Queen Waltz" (http://youtu.be/8f1VlFgPJX8)!! If you haven't voted yet, it's not too late ;-) Your votes decide 20% of the final score, you can help the Snow Queen to get the award ;-)
It's simple: follow the link: http://www.imeaawards.com/vote/. Click the blue "Music", enter your email address, select "Music", hit "Next", scroll down to "Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year", select "Milana Zilnik" in both and hit submit at the bottom of the page. Thank you very much!!
Video: https://youtu.be/oOVLc-u8mPE To brighten up the weather out there and make my birthday more colorful, here is a bit of flowery summer. Enjoy :)
... and as a birthday present can you please cast a vote for my song? :) As you may have heard, our song "The Snow Queen Waltz" (http://youtu.be/8f1VlFgPJX8) was nominated in two categories for 5th Annual IMEA Awards! Now it's time to vote!
40% of the vote is decided by the music industry executives, another 40% is decided by IMEA members. The remaining 20% is decided by you!! You can help the Snow Queen to get the award ;-)
It's simple: follow the link: http://www.imeaawards.com/vote/. Click the blue "Music", enter your email address, select "Music", hit "Next", scroll down to "Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year", select both and hit submit at the bottom of the page.
Video: youtu.be/g2eY5E0ZvZc
Taking a break from covers for a short piano solo. Enjoy this mischievous improvisation. I always have trouble naming my tracks but this one sounded like some Dark Affairs.
I decided to make this track an open collaboration. Download it, remix it, send me the result and I will repost it :) Please, link this track back in the description of your version, so others can find it too. The track is 90bpm, let me know if you need MIDI!
On another news... As you may have heard, our song "The Snow Queen Waltz" (youtu.be/8f1VlFgPJX8) was nominated in two categories for 5th Annual IMEA Awards! Now it's time to vote!
40% of the vote is decided by the music industry executives, another 40% is decided by IMEA members. The remaining 20% is decided by you!! You can help the Snow Queen to get the award ;-)
It's simple: follow the link: www.imeaawards.com/vote/. Click the blue "Music", enter your email address, select "Music", hit "Next", scroll down to "Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year", select both and hit submit at the bottom of the page.
youtu.be/E2msS2pA61I
Video: https://youtu.be/3zilvMwFgnM
As many things in my life, it wasn't a conscious choice but an accidental coincidence. I just love this song but never dared to sing it. Until last Saturday when I finally did record it, planning to post it later this week. Then I looked at the calendar and was like "Woah?! It's Passover, no way?"
It was a challenge. Not only musically but emotionally as well - I couldn't stop crying in my attempts to sing it. "Many different hallelujahs exist" as Leonard Cohen said himself about the lyrics. I am on my journey to find mine.
https://youtu.be/SF8w5a7EYJY
Winter came back with snow and cold weather... so... I found it quite fitting to cover one of my favorite songs - Tori Amos’s “Winter”.. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoy singing it!
I also got some super-exciting news to share!! My song "The Snow Queen Waltz" is nominated in two categories ("Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year") at International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards!!!
http://www.imeaawards.com/nominees/2018-nominees/
To say that I am excited is quite an underestimation, I am overwhelmed!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrIFg_FBjOs
Birds flying high, sun in the sky... and I am feeling good :) Enjoy!
Music and Lyrics by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.
You shares, subscriptions, comments and likes are highly appreciated!
Coming up next there will be some covers of one of my favorite singer-songwriters, also a woman who is rocking on a piano. My style is periodically compared to her (hint-hint :) ). Any guesses?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KNucCPey9M
Adventure, Momentum, Challenge, Flight, Life - all that is in the "New Beginnings". You may never know where the path is going to lead you, you just need to take the challenge, make the first step, gain momentum, take flight and enjoy the adventurous journey. This is Life. These are New Beginnings.
I would like to thank everyone who has voted for my album "Yet Another Love Story"!! It got into the TOP3 albums in the "Best Solo Piano" category, which means... this October... I am going to perform in the Philharmonic Hall in Berlin!!! I am all excited :) And feels just about right for the "New Beginnings" :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C87uvuDEnzg
Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones! I hope you will enjoy my rendition of this standard (composed by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart).
I'd like to thank you everyone who voted for my album in Enlightened Piano Radio Awards! The deadline is approaching, it's just two weeks away! If you haven't voted for me yet, you can still do it and help me to get the opportunity to perform in... Philharmonic Hall in Berlin!! Yes, that's right, your votes can give me the chance to perform there!
All you need to do is to write an email with this text: "Milana Zilnik. Yet Another Love Story. Best Solo Piano Album", with this subject: "EPR NOMINATIONS" and send it to this address: admin@enlightenedpiano.com
This is it! One email and you may help me a lot because each vote counts ;-) Thank you!
Video: https://youtu.be/cJErCDE5s_g
For each musical piece there is a story hidden inside. Enjoy this "Hidden Inside", played on the virtual version of The Giant. Until recently it was the biggest piano in the world but now it's creator, David Klavins, made even bigger Regina. I got the chance to play The Giant in real life and I hope to get a chance to play Regina this year!
The video story is edited by my husband, compiled using clips from VideoBlocks.
I appreciate your subscriptions to my YouTube channel!
Video: https://youtu.be/aLHRBIWa8m8
Enjoy this rocking piano recorded on the virtual The Giant (previously the biggest piano in the world created by David Klavins who now created even bigger one!)! I appreciate your comments, shares and subscriptions to my YouTube channel.
On another note, Enlightened Piano Radio is going to organize their annual Awards event in Berlin Philharmonic Hall!! And I have the chance to perform there with your help :) All I ask you to do is to send a short email to admin@enlightenedpiano.com (you can bcc to info@milanazilnik.com ;-) ) with "EPR NOMINATIONS" in the subject and the following in the body: "Milana Zilnik. "Yet Another Love Story" Best solo piano album"
Thank you so much for your votes in advance!
Here are some of my recent videos:
"Wintry Tale" from the same "The Gentle Giant" series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyC-Y9B1WoY
6th episode of "The making of The Snow Queen Waltz" where we talk about the choreography (including behind-the-scenes footage from the real dancing rehearsals!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GllRb9fADi4
And "The Snow Queen Waltz" itself (we worked hard on that one, appreciate your shares!!) The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 The animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyC-Y9B1WoY
Enjoy this wintry tale recorded on the virtual The Giant (the biggest piano in the world created by David Klavins)! On another note, Enlightened Piano Radio is going to organize their annual Awards event in Berlin Philharmonic Hall!! And I have the chance to perform there with your help :) All I ask you to do is to send a short email to admin@enlightenedpiano.com (you can bcc to info@milanazilnik.com ;-) ) with "EPR NOMINATIONS" in the subject and the following in the body:
Milana Zilnik. "Yet Another Love Story" Best solo piano album
Thank you so much for your votes in advance!
Here are some of my recent videos:
"Escape of the mind" and "Oceans of Memories" from "Una Corda Dream" series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4LXKfQIXpU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmnqPLgd87A
5th episode of "The making of The Snow Queen Waltz" where we talk about our experiences during the first video shoot (including behind-the-scenes footage!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAS3BCXXNX4
And "The Snow Queen Waltz" itself, The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 The animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59twlzokY0
Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy this magical Tchaikovsky's composition on this wintry day :)
...And don't miss latest videos of "The Snow Queen Waltz" ;-)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA The 1st episode of "The making of": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXWHcKc-Mo
Theatrical Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1VlFgPJX8 Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDS-Q5cIGuA
WOW!! This song of mine was nominated in two categories ("Classical Song of the Year" and "Classical Artist of the Year"!!) at International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards and actually won the "Classical Song of the Year" Award!!!
We'd like to tell you a story! A story about the Snow Queen. Not the one you all know about! Not cold, not evil! This is a story about a woman, a woman who had a dream. A romantic one? Of course! With some magic? For sure! Do you want to know how it happened? Read below!
BUY IT ON: iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/the-snow-queen-waltz-single/1308494656 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Queen-Waltz-Milana-Zilnik/dp/B07772Z1GB/ Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Milana_Zilnik_The_Snow_Queen_Waltz?id=Beeapieb3ppqizqrynzeinypcaa Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2fVWxZ8ipXeJr9qBTW9LHB CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/milanazilnik
CONNECT: Official website: http://www.milana.ws/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZilnikMilana/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MilanaZilnik/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/MilanaZilnik/ SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/MilanaZilnik/
It's incredible to think how this song that I wrote exactly one year ago turned into our first theatrical musical video. Last December I was improvising on a keyboard, as usual, when the opening music box motif came to me. The next day it expanded into a full composition, a crossover between Waltz and Tango, Classical and Jazz. The lyrics followed shortly on the same day. When my husband heard it for the first time, he said: "Wow! This is it! This is the song I want us to create a professional music video for!". And so it happened! It has taken us the whole year to produce it: from making the orchestral arrangement and writing the story to finding a venue, costumes, designing the decorations, working on the choreography and finally - filming the main act on the stage of Kailash Mital Theatre at the end of October.
We are so thankful for everyone who participated in this project and for everyone who supported our IndieGoGo campaign! Please share this video with your friends! Your appreciation is the best reward we can get!
Don't miss the release of the animated cartoon set to the same song - it will be published next week! We'll also publish "The making of The Snow Queen" - 7 episodes of us talking about every stage of the project: how it was done, some fun stories, behind-the-scenes footage and so on.
CREDITS (for audio part): Music and lyrics by Milana Zilnik Story by Arty Sandler and Milana Zilnik Produced and directed by Arty Sandler
Orchestral arrangement by Milana Zilnik and Jeff Torres (@jtcmposr) Alto Saxophone Solo by Gdaliy Garmiza Mixed by Don Nafe (TMR Productions) Mastered by Jason Fee (Conduction Mastering) Voice Teacher Diana Sharp
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIjwCgjJU0w
Two years ago I had the chance to play the biggest upright piano in the world in real life. It is called The Giant for a reason - the sheer power of the two-story piano makes you resonate with it, as if you are sitting inside the ocean of sound. Yet, I found that the power of it is... gentle! Of course, no digital version of it can compare to the real piano, yet it's always a wonderful experience to close my eyes and imagine myself sitting again on the balcony of the real Giant and touching its keys.
Here is the iPhone/handycam recording of me playing the real instrument: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXEU2XH_sjs
Wow, I am overwhelmed by the support we received, reaching 45% of the goal in the first days!! The campaign is still in the running, two weeks before it ends and we still hope we can reach the goal! The campaign is over here: https://igg.me/at/TheSnowQueenWaltz
On one Canadian wintry day, back in December 2016, I wrote a new song. It was a wintry song, a wondrous theatrical blend of Waltz and Tango, Jazz and Classical. Arty, my husband, immediately fell in love with it. We both felt like this song is way bigger than any song we ever wrote before.
So, we started this project by arranging the song, inviting a vocal coach to shape my singing and then recording it in our home studio - all this was done this Spring of 2017. In May, we wrote the video script together, it turned into a musical story, a story about magic and a dream, a fantasy and the reality.
The following month we spent scouting for different locations and designing the decorations. In August we hired a friend to improve the orchestration we did ourselves and then we hired a remote sax player to record the sax solo. We also found a professional cinematographer to work on the video and had the first session with him, recording the intro and the finale of the video.
These days we are working with a choreographer to create a dance for her dancers - they will play the role of Snow Queen's court. We are also working with a theatrical makeup artist to design the look of the Queen.
The big day of filming the main part is approaching - 28th of October is when we are going to make the Dream happen on the stage of Kailash Mital Theater in Carleton University of Ottawa!
So, what is going to happen on 28th of October. Below is the plan:
7:30am - wake up and have the first coffee; 8:30am - head out to the theatre; 9:00am - unload all the rented decorations, do the makeup for Milana, set up the lighting for filming the first scenes on an empty stage; 10:20am - have the second coffee; 10:30am - film ~40 seconds of the video script involving the scenes on the empty stage; 12:30pm - have the third coffee and a lunch for the entire crew. 13:00pm - set up the decorations, change costumes, work on the theatrical makeup for Milana and dancers. 4:00pm - have the fourth coffee (yes, we will need it!); 4:10pm - film ~1:30 of the video script in the setting of Snow Queen's Ice Castle, including dancers who will play the role of Queen's court; 6:30pm - move the decorations to change the setting to a new scene; 7:30pm - film ~30 seconds of scenes with a sax player; 9:00pm - take off the decorations; 10:00pm - go home; It's going to be a long-long day, involving 8 actors on the stage and 12-15 more people to run the production: a video director, camera and light assistants, stage decor director, stage assistants, makeup artists, behind-the-scenes video operator, sound operator etc etc. I am going to be the main actor, Arty will manage the whole production.
This day is the most challenging part of the project, both scheduling and budget-wise (half of the project's budget is invested into this single day!). This is where your help and funding will be greatly appreciated:
Cinematographer services (including camera and light assistants) - $3000; Choreographer and dancers (including the creation of the dance and rehearsals) - $1500; Second half of theatre rental fees (the first half is already paid) - $800; Makeup artist services (two different makeups for me and dancers) - $600; Decor and additional lighting rental - $800; Lunch for the entire crew - $300;
This is where YOUR HELP is MUCH NEEDED!
We are doing everything for making this music video happen and you can do a few things to help us! Tell your friends about "The Snow Queen Waltz" and this IndieGoGo campaign. Please, share photos and posts from our musical page on Facebook, Twitter and so on.
Please, SUPPORT our theatrical music video! igg.me/at/TheSnowQueenWaltz
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogOaIz1YksU
I heard about James Newton Howard's tour and his contest for finding European singers to accompany him. Well, I was European :) but long time ago. So, this is not my audition video, just had fun singing it in my jazzy way. Hope you will enjoy my take on it :)
On another note, if you are on Facebook, please join my "Snow Queen Waltz" group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnowQueenWaltz/
There you will get all the news, some behind-the-scenes discussions and other stuff related to the process of making the first professional music video for my theatrical song. You will have the opportunity to ask questions or share your ideas that might be used in the process :) And, of course, you are more than welcome to invite your friends to the same group :)
Please, SUPPORT our theatrical music video! igg.me/at/TheSnowQueenWaltz
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiwV8y_XsX0
This was yet another challenging piece for me to play, composed by Jennifer Thomas. In fact, I started practicing it some months ago and then got busy with something else :) So, I am quite happy that I finally got around recording it.
