Composing Illuminate – Spatial Composition in Dolby Atmos

“Illuminate” is the eighth and final piece on the record—a closing sentiment in every way. Co-written with my dear friend and longtime inspiration Francois Mulder, it’s the only moment on the album where English lyrics appear, arriving at the very end as a simple but powerful message: we can be the light for one another. The piece begins with a bass-driven foundation—electric bass, synth, and piano from Todd Pentney and Noam Lemish—over which Drew Jurecka’s violin introduces a gentle, spacious opening. From there, the music steadily expands: drums and bass at the front, organs and synths wrapping around the listener, a brass quartet entering and blooming into a fully immersive, orchestral-like soundscape.

Through-composed and constantly evolving, “Illuminate” builds to one of the record’s emotional peaks with Drew’s soaring solo and Derek Gray’s explosive yet controlled energy on drums, before dissolving into Todd’s synthesized world and the final vocal section. Francois, Joanna Majoko, and Joanna Muhammad layer choral, gospel-tinged harmonies that surround the listener like a choir of optimism. Framed by an improvised, atmospheric opening and Drew’s “harm cloud” of processed violins, the piece feels like a story whose beginning and end speak to each other. Ultimately, “Illuminate” is meant to leave you with a sense of gratitude, hope, and the quiet conviction that together, we can find our way.