EPK

When Morning Comes is a music album; however, it is also akin to a photo album. Each song is like a frame, a “frozen” moment in time, a portrait of an event and a photograph of an emotional state. The photos are not of vast endless landscape, they are those miniature moments in life. The central emotional theme, running throughout the album and receiving various perspectives in each song, is the longing for a genuine connection among people. Moreover, the songs reflect on our ability to truly connect: how can we deeply see and feel others, and have others see and feel us?

It is an album that describes a young woman’s journey toward finding her space in the world, with herself and with others and at the same time keeping a strong sense of independence. She doesn’t apologize for wishing comfort in the closeness of other people and yet is ready to face the world on her own.

Similarly, the album weaves together songs that were written in various ways, independently as well as collaboratively, but the collection of songs creates a unique whole that delivers the message. The lyrics come from diverse sources: Mika wrote some of them; others were collaborations of different sorts or derived from poetry. The music is mostly written by Mika but has a significant contribution from arranger and musical director Hadar Noiberg, who has been a key figure in creating the album. For example, she composed Rain Forest (Ya’ar Hageshem), written for Mika by the well-known Israeli lyricist - Rachel Shapira. Hadar’s lush and creative arrangements gently enhance and uplift Mika’s voice and expression, which is as powerful as it is fragile.

Producer Matt Pierson is the one to bring it all together, creating an album out of the individual photos. Matt managed to maintain each song in its own landscape, while connecting between them and making sure that the message comes across.

The band includes some of New York City’s rising stars who are Mika’s long time collaborators and friends from her years of living and creating there: Hadar Noiberg on flutes, Nir Felder on guitar, Sam Yahel on piano/keyboards, Jonathan Levy on bass, Jordan Perlson on drums and Mika on piano and vocals.

They bring to the project their expertise and well-honed skills, as well as their keen care and deep involvement, which are apparent in their work. In addition, When Morning Comes, guest features a string quartet as well as trumpet, oboe and English horn.