If you want to play it yourself, you can get the sheet music on Jennifer's official site: http://jenniferthomasmusic.com/product/a-beautiful-storm-sheet-music/
Btw, Jennifer is currently recording a music video for this piece of hers, to be released in about a month. So, don't miss it on her YouTube channel, her videos are amazing and quite inspirational: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCLJvCZ94E8B-7uxh34muQw
On another note, the summer is nearly over and I am slowly getting back to the routine of teaching, starting this week. We are also progressing on our way to create the first professional music video for the song I wrote last winter. If everything goes according to the plan, it will be released in December - exactly one year since the day this song was written. The first part of the video is recorded, next week we are meeting with a choreographer, who will create a dance for me and six dancers - for the second part of the music video that will be shot in late October.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phcvsg_vElA
Had fun composing a summery soundtrack for one of clients, this was one of the variants that I can share with you (another one was accepted). The video is just a mock-up composed of clips from VideoBlocks but you may have fun watching it :).
On another note, we are advancing at shooting the music video for one of my songs. If everything goes according to the plan, it will be released in December. The first part of the video is recorded, next weeks we are going to rehearse a dance with a choreographer and six dancers - for the second part of the music video.
You can get the commercial license for this track over here: https://www.audiosparx.com/sa/archive/Jazz/Ragtime/Summer-Trip/864785
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX7NHXhBFF0
It was a productive weekend a couple of weeks ago when Roger Chandler (@roger-b-train) came to visit us in our studio. Enjoy this piano & guitar improvisational version of "Contemplation" - 10th track of my recently released album "Yet another love story".
Oh, and, btw, today we celebrate 9 years since we landed in Canada - a good reason to celebrate and... to contemplate :)
Appreciate your shares and subscription to my channel!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cqlczSX2LU
I hope you will enjoy this blues standard performed by truly yours in collaboration with Roger Chandler (@roger-b-train)
Appreciate your shares and subscription to my YouTube channel :)
Video: https://youtu.be/qIyNJMBJHrM
It was a fun day yesterday, Roger Chandler (@roger-b-train) visited our studio and we made several live recordings. Enjoy "Bird blues" :)
More recordings to be uploaded in the upcoming weeks!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfucSi-sA1I
I always love listening to compositions of Jackie Perks (@classical-jams), this one is one of the pieces that instantly became one of my favorites. I hope you will enjoy my performance of Jackie's "Romance"
Visit her channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/ClassicalJams
You can get the score of this piece here: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/romance-digital-sheet-music/20447496
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDql6PSmrmI
Summer nights were hot, long and fruitful. She couldn't get enough of her piano, playing old songs, composing new ones. He was busy learning how to record what she was playing for him and with him.
Her first song was born one of those nights... "It's about time" was its name and it was about time for them to finally share something together.... One journey, one life, one love.... It was wonderful to regain back what was lost before - the feel of...
TRUST... The eleventh track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI6K9DqncZQ
He did too much, though, not what she wanted. She did not do enough, though, she could not see it. Disgust and anger left nothing but devastation behind. For what they've done, the only feeling they could share now was...
GUILT... The eighth track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
"Yet Another Love Story" - the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano, was released on 29th of March, 88th day of the year - the Piano Day! The album was accepted on Pandora and received a high praise from reviewers! I have a small lot of CDs to sign :)
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTpGmiq0mPc
She was thinking that breaking habits is a cleansing experience. He was literally breaking everything that was within the reach of his hands.
/Concerts in Toronto/: https://www.facebook.com/events/160877831101596/ https://www.facebook.com/events/1381798751904391/
They both had it all wrong for a while. It was furious and raw, while their love was boiling with...
ANGER... The seventh track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
"Yet Another Love Story" - the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano, was released on 29th of March, 88th day of the year - the Piano Day! The album was accepted on Pandora and received a high praise from reviewers! I have a small lot of CDs to sign :)
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxB3T5YS17s
I received so many birthday wishes, thank you, dear friends :) I feel blessed with music and love!
... And speaking of music, and love, and "Yet another love story"... I know I promised to post one track each week but, by a funny coincidence the next track is... "Disgust". And I feel a bit awkward to post it today :D So.... "Show must go on" ? Or I better post it tomorrow.
Today instead I will post a more positive song that we recorded together with Roger Chandler, who visited our studio last weekend (on his Birthday, btw :) ). Enjoy this live version of my "Out of the dark" :)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8kjdtAu_Fk Roger's Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/roger-b-train/01-moonlight-stroll-collab
It was a wonderful time together with Roger Chandler (@roger-b-train) last weekend! Enjoy this live jam recording based on my "Moonlight Stroll"! We recorded another track as well, which will be posted later this week... maybe on weekend :)
On another note, I will perform two solo concerts in Toronto: 30th of April: https://www.facebook.com/events/160877831101596/ 21st of May: https://www.facebook.com/events/1381798751904391/
Would love to see you there! :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKFie3E_tok
As there is no light without darkness, so, is no love without despair.
He was busy at work and with his own projects. She was exhausted with her own home business.
https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story
What was once connected turned into parallel lives under the same roof.
She was afraid to talk about her real feelings. Everything she said sounded like complains to him.
Anticipation of love turned into the anticipation of loss.
What was joyful before turned into...
FEAR.... The fifth track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
I am happy to announce the release of my new album - "Yet Another Love Story"! This is the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano, released on 29th of March - The Piano Day, 88th day of the year (http://www.pianoday.org/)! I have a small lot of CDs to sign:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQo4NAdvFHw
I've been wanting to play one of Jackie Perks's (@classical-jams) compositions for some time, they are full of wondrous drama and passion. I hope you will enjoy my performance of her "Raindrop Fantasia".
You can listen to the original Jackie's performance here: https://soundcloud.com/classical-jams/raindrop-fantasia-original-composition
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4HMF3aEoO8
New Spring brought warmth and colors... Memories of the first years together showed back, gaining strength, overpowering the turmoil.
She was changing her list of Rights and Wrongs, Shoulds and Shouldn'ts. Her abandoned piano got to feel her touch again, shy and timid, raging and hopeful. Through those keys she was discovering back her whole self.
He was building a treehouse on their backyard, on a blue spruce tree... hammering hundreds of nails through its branches, hurting his hands with its needles... but healing through this catharsic zen of...
CONTEMPLATION... The tenth track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video and Behind-the-scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ5MHfWv3Zk
There is no love story that is unique, yet no love story is the same. My love happened to be deeply intertwined with music and with my husband. When he asked me to improvise different feelings on my piano, I didn't think it would end up as a story of our life: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and...
LOVE! The twelfth, concluding track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music. I let my piano play and it sang me this song, jazzy and romantic, swinging and rocking, lush harmonies and memorable motifs.
Don't miss the second part of the video! We shared the story of how this album came to life :) If you have difficulties understanding our accents, just turn on the subtitles :)
We would also like to ask for your support! We plan to shoot a professional music video this year, which would be a rather expensive project to pull, paying from our own pockets. You can help funding it by purchasing an album on BandCamp. Thank you! iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq0HMLOAZUA
It was the longest winter of their life... That March some years ago was cold and gray... so were their thoughts and feelings...
