Do you hear any developmental arc or textural changes in this reference?

[BrianSteel]

Here is the reference track for the listing for SYNTH DRONE INSTRUMENTAL CUES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-DjyexDQdI

Here is my song:

https://www.taxi.com/members/E2BuvMraQv ... l-of-dread

I got a return which stated:

what I like most about the song:
Great track length and the dreadful mood is present.

the song could be improved by:
I think we can develop this more. It would be subtle overall, and have some texture changes.

I returned the song because:
Developmental arc could use more work.

I think it's splitting hairs but what do you think? I don't hear much change in texture or developmental arc in the reference.
Do you understand what "it would be subtle overall" means? What textural changes are lacking as compared with the reference?
I appreciate any feedback because I am scratching my head on this.

Here is the listing:

SYNTH DRONE INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a very successful boutique Music Library that's distributed by Universal for placements in Promotions, Advertising, and other TV Programming.

This is a catalog you want to be in! Please listen to the following references to get yourself in the general wheelhouse of what they need:

"It’s Your Turn" by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

"Everything Burns" by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

"Memory Destroyer" by Christophe Beck

"Electric Grounds" by Cryo Chamber

Quoting the Library: "Instruments should not sound like Omnisphere 2.0 - instead, I encourage composers to create some custom-made textures."

Please send them well-produced Drone Instrumental Cues that evoke an overall unsettling moody vibe and feel. Your submissions should have state-of-the-art synths, minimal melodic movement, and stick to a singular idea throughout to keep your Cues cohesive. Incorporating some extra instrumentation (like sparse percussion, pulsing bass notes or pads, muted, cinematic sound design elements, etc.) could work to add a subtle sense of forward motion, but please be sure not to over do it! Less is more for these types of Instrumental Cues. Please be sure your productions are polished, and any and all virtual sounds you use are high-quality and cutting edge.

All submissions should be about 2 minutes long, give or take. Good edit points and non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings are required. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, texture, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.

NOTE: This company has a strong preference for composers who understand music licensing companies and how typical music library deals are structured. Go ahead and submit to this opportunity if that's you! Also, if you're an experienced producer that can deliver the goods in this genre, they're especially interested in hearing what you can do!

This Music Library offers an EXCLUSIVE deal with a cool twist. You’ll keep 50% of all gross income generated by your music, plus you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share income generated by your PRO. In other words, if the company licenses your music under a blanket deal, you’ll get income. If they license it for a YouTube video, you’ll get income. Not all music libraries pay you for things like that! The Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share.

Because this is an Exclusive deal, the music you submit for this pitch cannot already be signed with other Libraries or Publishers. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Composition rights. Please send as many Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, April 19th, 2023. TAXI # S230419DR

[Paulie]

Yeah, this listing and the subsequent returns have been a little bit of a hot issue. The references do not have much of a developmental arc in the traditional sense of the word. Very difficult in the drone genre.

[Telefunkin]

The link to your track doesn't work.

All the ref tracks keep changing and evolving in subtle ways (apart from abrupt stops that are probably to match the screen action). You never think 'Oh I've heard this now and I know what's coming next', and instead you feel like you're slowly moving to somewhere else. I think its done particularly well in the last ref track where there's also a bit of randomness in the crackling. You barely notice that the track is changing, but when you get to about 6m flick back in lumps of 20s or so and you can hear that its never static. I can't hear it from your link, but does your track give a similar sense of subtle progression?

[BrianSteel]

The link to your track doesn't work.

All the ref tracks keep changing and evolving in subtle ways (apart from abrupt stops that are probably to match the screen action). You never think 'Oh I've heard this now and I know what's coming next', and instead you feel like you're slowly moving to somewhere else. I think its done particularly well in the last ref track where there's also a bit of randomness in the crackling. You barely notice that the track is changing, but when you get to about 6m flick back in lumps of 20s or so and you can hear that its never static. I can't hear it from your link, but does your track give a similar sense of subtle progression?

I don't understand why the link doesn't work. I made the track public. Please try the link above again Telefunkin and if it still doesn't work, I will notify the Admins. I understand what you mean by slowly evolving but I can't dive deeper into this until you can hear my track.
Please advise. Thanks.

I just copied this link from my profiles page:

https://www.taxi.com/members/E2BuvMraQv ... l-of-dread

[BrianSteel]

Yeah, this listing and the subsequent returns have been a little bit of a hot issue. The references do not have much of a developmental arc in the traditional sense of the word. Very difficult in the drone genre.

Thanks again Paulie. I don't know if the link in my original post worked for you or if you had time to listen to it.
I posted a new link in my response to Telefunkin. If you could let me know if the link works, I would appreciate it.
I made the song public so it should be playable. If there are technical issues with this being available to other members,
I will follow up with Taxi. Thanks in advance.

[AlanHall]

Thanks again Paulie. I don't know if the link in my original post worked for you or if you had time to listen to it.
I posted a new link in my response to Telefunkin. If you could let me know if the link works, I would appreciate it.
I made the song public so it should be playable. If there are technical issues with this being available to other members,
I will follow up with Taxi. Thanks in advance.

I can see the track. I'm at work, so haven't listened to it yet.

[CTWF]

I made the song public so it should be playable.

It wants me to log into TAXI, i.e. not public. I am a little confused: Song = melody + vocal, but I thought this was about a drone, i.e. a minimalist instrumental with no vocal?

[BrianSteel]

Thanks again Paulie. I don't know if the link in my original post worked for you or if you had time to listen to it.
I posted a new link in my response to Telefunkin. If you could let me know if the link works, I would appreciate it.
I made the song public so it should be playable. If there are technical issues with this being available to other members,
I will follow up with Taxi. Thanks in advance.

I can see the track. I'm at work, so haven't listened to it yet.

Thanks for letting me know Alan. Appreciate it.

[BrianSteel]

duplicate post

[BrianSteel]

duplicate post