Making: Higher Ground (feat. Naomi Wild)

Odesza never fails to place me into the chillest mood. Their music is so relaxing but at the same time so intense. The soft tones and nature-inspired sounds really give that Odesza sound that I love. Even though it is from a previous album, Echoes instrumental is probably one of my favorites because it just captures what I think Odesza does best, which is bringing us into another world while listening to their music. Great job guys.

This KEXP version of "Higher Ground" is so simple and stunningly beautiful. It brought my fiance and I to tears as we heard it together. I'm a professional cellist, composer and arranger. So.... I transcribed it out for my October 2018 wedding and it's what I walked into. I had a live string quartet playing, a mixdown recording of myself playing the keyboard part, multiple recorded brass lines for the ending, and the vocal line covered sublimely by a professional oboist friend (because completely pointless trying to find a perfect silken voice like Naomi). I initially had all the percussion parts in the mixdown too, but removed them. I thought it would be lacking without the funky percussion but it wasn't... it was peaceful and beautiful just like the opening and ending. We both sobbed in joy as I walked to him and and together we found our higher ground. Love you Adam.

Absolutely love hearing these stories behind the actual track.

Who went to go listen to it again right after this

I am a videographer and whenever I listen to Odesza or watch videos like this I am inspired to be creative something about them makes me wanna make something

Wow this is amazing Naomi Wild is so so talented for coming up with that. I’m surprised how she first sang it in her demo is how it ended up that’s awesome

Love the insight to the creation process, captured and told beautifully. Awesome job guys!

This video gave the same goosebumps I had when I first listened to A Moment Apart. Keep the good job guys.

Naomi Wild is a also a musician as well as singer, songwriter, painter, and more...which a lot of people probably don't know. She doesn't toot her horn about her talents so I think I will. Hehehehe. She is very modest and humble and I hope we get to see her other giftedness as well. She is so kind to share with others her journey because she likes to see others happy and hopefully inspire them too go for it as well! Many artist don't. However, Thank you to Odesza who understand the creative process in that they know it has movement and flows and is limitless. Unlike most ALL other artist who want to keep it a secret or try to hold on to it for themselves so people think they are on a higher level. When they need to be on a higher ground.

Higher ground is definitely in the top 3 of my fav songs from you guys! I remember when it came out, I was out at lunch, pulled out my phone, stopped what I was doing, and jammed out to it!

Damn she went from being a fan in the crowd, to playing on stage! Inspiration!!

She has such a beautiful voice

To see such a humble soul like Naomi inspire these two guys to sit down and write music is lighting in a bottle. Hope she continues to inspire them long into the future.

Your music is so deeply inspirational to me. I’ve spent many days digging holes, pulling weeds, planting trees with your ethereal sound pulsing through my brain. It is as if you’ve captured the beauty of nature and life and mashed it into waves that we can all understand. Thank you for the experience....and PLEASE COME BACK TO ASHEVILLE, NC. We’re all waiting for you!

we officially declare this as the greatest collaboration of all time

"Getting In Touch With ODESZA Through Email - A Recreation"

Higher Ground’s my absolute favorite from the entire Album! ❤️ I can’t even count how many times I played it as my lullaby, while I’m walking down the city streets, while walking in circles around at night looking up to the stars. I love the song so much.

Seeing Odesza make their music is so beautiful it literally brings tears to my eyes.

I lost count of how many times this song has brought me to tears. The most beautiful song I have ever heard. Thank you universe for bringing it all together in a serendipitous way to bless us. 🙏🏼✨

Total goosebumps, thanks for sharing these insights into the collaborative process. Love the part about taking a song to a place you have never been before. That really resonated with me, got my spiritual juices flowing haha