Two years after Heart of a Mother, Douglas Firs' highly praised album about his late mother and his son born during that same period, he is ready with a follow-up: Happy Pt. 2. This record, alongside its melancholic themes, once again offers energy and hope. The sense of loss remains, but life goes on. Finding happiness again is possible after a while, but it will never be the same.
Gertjan Van Hellemont recorded 10 songs with his loyal band: bassist Simon Casier (Balthazar), drummer Laurens Billiet, brother Sem Van Hellemont, and Senne Guns on keyboards, with backing vocals by Roos Denayer (Rosa Butsi). But there's more to hear: pedal steel (Bart Vervaeck)! Saxophone (Wietse Meys)! A 16-piece Hungarian string orchestra! Even his now 3-year-old son Georges can be heard on the new Douglas Firs album.
Van Hellemont traveled to Los Angeles to mix the album with Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, Ray Lamontagne, Afghan Whigs), in the studio where Feist also completed her latest album. Fred Kevorkian (The White Stripes, The National) did the mastering in New York.
