"I'll Be Home" animated visualizer by Richard Noble

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Richard Noble is an animator who works in digitally painted landscapes and interpretive memories. His depiction of urban environments exist within a lucid yet “imagined” reality, where space is dramatically accented with expressive colors and a dreamlike glow. I first discovered his work through his film Wandaland (a Vimeo “Best of the Month” Staff Pick), a fantasia on American industry & obsession that utilized his skills as a scenic designer to great effect.

I had Noble’s work in mind when I imagined an animated visualizer for “I’ll Be Home,” our cover of the Randy Newman classic and a meditation on the new distances between family and friends in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. By offering the song as a gateway to whatever emotions/visuals were inspired by the arrangement and message of the lyrics, Richard crafted a deeply contemplative work of art that pairs with the lilting phrases of the saxophone and bittersweet instrumentation throughout.

As I put it in the liner notes, “…through performing his music and lyrics, I meditated on what the word “home” can mean. Even apart from one another, home can be something we build for others within our hearts, a sacred space that makes room for the burden or baggage that comes with loving someone. Newman's song spoke to a weary sadness I felt last year, but also to the grace of understanding we can offer each other when times are tough, and when we need it the most. This song speaks to that feeling for me, as if to say, "I'll leave the light on for you. I’ll be home."

“I’ll Be Home” music & lyrics by Randy Newman / Performed by Maggie Dave

Produced by Sean David Christensen and Mark Christopher / Mixed by Joey Messina-Doerning / Mastered by Trevor Case / Vocals - Sean David Christensen / Backing vocals & vocal arrangement - Tehillah Alphonso / Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin - John C. Schroeder / Keyboards - Magdalena Daniec / Saxophone - Daniel Weidlein / Bass - Adam Grab / Drums - Ryan McDiarmid

Artwork & animation by Richard Noble.