Interview with Gideon unna
Naomi Shapira’s vocals and layered harmonies bring intimacy to a song with a big spiritual premise
I like the lightness of touch on “Heaven Is Here”. The acoustic guitar, easy rhythm and layered vocals give Gideon Unna’s songwriting room to move without making its message feel weighty. There’s a clear affection for the melodic generosity of 1960s folk pop, with Naomi Shapira’s voice bringing the song’s optimism into focus.
Guitar and percussion keep things moving beneath the harmonies, giving a lyric about appreciating the present a relaxed physical rhythm. Written initially on guitar, then developed with Lior Medan through AI assisted production, the song retains an intimate character. My favourite choice is the emphasis on vocal warmth which creates a generous setting for a message that could easily become overbearing.
Interview with Giddeon unna - Heaven Is Here – The Story Behind the Song
1. What came first when you picked up the guitar, the melody or the central idea?
The melody and the harmony came together naturally. The lyrics gradually took shape during the creative process, evolving alongside the music until they reached their final form.
2. Which part of the original guitar version survived unchanged?
The harmony and the melody remained exactly the same as in the original version. The main difference is that the final backing track is AI-generated rather than performed with live instruments. That's really the biggest change between the original guitar version and the finished recording.
3. What did Lior bring to the arrangement that surprised you?
Lior is truly a master of artificial intelligence. He has an incredible understanding of the technology and is also involved in developing AI ventures and startups in the high-tech industry. The creative instructions and settings he gave the AI software took the arrangement to a whole new level. I was absolutely blown away by the results. I really, really loved what he created.
4. How did you decide where AI could help the production?
Using artificial intelligence was an experiment, and it turned out to be a successful one. Normally, I don't connect with AI-generated music as much, because I prefer the warmth and authenticity of live instruments. But in this particular song, everything just clicked. The AI-generated arrangement fit the music perfectly, and I felt that it really worked.
5. What made Naomi the right voice for this song?
Naomi's mother actually recommended her to me. I didn't even hold an audition. I just heard her sing one line in a short recording on the phone, and that was enough for me. Then we went into the studio, and everything came together beautifully. The result was absolutely perfect.
6. How much freedom did she have to reshape the vocal melody?
Naomi came into the project with an open mind. She had learned the song and was already familiar with it. Yoav Asif did an amazing job producing and guiding her vocal performance in his studio. He brought out the best in her while staying quite faithful to the original melody. The result was beautiful and very true to the spirit of the song.
7. What did recording at Yoav’s home studio bring out in the performance?
Yoav brought his expertise in vocal tracking, mixing, and mastering to the song. He did an excellent job on every level, capturing Naomi's vocals beautifully and giving the final production a polished, professional sound. I'm extremely happy with the result.
8. How did you choose the balance between the harmonies and the instruments?
The balance between the vocal harmonies and the instruments came mainly from the AI-generated arrangement that Lior created, together with Yoav's mixing. In a way, Lior's arrangement dictated the overall musical balance. Unlike my previous recordings, where I was much more involved in the production process, this time I barely touched anything. I trusted their work and was very happy with the result.
9. What would you want a devoted Lennon fan to take from your response to “Imagine”?
John Lennon was a giant, and I love him very much. But my question is: why not imagine heaven right here on Earth? Why imagine a world without a higher purpose or meaning when we can imagine a world that is itself a paradise, filled with purpose, meaning, and spiritual connection? That's the idea behind "Heaven Is Here." It's not about rejecting Lennon's vision, but offering another perspective.
10. How do you write about gratitude without making difficult days sound easy?
Sometimes I deliberately choose to look away from the bad things in life and create my own little paradise. It makes life easier for me. And most of the time, I genuinely see the good around me. I feel that life is pleasant, that the world is beautiful, and that there is so much to be grateful for. I'm not denying that suffering exists. I simply choose to focus on the beauty of life. That's my way of finding heaven here on Earth.
11. What did finishing this song teach you about writing for another singer?
I often write songs with the intention of having other people sing them. But in this particular case, I originally wrote the song for myself. I tried singing it, but somehow it just didn't work as well as I had hoped. Then Naomi came along and delivered a fantastic vocal take. She really brought the song to life, and I absolutely love the final result. Sometimes a song simply needs the right voice to reach its full potential.
Singer-Songwriter, Composer & Music Producer
Heaven Is Here – Featuring Naomi Shapira
(•)> That's all, Folks! Check it out on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist