In The Pouring Rain is one of the most expansive and emotionally charged tracks on Chris Missen’s 2025 album, Saudade Stories. This epic 80s-inspired power ballad pairs soaring vocals and a soulful guitar solo with lush, layered keyboard textures, creating a soundscape full of longing and drama.

For the arrangement, I built three interwoven keyboard parts: Yamaha DX7 electric piano, a warm synth pad, and strings. These layers form the atmospheric foundation of the song, evoking the emotional weight of 80s ballads like Prince’s Purple Rain and the spacious textures of Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer, while also nodding to the haunting minimalism of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme.

Want to hear a stripped-down look at how the keyboard arrangement came together?
Check out the isolated keyboard version here.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Musicians:

Chris Missen - Vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, drum programming

Will Sketches - Electric Guitar

Lisha Kayrooz - Electric Piano, synth, strings