H E A V E N
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K N O W S
The Journey
“Heaven Knows is the culmination of a life’s work exploring the craft of songwriting, singing and much later the art of music arrangement, composition, production and sonics.
Creating this album has been an incredibly rewarding and equally challenging journey of creativity, learning and self-discovery, I have to admit, at times, I’ve nearly given up.
Over the course of writing and producing this record I have lost my voice, suffered hearing problems, repeatedly questioned my capability, broken my back (and narrowly escaped paralysis), cried, been frustrated, laughed, overcome obstacles, lost hope and regained it, sought perfection, relied on peoples kindness, suffered fools, felt undermined, felt empowered, felt lost then found inspiration again, felt completely overwhelmed and full of fear, maintained perseverance.
…and then, I found light at the end of this long tunnel… and suddenly it was finished.
I hope this album reflects this colourful spectrum of human emotions for those who listen to it.”
MICA MILLAR (ad logo)
Listen To
H E A V E N K N O W S
Track by Track Podcast
Mica talks about the writing and recording process track by track.
A heartfelt letter of gratitude...
When you embark on a journey such as this one, with little knowledge of the road ahead, people and their words of encouragement and wisdom are nothing less than essential.
At the start, I didn't know how many people would hold me up, devote their time, skills, knowledge and help me bring together all of the intricate pieces that would come to form Heaven Knows.
The ancient African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" springs to mind. And no doubt I am the mother of fifteen children each with a unique story about their birth, growth and journey into the world.
Here I write, one week before the album is due to be mastered at Abbey Road. The journey here has been a long one.
From
To those with the patients of saints...
Matthew Boone for your unwavering stability, commitment, dedication, generosity and very neatly laid out spreadsheets.
To Jasmine Allcock-Fox for your continued dedication to detail no matter how many tiny little revisions it took us to arrive at the stunning photography grades you accomplished.
To Gian Grainger for everything. You have been my rock from the very start. For understanding me, listening, creating magical settings and for the many many talking of glasses of wine in the middle of the night.
When you embark on a journey such as this one, with little knowledge of the road ahead, people and their words of encouragement and wisdom are nothing less than essential.
At the start, I didn't know how many people would hold me up, devote their time, skills, knowledge and help me bring together all of the intricate pieces that would come to form Heaven Knows.
The ancient African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" springs to mind. And no doubt I am the mother of fifteen children each with a unique story about their birth, growth and journey into the world.
Here I write, one week before the album is due to be mastered at Abbey Road. The journey here has been a long one.
From
To those with the patients of saints...
Matthew Boone for your unwavering stability, commitment, dedication, generosity and very neatly laid out spreadsheets.
To Jasmine Allcock-Fox for your continued dedication to detail no matter how many tiny little revisions it took us to arrive at the stunning photography grades you accomplished.
To Gian Grainger for everything. You have been my rock from the very start. For understanding me, listening, creating magical settings and for the many many talking of glasses of wine in the middle of the night.
Album Credits
Written, Arranged, Produced
and Performed by Mica Millar
Backing Vocals
Mica Millar, Angeli Sweeney, Ellie Hulme, Tsana Osborne,
Yvonne Shelton, Tara Morgan, Juliet Igodaro, Adisa Allen,
Jamie Turner-Millar, Dominic Lawson
Pianos & Electric Pianos
Marc Morrison, Mica Millar, Bobby Sparks, Colin Brown,
Ben Lee-Smith, Kim Turner
Organs
Marc Morrison, Colin Brown, Bobby Sparks,
Ricky Peterson, John Ellis
Guitars
Miles James, Jessie Barnes, Tom Fripp
Bass
Arran Powell, Vince Chiarito, Jerry Barnes, Brandon Rose
Drums & Percussion
Jonathan Tuitt, Jim Bertini, Josh Kaler
Drum Programming and Percussion
Mica Millar
Strings & Brass
Sam Davies, Josh Poole, George Burrage
String Arrangements
Mica Millar and Sam Davies (Flashlights)
Creative Team
Creative & Art Direction
Mica Millar & Matthew Boone
Album Artwork & Graphic Design
Mica Millar