Days passed by, leaving no memories, no joy, no happiness... Icicles of hurtful words played the melody of...
SADNESS... The ninth track from my new album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
"Yet Another Love Story" - the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano, was released on 29th of March, 88th day of the year - the Piano Day! The album was accepted on Pandora and received a high praise from reviewers! I have a small lot of CDs to sign :)
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXrDzrEqhiU
They moved to live together in a small cozy apartment at the middle of a green park. For both of them it was the first time of living together with someone. With all the joys and...well, compromises one needs to make.
https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story
After a year they decided that they are ready for the next step. So, they had a wonderful wedding in one of the most romantic cities of all times: the beautiful Prague.
Two months later... ...they got another wedding! And it was in... "Prague"!
Well, the second time it was the name of a restaurant... but who cares? :-)
Nine months later...
JOY! The third track from my upcoming album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
I am happy to announce the release of my new album - "Yet Another Love Story"! This is the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano will be released on 29th of March - The Piano Day, 88th day of the year (http://www.pianoday.org/)! The album is available for pre-order (I have a small lot of CDs to sign):
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Xu0HLnLYo
They met a few times before but it wasn't _their_ time just yet. One late evening, back in 2002, they happened to chat online and at some point he asked her "Why are we chatting online if I can drive and be at your place in less than an hour?"
https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story
So he did, and they had a wonderful conversation in a park. The weather was warm and stars were shining above. When he walked her to her house, just before saying "bye", he took and held her hand a heartbeat longer than she expected.
Two weeks later he proposed to her!
SURPRISE! The second track from my upcoming album "Yet Another Love Story", telling the story of my love and music: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
I am happy to announce the release of my new album - "Yet Another Love Story"! This is the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano will be released on 29th of March - The Piano Day, 88th day of the year (http://www.pianoday.org/)! The album is available for pre-order (I have a small lot of CDs to sign):
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJTknlfpIQ4
I am happy to announce the release of my new album - "Yet Another Love Story"! This is the first album recorded on my acoustic grand piano will be released on 29th of March - The Piano Day, 88th day of the year (http://www.pianoday.org/)! The album is available for pre-order (I have a small lot of CDs to sign):
BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/yet-another-love-story iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/yet-another-love-story-live/id1210505002 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yet-Another-Love-Story-Live/dp/B06XC8NQ26/
There is no love story that is unique, yet no love story is the same. My love happened to be deeply intertwined with music and with my husband. When he asked me to improvise different feelings on my piano, I didn't think it would end up as a story of our life: from the anticipation of the first date, from the surprise and joy of new relations to the moments of doubt and fear, disgust and anger, followed by guilt, sadness and contemplation. But above all it always comes down to trust and love.
I let my piano play and it sang me this song, jazzy and romantic, swinging and rocking, lush harmonies and memorable motifs. Starting today, I will post videos of each track every week, unveiling this love story chapter by chapter.
From me to you, into eternal story, with love in every note I play.
Milana
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZt-JbH_sLg
It's been a busy start of the year: a concert in Markham (Ontario), a video shoot, students, recording sessions - I didn't have much time to record or compose anything new. Neither I had time to follow your new music - I apologize for that! Hopefully, I will have a bit more time in February :)
Here is a new composition from me, kind of a test-drive of Native Instrument's "Discovery - India". The video is composed from free clips found on pixabay.com. I hope you will enjoy this Indian flavored track.
Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xQ4hyjFmJU
My daughter is getting quite good at animation :) Enjoy this Christmas-y animation from her, made entirely on scratch.mit.edu to accompany the soundtrack, composed by truly yours:
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru2hhK8G2iI
Winter season is upon us and I invite you to enjoy my performance of Jennifer Thomas's (@jennifer-thomas) version of "Carol of the Bells".
You can enjoy her original performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc2eIz2efs
And if you feel like you want to play it yourself, you can get the sheet music on her site (as well as her fabulous "Winter Symphony" album): http://jenniferthomasmusic.com/
On another note, if you happen to be in Toronto area on 14th of January, I invite you to my first solo concert in that area: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/milana-zilnik-accidental-etudes-tickets-29347139083
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcGNHSl-Hvo
Belated "October".... still "Autumn Song", though. Hope you enjoy another month from Tchaikovsky's Seasons.
On another note, if you happen to be in Toronto area on 14th of January, I invite you to my first solo concert in that area :)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/milana-zilnik-accidental-etudes-tickets-29347139083
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvOKmD2Gj-I
Haven't recorded original songs for some time, here is a new one from me, romantic and jazzy :) "You and I"
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2lelxxkjSc
I wanted to compose an upbeat and a bit edgy soundtrack with some unusual fusion of styles and instrumentation. So, it turned into some kind of electro-ethnic-orchestral composition, starting with an ethnic percussion and a bass guitar and progressing into a full symphonic orchestra with cellos, violins, woodwinds, trombones, french horns, trumpets and timpani. I guess, it would work for a chasing or racing scene, so we found this video shot by Jesse Wood (distributed for free use under "Attribution" license) to accompany the track. Feels like it is matching, what do you think?
You can get a license for the soundtrack: http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/archive/Action/Orchestral-Action/Escaping-the-Jungle/823144
Video footage by Jesse Wood (vimeo.com/jessewood) Distributed under Attribution License 3.0 via Mazwai.com
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T9zAxkkM4w
I know, it's October already, but here is a bit of summer for you - "August". Composed by Tchaikovsky, performed by truly yours.
Summer was quite a busy time, so, couldn't record "August" on time, alas. Anyways, hope, you'll enjoy it and the video on YouTube. I am trying to build a presence in there, so I appreciate your subscriptions and sharing :)
This is 13th track from my recent album "Una Corda Fantasia". I've never seen Northern Lights in my life but I hope to see some in the future. This must be one of the most magnificent experiences to have.
On another note, I am performing a concert tonight and we'll try to stream it live on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ZilnikMilana/ Tune in at 7pm EST :)
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk Spotify: http://sptfy.com/1KDy Direct donation: http://pianoday.org/#projects
This is 11th track from my recent album "Una Corda Fantasia". One of the more ambient and melancholic ones. Which reflects my mood now, when the summer is over and it's cloudy and nearly raining, and it's the last day of my mom's visit before she flies back.
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk Spotify: http://sptfy.com/1KDy Direct donation: http://pianoday.org/#projects
Videoclip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rdg6OWrfTg
We spent a wonderful week on Bahamas with Arty's family. I felt so inspired that this song just popped up while cooking with my son, who co-wrote half of the lyrics. We hope you will enjoy this little video of our adventure.
Lyrics by Milana Zilnik and Kyle Sandler Music by Milana Zilnik Audio and Video production by Arty Sandler
Come to Bahamas with me, Have very special iced tea! Say hi to dolphins, sea lions and mermaids, It's good to be happy, it's free!
On Bahamas iguanas eat bananas all day long, there's no drama, bring your mama, we will sing her this song! Ay, Karrrrrrramba!
Pigs on Exuma can swim, Dolphins can dance on their fin, Marching flamingo can play Bingo, you can invite them all in!
Bahama, Bahama, Bahama, Exuma, Nassau and Savannah, Bahama, Bahama, Bahama, You wanna, you wanna, you wanna!
Swimming with pigs is a treat, But don't let them step on your feet! Talking parrots will eat your carrots, Just help them dance to this beat!
On pirate islands there is no silence, You can only hear drum-rum-rum. See sea lions, (they) need no diamonds, all they need is just fun fun fun,
and this song is now done-done-done!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Tr3DXTDFM
Arty and me are continuing to learn how to compose orchestral soundtracks. This video was shot my father-in-law Michael Chebotarev and Mr. Carlos de la Cruz during their diving tour to Cocos Island.
Before starting to compose this soundtrack, we identified five or six distinct parts: the adventurous intro, the spacious transition to the playfully swimming sharks (who knew hammerheads may look playful?), the ominous appearance of the enormous whale shark, the following transition to the epic yet more soothing mood of swimming with the giant, some mysterious moments intertwined with amusing "chat" with the shark. We tried to set all those moods to music, using horns for massive and epic parts, woodwinds for the playful chapters and so on, trying to play around the same motif from the intro.
We all hope you will enjoy the video and the music!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6nxI8TNL6w
When I uploaded this track, SoundCloud banned it immediately: their automated system "thought" it is a sound recording by Vladimir Ashkenazy (owned by Decca).
Anyways... continuing with Tchaikovsky's Seasons: "June", the first month of Summer season... If you want to get insight into how we record these videos, you can see this live stream captured on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZilnikMilana/videos/1065292906841799/
If you want to see such live videos in the future, you are very welcome to like my page on Facebook to get the updates :) And subscribe to my YouTube channel of course :)
This is 9th track from my recent album "Una Corda Fantasia". Thanks to your support we were able to donate over $400 (CAD) to help David Klavins (@thepianoguy) building his new unique piano - M450, the new Giant.
You still can join by either purchasing "Una Corda Fantasia" album (all proceeds are donated) or donating to David directly:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk Spotify: http://sptfy.com/1KDy Direct donation: http://pianoday.org/#projects
Flowing with music, feeling free...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq79Pb9hf_w Spotify: http://sptfy.com/93U Facebook: http://fb.me/ZilnikMilana Twitter: http://twitter.com/MilanaZilnik
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LExISG5ILH8 Follow me on Spotify: sptfy.com/93U
Somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly and the dreams that you dreamed of, dreams really do come true... :) For your beloved ones!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHeMLIbgUx4
Continuing with Tchaikovsky's Seasons: "May", the last month of Spring season... Enjoy :)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcIyYkeWUc
The first steps of learning how to compose orchestral pieces, trying to reproduce existing pieces by ear. I feel like I am ready to share the first experiment now. We chose quite a daring and challenging piece to reproduce - Carter Burwell's "Forever" (a soundtrack in the last part of "Twilight Saga"). Instead of reproducing the exact replica, I tried to change it, making my own version. With the busy days that I am having now, it took a couple of months to compose this interpretation, mostly during weekends. Arty has spent the last two weeks mixing this piece, it was a new experience for him as well - to produce an orchestral piece. We both hope you will enjoy what you hear!
I appreciate it if you subscribe to my YouTube channel! Enjoy the free download :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cQhRBNNudw
Arty has asked me to improvise something minimal and cinematic. Hope you will enjoy it! I appreciate if you subscribe to my YouTube channel :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlUSzhYTiMQ
Continuing with Tchaikovsky's Seasons. Belated again, alas, but I hope you will enjoy "April" anyways :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZSLT7w2d78
Andrei Dreamspark and me were truly glad to see the response on our recent cover of John Legend's "All of me". Soon enough we got a request for another song to cover, coming from Tanya, Andrei's wife. She asked for one of her favorite songs - Metallica's "Unforgiven".
Now, I do love to rock on a piano, but.. eh.. heavy metal? Well, as someone pointed out, piano is rather heavy and its frame is, actually, a metal, so why not? We went even further and decided to record the instrumental on the heaviest piano in the world - The Giant! Well, not for real, alas, but only using a virtual version of it, but it's still The Giant! :)
I hope you'll enjoy this piano version of "Unforgiven" by Metallica.
Many thanks to Andrei Dreamspark for singing this song with me and to Arty, my husband, for the audio recording and shooting this video. I'd also like to thank my daughter Sheana and our friends' son Maxim Kuzmenko for acting in the video.
There were several things that we've done for the first time when producing this video. So, for the first time we invited someone to join us in the videoclip (thank you, Maxim!). For the first time we used The Giant piano for a song and Pro Tools to produce it. For the first time Arty used GoPro on his head to shoot the video. For the first time he chose to leave the shaking video as it is and not to stabilize it - he tried to do so and it "killed" all the tension and the "nerve". Hope your eyes won't hurt too much :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj4xIuw14pI Spotify: sptfy.com/93U
Just another improvisational flow. Hope you enjoy it :)
I appreciate your subscribing to my YouTube channel and following me on Spotify :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoxlDRWBAic
I have a special love for Tchaikovsky, especially, for his series of seasons. Here is a little bit belated "March". Though, here in Canada we are having a "second winter", so it feels pretty much like March at the middle of April. Hope you'll enjoy my performance.
On another note, I still have several CDs with my recently released album that I can sign for you: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia All the proceeds from the sales are donated to help building the biggest piano in the world!
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 Spotify: sptfy.com/93U
This is the 10th track of my recently released album "Una Corda Fantasia". With this album I tried to explore different genres and styles, yet be true to the ambient dreamy nature of Una Corda. Hope you will enjoy this Middle-Eastern flavored piece!
I'd also like to remind that all the proceeds from this album are donated to help building a new unique piano, being created by David Klavins. Thank you for your support!
Video: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk
Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 (For open collaboration details - read below)
This is the fourth track from my upcoming album "Una Corda Fantasia", recorded on the virtual version of an unique piano, created by David Klavins (@ThePianoGuy), whom I had the privilege to meet in person last summer. Native Instruments liked the idea a lot and even featured the album on their page: https://www.facebook.com/nikomplete/posts/1125899294128388
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPQT5DA
- BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia
These days David is building the new Giant (http://klavins-pianos.com/b/mod450_en.htm), a new incredible piano, the biggest piano in the world. I decided to donate all the proceeds from the online sales of “Una Corda Fantasia” to support the creation of the new Giant. Since the announcement two weeks ago we reached $100 in sales via BandCamp! You too can support the creation of something big and beautiful by buying the album and sharing the info ;-)
I also composed another piece for Una Corda and I offer it as an open collaboration. Download it, remix, arrange, orchestrate or create any other version of it: https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/una-corda-fantasia-new-album-and-open-collaboration
Read the track description for more information.
Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 (For open collaboration details - read below)
This is the 9th track from my upcoming album "Una Corda Fantasia", recorded on the virtual version of an unique piano, created by David Klavins (@ThePianoGuy), whom I had the privilege to meet in person last summer. Native Instruments liked the idea a lot and even featured the album on their page: https://www.facebook.com/nikomplete/posts/1125899294128388
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPQT5DA
- BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia
These days David is building the new Giant (http://klavins-pianos.com/b/mod450_en.htm), a new incredible piano, the biggest piano in the world. I decided to donate all the proceeds from the online sales of “Una Corda Fantasia” to support the creation of the new Giant. Since the announcement three weeks ago we reached $120 in sales via BandCamp and it was donated already! You too can support the creation of something big and beautiful by buying the album and sharing the info ;-)
I also composed another piece for Una Corda and I offer it as an open collaboration. Download it, remix, arrange, orchestrate or create any other version of it: https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/una-corda-fantasia-new-album-and-open-collaboration
Read the track description for more information.
Video Announcement: https://youtu.be/vrAFGT4G7Dk Spotify: http://sptfy.com/1KDy iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221 (For open collaboration details - read below)
Last summer I had the exciting privilege to meet a very special person - David Klavins (@ThePianoGuy), the creator of two unique pianos: The Giant and Una Corda. A gentle power and a shimmering dream. An old wise ocean and a sweet youthful fantasia. Northern Lights and Eternal Rainbow. I am trying to find the right words to express it as I literally got lost when I touched The Giant and Una Corda. I was trapped in the fairy tale where elves are playing their magical harps in a Shimmering Forest.
When I came back to reality, the enchantment followed me all the way home and I let it touch the keys and create its magic, loving and improvisational, romantic and jazzy. This is how Una Corda Fantasia album was born. For you to listen and enjoy the dream.
- iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/una-corda-fantasia/id1083953221
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BPQT5DA
- BandCamp: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/una-corda-fantasia
These days David is building the new Giant (http://klavins-pianos.com/b/mod450_en.htm), a new incredible piano. You can be a part of it by buying “Una Corda Fantasia” - all the proceeds from the online sales will be donated to support the creation of the new Giant. Thank you and enjoy the music!
You can download this track (60 bpm) and remix, arrange, orchestrate it in any way you want. Please, drop me a message with the link to your version and I will add it to the playlist with all the versions of this track:
https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/sets/let-me-tell-you-a-story-open
Please, include the link back to this track in the description of your version, so others can discover it as well and support the creation of the new Giant.
If you want the original MIDI, you can download the WAV with the MIDI over here: http://www.milana.ws/audio/milana_una_corda_fantasia_let_me_tell_you_a_story.zip
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT5GHP69vno
Surprisingly, I was introduced to this song only a year ago and immediately fell in love with it. I knew I'd cover it one day and it feels to be the most appropriate day today to share it with you. I hope you'll enjoy this duet version of this romantic song by John Legend. Many thanks to Andrei Dreamspark for singing this song with me so beautifully and to my husband for the audio recording and shooting this video.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41-c7jgX0Gc
Rediscovering the beauty of the classical music. I played this very piece on my exams back then when I was in the 8th grade of a musical school. It was long-long-long time ago and I haven't played this piece ever since... until about a month ago when I decided to learn it again. Enjoy my performance of Edvard Grieg 's "Butterfly". I appreciate your subscribing to my YouTube channel :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAbvYeIevYA
I got an absolutely fantastic New Year present from my husband - Native Instrument's Komplete Ultimate! He also got Pro Tools for himself in addition to the Propellerhead Reason that we had before. This soundtrack is our first attempt to use both tools: for composing and production. Lots of things to learn, the possibilities are truly overwhelming! The instruments used on this track include two of my favorite pianos: The Giant and Una Corda
The video is a quick collage of royalty-free stock clips to accompany the soundtrack.
This song was born as an experiment - the first attempt in making some kind of a theatrical song, a crossover between different genres, a fusion of Bossa Nova jazz, piano jazz, dramatic orchestral and rock opera. It was also the first attempt to record a duet in our studio - together with a friend who got quite an operatic voice. We started recording it in.... August. Therefore the name and the theme that may sound a little bit off-season :) Enjoy!
Lyrics by Andrei Dreamspark and Milana Instrumental composition by Milana Production by Arty Sandler (@artyom-tchebotaryov)
While the summer is on, come and join it! While the bottle is full, sun will brighten its spots, We will sparkle and share sweetest memories... On the sand, as we stand we may leave, we may stay...
Not to judge, just the waves and discovery. Not a mystery, not a romance, just a friend, just a soul to be close to... Not a frame, not to blame on the wine...
Sea will whisper to sand all its secrets, As we tell our own to the skies... Just two strangers who met in the sunset With the sea and the sun in our eyes.
One said: "We will not live forever And neither the sun, nor the sand. This bottle that brought us together - We'll finish it soon and forget...
Our life is a joke of creation, We seem to be strong and so smart, But once we are born we will perish, We know it just right from the start.
This beautiful sunset and birds in the sky, Why time cannot stop at this moment? I come every evening and wait for the stars, Starlight is eternity prophet.
It travels for millions and billions of years And brings us the news from the journey, Our life's just a twinkle in his endless road... Starlight is my friend till the morning."
The other was answering: "Surely, my friend, Our life is so short, no objections! But think of this beautiful mind we get To look at the world of creation.
I am drinking the sunshiny wine with you And lost in this wondrous sunset! The breeze and the waves are the ultimate truth, Just open your mind and grasp it!
We don't need eternity to understand Whatever we want is right here! I travel the world and wherever I get The beauty is shining so clear...
Up high in the mountains and here by the sea Each moment is sacred forever, Let's cheer for the sunset and share the dream! We'll wait for the starlight together."
I hope you'll enjoy this second Fantasia played using Una Corda VST piano (invented and created by David Klavins @thepianoguy), which is available at Native Instruments (http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keys/una-corda/).
Here is the first Fantasia: https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/una-corda-fantasia-1-by-milana
Here is the first time I "met" Una Corda in real life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86cgWIvv00Q (alas, just a camcorder recording)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)
If you haven't seen it yet, here is the recent animation family project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=shD0pWA0zPI
Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shD0pWA0zPI
I would love to wish you all happy upcoming holidays! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :-) I am happy to announce the release of my new piano album "Spirit of Journey". The album is available on iTunes, Amazon, BandCamp, CDBaby, Spotify and other major online stores and streaming services. I have a short lot of CDs to sign if you want a personal copy ;-) Your support is very much appreciated, all the earnings from album sales go back into the creation of music: new and better recording equipment, new and better composing tools and sound libraries and so on.
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/spirit-of-journey/id1064667349 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Journey-Milana/dp/B01943TAV8/ BandCamp: http://milana.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-of-journey CDBaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/milana16 Spotify: http://player.spotify.com/album/02wPOQls7XEwlUnUBuxwHi
We hope you enjoy this little animation, which was made by our family team: illustrations are drawn by my daughter, animation is created by my husband and the soundtrack is composed by truly yours :-)
What would it be if you make a piano sound like a harp? What an enchanting, dreamy vibration can it produce, a touch of fantasia.
I had an exciting privilege to play this piano (invented and created by David Klavins @thepianoguy) in real life last summer. I am happy that I can play it again today in its "virtual" form (http://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keys/una-corda/).
