Am I even near the sporty rock ballpark?!

[Phuovine]

I'm trying and learning something new again as I'm trying to produce tracks for this listing:
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Lots of ROCK INSTRUMENTAL CUES (in a wide range of styles) are needed for SPORTS PROGRAMMING by a very active EXCLUSIVE Music Licensing Company that gets a ton of placements for TAXI members.

This Library is on the hunt for Instrumental Cues that could be found on a playlist with these references:

"Gonna Be a Big Man" by ikoliks

"Cheat Code" by Anton Vlasov

"Rectifier" by RocknStock

"Breath of Light" by AlexGrohl

Although a few of the references have some vocals mixed in, please submit INSTRUMENTAL CUES only for this opportunity! (No vocals, chants, shouts, "heys", etc.)

Please submit original Rock Instrumentals packed with exciting sounds, great guitar work, high-intensity motifs, and loads of energy! This Company needs a wide range of tracks, including everything from "Stomp-Clap" style tracks and Hard Rock to Rock Hybrid tracks with Hip-Hop influence or cinematic elements. Ultimately, the goal is an exhilarating and "pumped-up" sound that could help amplify the energy and anticipation in live sports TV programming. Powerful guitar riffs, hard-hitting rhythms, great production, and exciting arrangements with plenty of forward-moving development are all needed here. Instrumentation and production styles may vary, but your submissions should feature great-sounding electric guitar. Please make sure that any virtual instruments or samples you use are high-quality and not dated-sounding.
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I know guitars and rock but these reference tracks have all kinds of other stuff mixed in. I'm just not completely sure what! By now I've used way too much time to get this first track somewhere in the ballpark but I was hoping to hear opinions of the more experienced and informed.

Please, have a listen and steer me to the right direction:

https://www.taxi.com/members/jnb8FmKdQC ... -endurance

[Casey H]

Great track! What I think would make it better would be more production/arrangement variation on the motif as it gets very repetitive. The first ref track does that well.

exciting arrangements with plenty of forward-moving development are all needed here

JMHO. I'm a songwriter, not a cue guy. (Dammit, Jim!!! I'm a songwriter, not a cue-maker!!)

Casey

[Phuovine]

Yeah, another songwriter here struggling with this cue format. There's more and more layers to the end part but it's probably too subtle to really make an impact. Maybe I'll try to make a kind of "filtered down" bar between the bridge and the beef + some super dramatic reverb throws. Thanks Casey!

[Phuovine]

Ok, version number 2:

https://www.taxi.com/members/jnb8FmKdQC ... -endurance

I don't know about the mix yet. My ears are shot because of a flu. But I tried to ramp up the hype and excitement of the track. Waddaya think?

[Phuovine]

I thought I ran out of ideas to make it even more epic but I found a few more tricks. Here's my final version:

https://www.taxi.com/members/jnb8FmKdQC ... -endurance

[Phuovine]

Turns out I was in the right ballpark and I got a forward, woohoo!

[Casey H]

Congrats!!

[Phuovine]

Congrats!!

Thanks Casey! For the tips, too!