This marks the final instalment in my behind-the-scenes series of isolated keyboard performances from Chris Missen’s 2025 album, Saudade Stories. We’ve come full circle. This is where the video series began—and where it wraps up—with Shitfaced and Shameless, now revisited in a new version featuring both piano and organ.

This fresh take adds another layer to the Southern Rock ballad, letting the piano and organ trade lines, reinforce each other, and create a more immersive texture. I wanted the interplay between the two instruments to feel organic and soulful.

There’s still plenty of gospel, blues, and country in the DNA of this arrangement, but the added depth of the organ part dials up the drama and brings a new emotional dimension that wasn’t present in the previous solo piano version.

That comes down to the wide range of tonal variation you can achieve on the Hammond organ compared to the piano—it’s like the difference between an acoustic and an electric guitar. I used varying Leslie speaker speeds and drawbar settings to shape the tone across sections—pulling back for a mellow, haunting texture in some moments, then pushing up the grit and brightness when things got more emotionally charged.

For the piano part, I leaned into influences like Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, and Chuck Leavell, especially to bring out the Southern Rock ballad vibe with touches of blues, gospel, and country. The organ part deepens the gospel feel while introducing elements of soul.

I always find it fascinating to hear keyboard parts on their own—there’s something so raw and revealing about it. Once the full track is out, you’ll be able to compare this version to the final mix and hear how it all came together. (I’ll include a link when it becomes available.)

Listening to isolated keyboard tracks from other players has been a huge part of my own musical development, so I hope you’ve found this series not just interesting, but educational and creatively inspiring. Thanks for following along.

🎹 Interested in learning how to play or create piano or organ parts like this? I offer customised lessons that focus on real-world musicianship—from playing in different popular styles and improvisation to songwriting and arranging. Contact me to find out more or book a free consultation.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Piano and organ parts composed and performed by Lisha Kayrooz