I hope you will enjoy this "Una Corda Fantasia" (free download)
Live Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvr7fhTi4Mk New album: https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-of-journey
Please enjoy my improvisational tribute for one of the maestros - for Bach. I appreciate subscriptions to my YouTube channel ;-)
I'd also like to announce the upcoming release (18th of December!) of my 4th original piano album "Spirit of Journey". The album will be available as a digital album on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.
The album is available on BandCamp already, both as a digital album and on CD! I will gladly sign the first ordered copies :) https://milana.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-of-journey
Whenever I start improvising, I am taken on a journey. Melodies and harmonies constantly move and while they do, they let me create scenes from places I've never been to. Yet, the music has the spirit that unites and translates all of that to the listener.
I invite you to share the spirit of this journey with me. This piano album is about a constant movement, dynamic rhythms and rich harmonies on the edge of jazz and rock. Cinematic soundtracks will take you to mysterious gardens, detective stories, a maze of surreal dreams and a moonlight stroll.
With huge thanks to my husband and family. They are my own spirit, my journey, my music.
Yours, M.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsTAEgNPLY0
Those distant worlds out there, what dawns they see, what music do they hear? Hope you enjoy this spacey soundtrack.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os5luKy0s1U
Please enjoy my improvisation on "Etude-Tableau (op. 33, no. 8)" by Rachmaninoff. I appreciate your comments and sharing my music with others!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C2ET1aiBOA
Beware of the ghosts in the basement these days! May your Halloween be spooky but in a fun way :) Enjoy this video made by Arty for two soundtracks we composed together (the opening "Weight of the world" and the following "Night in the Basement" spooky soundscape)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6ihLmPUk8A
October, falling leaves, flaming colors, the most melancholic time of the year. Please enjoy my improvisation on "October" by Tchaikovsky. I appreciate your comments and sharing my music with others!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDLCCWl2ve4 TV Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn4X1FUf_s0
Been busy lately: teaching, session recordings, preparing for an interview on a TV show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn4X1FUf_s0). So, didn't have much time for composing & recording anything new. However, I so loved the short melodic motif given to me by one of the hosts on that TV show , that I decided to record another improvisation on that same motif. Hope you enjoy this autumnal piece.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXm18ruG1xc
This is not for Elise but for another person... This is not Beethoven, but inspired by him a lot... ... This is not the first time I improvise on "Fur Elise": https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/not-fur-elise-tribute-milana ... but this is the first time I record it with video on my grand piano :)
If you enjoyed this improvisational take of mine, please subscribe to my YouTube channel :) I very much appreciate it :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2DyqBf_pIE
Reaching out seems to be one of the most difficult challenges for an artist. Reaching out other people, their interest, their ears, their souls..
Alas, I haven't been able to reach out sight-reading pianists for the "Accidental Etudes" contest. I haven't received a single entry in over three months. Disappointed...
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52O0xu60-Hc Please vote: http://indi.com/t/3C697232 :)
For a change, Arty and me decided to compose something different. Something as different as it was with "Popcorn Blues" (https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/popcorn-blues-video-milana-and-arty). So... no piano this time :) But lots of brass, strings, woodwinds - a soundtrack to accompany Mad Hatter's Tea Party from "Alice in Wonderland". Hope you will enjoy it :) And hope you will enjoy the film as well - Arty shot it last weekend, starring our kids, himself and our cat. This time it was filmed as a theatrical act, with costumes and some "decorations" :)
On another note.. please support us and vote for one of the previous films we posted: http://indi.com/t/3C697232 :) Thank you!
Spotify: sptfy.com/93U YouTube: youtube.com/MilanaZilnik
Getting back to routine after the vacation: students, practicing, composing new soundtracks. Arty got himself a new hobby: to shoot some short films for the soundtracks. Here is his latest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqHmSuOLi94 for the soundtrack we recorded a couple years ago. Working on a new soundtrack for Mad Hatter's Tea Party scene - an orchestral score with brass, strings, woodwinds.
Meanwhile, here is a little improvisation from me. Not an acoustic one :) Just recorded it from keyboard while having a break from composing the mentioned above soundtrack.
What else... so far, haven't received any entry to the "Accidental Etudes" contest and the deadline is in 9 days.. which is somehow disappointing, but, oh well..
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXEU2XH_sjs
Could I ever have imagined that one day I am going to play on this unique piano? I don't think so... It was something unimaginable... yet it happened...I just returned from one week vacation - it was like a dream... To come to Germany and Austria and visit musical places, which are so important to me - Beethoven's and Mozart's places... to meet many great musicians, whom I've got to know through SoundCloud... to meet David Klavins (https://soundcloud.com/thepianoguy) and touch the unique pianos he makes: Una Corda - a unique piano, sounding like a harp to my ears, enchantingly bright and ambient the same time. And, of course, The Giant - the largest piano in the world with bass strings stretching over 3 meters from the floor to the top! What a sound, what a power, what a sea of harmonies! No camcorder recording can make it justice, alas.. I can only hope that one day I will get a chance to touch it again and record it properly. Still, I want to share with you the joy I had while meeting The Giant...
I haven't played any particular compositions but mostly improvised on some motifs from famous compositions and from my humble pieces. This track is my very first improvisation on The Giant, kind of saying "I hear you" like in Avatar movie :-) If you want to hear more, you can follow to the video on YouTube that contains 40 minutes of improvisations on The Giant. An approximate list is below: 0:05 - "Milana meets the Giant", a free improvisation to meet this piano. 6:00 - an improvisation on motifs from my song "Close to you" 10:45 - an improvisation on motifs from my piano composition "Waltz of a dying candle" 16:00 - an improvisation on motifs from my song "Desperately lonely" 21:00 - a free jazzy improvisation 25:40 - an improvisation inspired by Chick Corea and my own jazzy pieces from the album "Frozen Dream" 31:30 - an improvisation on "The heart asks pleasure first" by Michael Nyman from "The Piano" movie 37:30 - "Not Fur Elise" - an improvisation on Beethoven's famous piece :)
About a month ago Kyle DeMay (https://soundcloud.com/kylster3378) messaged me and asked if I can sing this song that was born from Cassie DeMay's (Kyle's daughter) poem that she wrote back in 2003 at the age of 14. I recorded both vocals and back vocals and also played some piano :)
Same track on Kyle's cloud: https://soundcloud.com/kylster3378/i-stand-by-you-milana-zilnik-vocals-and-keyscassie-demay-lyrics
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o_O9mTnuTg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZilnikMilana
Being inspired by soundtracks of "Interstellar" and "Terminator", composed this piece together with my husband. He spent four days with our daughter shooting & producing this music video.
The video tells the story about a girl in some post-apocalyptic world and her memories of the bright and colorful past that was.... May it never happen in real life..
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRRYrfPEISc Contest: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/
On this video I am performing my composition "Feel my pain" that is included in my very first musical scores book. Do you want to play it too? :) Join the contest and win some prizes!