Brand Consultant & Art Department
Gian Grainger
Sleeve Photography
Andrew Thomas
Additional Photography & Colour Grading
Jasmine Allcock-Fox
Technical Team
Mixing Engineers
Brian Malouf at Cooky Jar Studios
LA, USA
Vince Chiarito (More Than You Give Me)
Yvonne Ellis (My Lover)
Goldie, James Davidson and Kardanki
(The Defender)
Mastering Engineer
Geoff Pesch at Abbey Road Studio's
London, UK
Studio Engineers
Lead Engineer & Studio Pre-Production
Lewis Hopkins
Assistant Engineer
Andrew Thomas
Vocal, Strings & Overdubs Engineer
Mica Millar
Additional Engineering
Vince Chiarito
Recording Studio's
Middle Farm Studios
Devon, UK
Clockwork Studio's
Manchester, UK
Hive Mind Studio's
Brooklyn, NYC
Additional Arranging
David Z Rivkin (Fools Fate)
Additional Production
Goldie & James Davison (The Defender)
Single Sleeve Photographers
Andrew Thomas (Heaven Knows)
Jan Koblanski (Preacher Man & Down River)
Brandina Chisambo (Girl)
Dan Ollerhead (Nothing's For Keeps)
Jasmine Allcock-Fox (All Colour Grading & Retouching)
Music Video Creative Team
Creative Director & Executive Producer
Mica Millar
Art Director
Matthew Boone
Video Directors
Matthew Boone (Heaven Knows & More Than You Give Me),
Mica Millar (Preacher Man), Charlene Jones (Girl),
Craig McLaughlin (Nothing's For Keeps), Ricardo Battaglia (Down River)
Directors of Photography
Jan Koblanski (Preacher Man & More Than You Give Me & Down River)
Ben Hibbert (Heaven Knows), Abbi Timmins (Girl)
Dan Cooper (Nothing's For Keeps)
Editors
Matthew Boone (Heaven Knows & More Than You Give Me)
Mica Millar (Girl & Down River), Charlene Jones (Girl)
Mike TBC (Preacher Man), Craig McLaughlin (Nothing's For Keeps)
Producers
Mica Millar (All) & Ricardo Battaglia
(Preacher Man, Heaven Knows, Down River, Girl)
Music Video Crew
First Assistant Directors
Sarah Palmer (Heaven Knows), Jack Johnson (Preacher Man),
Lissie Simpson (Girl)
Movement Director
Dan Lauder (Heaven Knows & Preacher Man)
Production Manager
Jack Johnson (Heaven Knows, More Than You Give Me)
Art Department & Styling Director
Mica Millar
Art Department Manager
Gian Grainger (Heaven Knows, Girl),
Holly Duckworth (More Than You Give Me & Preacher Man)
Stylists
Holly Duckworth (Preacher Man, Girl, More Than You Give Me)
Zoe Wilson (More Than You Give Me)
Hannah Jeffs (Heaven Knows, More Than You Give Me)
Dress Designer
Dominic Milner (Nothing's For Keeps)
Make-up Artists
Natalie Mckay (More Than You Give Me & Nothing's For Keeps
Paula Maxwell (Heaven Knows)
Katie O'Connell & Charlotte McHale (Preacher Man)
Clarissa Crooks (Girl)
Frankie Barnwell (Down River)
Jib Operators
Alwyn Davies (Heaven Knows),
Jan Koblanski (More Than You Give Me)
Drone Operators
Jan Koblanski (Down River),
Joshua Leodorfman (Heaven Knows)
Sound Engineers
Lucinda Potter (Heaven Knows)
Rebecca Catlow (Girl, Preacher Man, Nothing's For Keeps,
More Than You Give Me)
Gaffers
Owen Tuson (Girl & Nothing's For Keeps),
Ferdia De Buitléar (Heaven Knows)
Assistant Producers
Jess Adams, Niamh Barley, Jack Johnson
Camera Assistants
Andy Perch (Preacher Man)
Khulu Khabo (Nothing's For Keeps)
Stylist Assistants
Chloe Urquhart (Heaven Knows)
Zoe Wilson (Girl)
Art Department Assistants
Kinga Covax (Preacher Man)
Enrique Tabone (Girl)
Makeup Assistants
Judith Sarah (Heaven Knows)
Jemma Walker (Girl, More Than You Give Me)
Production Assistants
Jamie Turner-Millar (Heaven Knows & Down River)
Kate James, Jake Metcalf, Matthew
Chandler, Chris Unboxed, Liban, Tom Edo (Heaven Knows)
BTS Photographers
Jack Johnson (Heaven Knows, More Than You Give Me,
Nothing's For Keeps)
Jasmine Allcock-Fox (More Than You Give Me)
Lissie Simpson & Zienab Berris (Girl)
Dan Ollerhead (Nothing's For Keeps)
Tom Edo (Heaven Knows, Preacher Man)
BTS Videographers
Jack Johnson
(Heaven Knows, More Than You Give Me, Nothing's For Keeps)
Various Crew (All)
Music Video Cast
Heaven Knows
Angeli Sweeney, Tsana Osborne, Ellie Hulme
(Backing Vocals)
Ben Lee-Smith (Upright Piano)
Jamada Roberts (Organ)
Joe Luckin (Drums)
Chris Rabbits (Bass)
Elliot Whittey (Guitar)
Girl
Angeli Sweeney & Ellie Hulme
(Backing Vocalists & Dancers)
Elise Crosdale, Holly Duckworth, Joey Taylor
(Dancers)
More Than You Give Me
Sean Ward & Jack Johnson (Male 1 & Male 2)
Preacher Man
Zirihi Zadi (Lead & Choreographer)
Watta Zadi, Jess Mendes, Anya Thompson, Charlie Paddock,
Luke Whitefoot, Tia Holden (Dancers)
Made with Thanks To
James Plant & Kat Brown at Albert Hall, Manchester
Tom Henderson, Owen Tuson & Vector Project, Stockport
Futureworks, Salford
Lisa Coley & Sontronics Microphones
Cleo & Diabless Rum
Pauline Sedwick & Grandeco Wallfashion Group
Lefteris Angelidis, Ana Duran & Visual Architects