Tony Anderson - Skyline

Skyline is a love letter to Los Angeles.

My cowriter on this song, Dennis Hamm, is a phenomenal composer and keyboard player (Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Knower, Alice Smith). I played him my initial version of this song on the piano one night and asked him to help me break it out of its prison - my playing tends to be predictable and very "on the grid." Skyline, at that point, was pretty lifeless.

Dennis' playing is quite the opposite - full of color, unpredictable rhythms and spontaneous movement. Skyline is what emerged. Dennis recorded a single take at my upright piano while I moved the mics around and we kept that original recording. He came in earlier this year with his Nonlinear Labs C15 synthesizer and we embedded his synth material intricately within the piano recording. I couldn't resist topping the track off with the Prophet 10 from Sequential. So here we are...

Finally, a word on recording. I've been trying, for many years, to get a piano to sound as good recorded as it does when I actually sit down to play it. This is as close as I've come so far. AEA 440s were a big part of this. They are some of the largest ribbon microphones in production, and capture the sound pressure of the piano beautifully. I combined a stereo pair of 440s with 3 condenser microphones - a Mojave MA-200 and a stereo pair of Mojave 201 FETs. So this recording is a collaboration of 5 microphones. The ribbons picked up a large amount of low end and low midrange material, and I left it all in there simply because removing it thinned out the overall sound. I'll continue to hone this setup in my future work, but I was happy with how this one turned out.

Thanks for the support...

Tony

Written by Tony Anderson and Dennis Hamm
Piano and Synth Performed by Dennis Hamm
Mixed by Tony Anderson

[johnwattson]

That song. It reminds me of my daughter every time I listen to it. She was born last May. She got sick right after Christmas. She passed away on January 2nd when she was only 7 months old. Every time I listen to this song I remember how much a smiling child she was. I know she's waiting for me somewhere.

[pisces]

Ascoltare la tua musica equivale a SENTIRE...un viaggio introspettivo dentro se stessi, dove è possibile riconnettersi con la parte più profonda del nostro essere per poi riscoprire quella sensazione di pace a volte dimenticata e che spesso la musica riesce a donare. Il tuo è un grande dono, saper entrare nell' anima delle persone lo è, e chi sa ascoltare riscopre il suo di dono.. Grazie

[christianeackers]

dear Tony
I want to wish you and beloved ones a merry christmas and a great 2024 and most of all
I want to say thank you for your heartwarming beautiful music!
for me it is the discovery of the year
finding this music
❤❤❤🎉

[DanielBastionMusic]

Tony as a fan of your music, your composition (and PLAYING!) your recording technique and style just the overall vibe and aesthetic you gift to us and the world....this is just incredible. Thank you, as always, for the beautiful sounds.

[lucreciajean]

I remember when this song first came out a couple months ago. I was lying in my bed frustrated with anxiety and insomnia. It was 3am when I came across Tony's release of Skyline. I fell asleep after listening to it. His music is always so mesmerizing.

[alvisesenatore]

I was having a difficult time with myself. I opened youtube and your song came up. I opened it, closed my eyes, listened. For the first time in a whole day, I felt my heart open and my mind empty. I felt cleansed, free, safer. Thank you Tony, as always. You're a beautiful person.

[kevinalejandro-ko]

I'm trying to be mature an quit the hate in my person, this melody is helping me to have my own reflection and relaxing.

Thanks and I will try to be kind and love my neighbor as myself.

[yuriyminaev]

Fantastic! It's like sitting next to you and peering into the city lights. Music brings the soul to a transcendental state! Thank you and God bless you!👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏👍

[scull]

This song stirs my soul. There are many songs that make up my life’s sound track, I am adding Skyline to the list.

[Johnskeys]

As a born and raised 'Angelino' I appreciate this track so much. Although, you don't have to be from LA to appreciate it. Its elegant, soothing and just beautiful. I miss my LA. Thank you, Tony!

[Sunset-town]

To write great music is one thing. To write music capable of extracting deeply held emotions bathe with serenity, is quite another. That's what your music do, and in my case, they are my inspiration when I write. Everytime I think I have finished writing, you release another gem. Thank you for making us discover more.

[heidicuda]

Thank u Toni. Ur a gift that keeps on giving. Ur music adds to my life! 👍👌🏼😀🏆

[AlexSnow]

Listening to your music always feels like coming back home. Another gem.

[lulubello]

Gracias 🫂❤️ por tu música es explendida
I love You Tony Anderson 😌❤️

[theLORDismystrengthandmyshield]

hoffe dir geht es gut mein Freund; danke für deiner Mühe mit uns durch deine Musik; shabbat shalom

[amosadedoyin]

If I meet you, I'd ask which angel is your muse Tony 😃, your music has and produces energy. This particular one produces feelings of renewal, sublime appreciation of the now, gratitude, hope, and remembrance of past experiences.

[valenciajames]

Hello, Tony...
Your creation has taken me on another mesmerizing flight...

[serafima]

Спасибо Тони, слушала с удовольствием.💐

[TheFrankk]

Tony, when I hear your music I feel as I would be in the better world. I feel nothing negative, everything seems to me perfect. Thank you

[widowido]

Merci pour ce moment de partage !
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