The book can be purchased on BandCamp, CreateSpace and Amazon: • https://milana.bandcamp.com/merch/accidental-etudes-sheet-music • https://www.createspace.com/4808139 • http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Etudes-Sheet-Milana-Zilnik/dp/1499563493/
I invite you to play my compositions from this book, video record your performance and put it on YouTube. Selected scores can be downloaded from the contest page for free, i.e. no purchase of the book is required to enter this contest (although, very much appreciated!), you can choose to play and record a composition found in this free PDF:
http://milana.ws/scores/Milana%20-%20Accidental%20Etudes%20-%20Free.pdf
Submit your entry (or entries) using the form on the contest page:
http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes
till 31st of August, 2015, 11:59pm ET. During the first week of September (2015) I will select the TOP10 entries and let the online audience choose the TOP3 winners:
• 1st prize: 3 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD, 1 “Frozen Dream” CD, 1 “Filling the Emptiness” CD... and $200 Amazon Gift Card (restrictions apply)! • 2nd prize: 2 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD and 1 “Frozen Dream” CD. • 3rd prize: 1 “Accidental Etudes” book and “Accidental Etudes” CD.
All books and CDs will be signed by me. You can choose whom you want them to be signed to (e.g. if you want to give them as a present to someone). You can also substitute any CD with any other album of mine. For the full list of contest rules: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes/rules
For the updates you may want to join this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/
It's always a pleasure to work with Michael Orzek (@lando-orz). Funny, how we do it in turns: either Mike adding his guitar magic to my original piano compositions or songs or me adding piano line to Mike's original compositions. This piece is composed and produced by Mike. Here the same track on Mike's cloud: https://soundcloud.com/lando-orz/though-i-walk-featuring-milana
Michael Orzek: acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, mandolin, acoustic drums, drum programming.
From Mike's cloud:
Music has an amazing ability to attach itself to our memories and emotions. I originally recorded this song in 2010 (less the piano and electric guitars) at a time when I was very ill with a yet to be diagnosed disease, POEMS Syndrome. At the time of those recording sessions I was suffering from pain and weakness as the disease was attacking my peripheral nerves. Though it was difficult to perform the instruments, particularly the acoustic drums, I was determined to compose this song in spite of my deteriorating condition. I was finally diagnosed in the months after the original recordings and have been through radiation therapy, relapse, and chemo and stem cell transplant in 2012. I would occasionally listen to the demo recording and be instantly transported to those feelings and emotions I felt during those days. I knew that I wanted to complete the song, but would never feel like I was ready to re -immerse myself in the emotional memories it stirred in me. Until now.
The title “Though I Walk” is double entendre, highlighting the reality of having had to be pushed in a wheelchair or using a walker and a cane to get around, and a reference to Psalm 23 “…though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil…”
Photo Credits: Skarphéðinn Þráinsson @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/skarpi/4019918303/in/faves-109402094@N04/
Spotify: sptfy.com/93U Facebook: fb.me/ZilnikMilana YouTube: youtube.com/MilanaZilnik
Just a little piano improvisation - the way I like to relax :)
If you play piano and know sight-reading, I invite you to take part in my contest: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes If you know somebody who might be interested - please let them know, much appreciated! :)
Animation: https://youtu.be/13FwDnwyjy0
First of all, it's not blues :) It's an oxymoron - popcorn's not bluesy at all, more like funky. But I found this to be funny, to pun around this contrast and call it "blues" :)
It must be the most goofy, silly and crazy soundtrack that we've ever created. Both me and Arty are big fans of Futurama, so one day we decided to make a soundtrack for some kind of a not-released-yet cartoon trailer: goofy, strange, bizarre but , hopefully, fun enough to bring a smile to your face :)
So, I played around on keys and came up with this rhythmic pattern and we recorded it using Marimba (or was it Kalimba? I can't remember). Then I put two synth lines on top of it. Arty programmed all other percussion: toms, bass drums, cymbal crashes and some other percussive effects.... and then he decided to record some goofy vocals - one take only for each of the vocal lines.
Did it end there? Nope! Arty also decided to create his very first animation ever. We both hope you like the result :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXEskByrXTg Contest: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/
On this video I am performing my composition "Waltz of a dying candle" that is included in my very first musical scores book. Do you want to play it too? :) Join the contest and win some prizes!
The book can be purchased on BandCamp, CreateSpace and Amazon: • https://milana.bandcamp.com/merch/accidental-etudes-sheet-music • https://www.createspace.com/4808139 • http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Etudes-Sheet-Milana-Zilnik/dp/1499563493/
I invite you to play my compositions from this book, video record your performance and put it on YouTube. Selected scores can be downloaded from the contest page for free, i.e. no purchase of the book is required to enter this contest (although, very much appreciated!), you can choose to play and record a composition found in this free PDF:
http://milana.ws/scores/Milana%20-%20Accidental%20Etudes%20-%20Free.pdf
Submit your entry (or entries) using the form on the contest page:
http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes
till 31st of August, 2015, 11:59pm ET. During the first week of September (2015) I will select the TOP10 entries and let the online audience choose the TOP3 winners:
• 1st prize: 3 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD, 1 “Frozen Dream” CD, 1 “Filling the Emptiness” CD... and $200 Amazon Gift Card (restrictions apply)! • 2nd prize: 2 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD and 1 “Frozen Dream” CD. • 3rd prize: 1 “Accidental Etudes” book and “Accidental Etudes” CD.
All books and CDs will be signed by me. You can choose whom you want them to be signed to (e.g. if you want to give them as a present to someone). You can also substitute any CD with any other album of mine. For the full list of contest rules: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes/rules
For the updates you may want to join this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/
Same day I recorded this piece by Matthias Andrä (@tunesma) https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik/like-magic-by-matthias-andra-played-by-milana as it is, I also recorded an improvised version where I followed the main themes of the original but played them in a free improvisational form. Hope you like this version as well :)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOxgYAYvSD8 Contest: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/
I am thrilled to announce the release of the very first book with the musical scores of my piano compositions, included in my piano album “Accidental Etudes”! On this video I am performing my composition "Uneasy Etude" that is included in this book.
The book can be purchased on BandCamp, CreateSpace and Amazon: • https://milana.bandcamp.com/merch/accidental-etudes-sheet-music • https://www.createspace.com/4808139 • http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Etudes-Sheet-Milana-Zilnik/dp/1499563493/
I invite you to play my compositions from this book, video record your performance and put it on YouTube. Selected scores can be downloaded from the contest page for free, i.e. no purchase of the book is required to enter this contest (although, very much appreciated!), you can choose to play and record a composition found in this free PDF:
http://milana.ws/scores/Milana%20-%20Accidental%20Etudes%20-%20Free.pdf
Submit your entry (or entries) using the form on the contest page:
http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes
till 31st of August, 2015, 11:59pm ET. During the first week of September (2015) I will select the TOP10 entries and let the online audience choose the TOP3 winners:
• 1st prize: 3 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD, 1 “Frozen Dream” CD, 1 “Filling the Emptiness” CD... and $200 Amazon Gift Card (restrictions apply)! • 2nd prize: 2 “Accidental Etudes” books, 1 “Accidental Etudes” CD and 1 “Frozen Dream” CD. • 3rd prize: 1 “Accidental Etudes” book and “Accidental Etudes” CD.
All books and CDs will be signed by me. You can choose whom you want them to be signed to (e.g. if you want to give them as a present to someone). You can also substitute any CD with any other album of mine. For the full list of contest rules: http://milana.ws/contest/accidentaletudes/rules
For the updates you may want to join this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/438280656330585/