Feedback on SUSPENSEFUL, INVESTIGATIVE TENSION INSTRUMENTAL CUES

[Margaret]

Hello!

This is my first post in Peer-to-Peer. I put together a track for TAXI # S210328VS

Description: SUSPENSEFUL, INVESTIGATIVE TENSION INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a high-quality, boutique-sized Music Licensing Company that’s been signing quite a bit of music from TAXI members lately! This company offers up-front payments!

NOTE: This Company would love to add more female composers to their team, so women are strongly encouraged to submit! Obviously, they're happy to hear great tracks from men, as well!

This Company is looking for Instrumental Cues in the general stylistic range of the following references:

"Vacation Days" by Thomas Newman

"Investigation (Connor)" by Nima Fakhrara

"The Birds Are Doing That" by Cliff Martinez

Quoting the Company: "We're looking for Investigative, Suspense, Anticipation (NOT horror) Cues with a mix of organic and electronic elements. The pieces must have a modern feel – nothing dated-sounding."

Please submit well-crafted Instrumental Cues that combine organic and electronic elements that would create a suspenseful, anticipatory mood in a movie or TV show scene. Any and all software sounds and samples you use, as well as your production, should be high-quality and modern. Craft your Cues around a singular motif and mood, and layer instrumentation in and out to build tension and create a sense of forward momentum. Imagine the type of music you might hear in a Crime Drama TV show – that's what this Company wants!

Submissions should be about 1 to 2 minutes long, give or take, and have non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.

If I've done this correctly, you should be able to listen to it at
https://www.taxi.com/my/artist/songs/ce ... w-the-lead

Any commentary-- musical content, fit to brief, mix quality, playback issues, etc... would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks!

[JuanMacias]

Hi Margaret

The link doesn't work. You should try it on soundcloud...

Juan

[Margaret]

UGH! Sorry to waste your time like that.

I kept fiddling with it since my initial post and made a slightly expanded version...

https://soundcloud.com/margaretkalb/tax ... t4TpqDkkwY
https://soundcloud.com/margaretkalb/tax ... 4PFMRSPzhb

Thanks!

[crashgates]

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[Margaret]

Interesting point on the examples! I'll go back and give another listen.

Any thoughts on which version to submit?

[crashgates]

.

[Margaret]

Thanks. Really appreciate you taking the time.

[Zaychi]

I'd do some variations on the timing and the velocity of the piano. It sounds a bit quantized and mechanical now.

[Margaret]

Huh, that's interesting.

I probably did quantize the piano rhythm, maybe without enough randomness, but I played the piano part.

I didn't do too much with the velocities except clean up a couple of unintentionally clunky or inaudible notes...

I'll take a peek at the rhythms for sure, though. The piano sounds a hair repetitive at times and that may be contributing. THANK YOU!

[mwb2]

Hi Margaret,

I think it's solid and a few tweaks can really help.

The piano sound isn't up to snuff in my opinion. Could be an EQ issue (many youtube tutorials on making even stock pianos sound pretty good) or maybe it's worth investing in better software samples. You might see if there are free trials that could even get you through to submission

I think you need more variety in the percussion as well. The same repetitive stab motive needs something to bring variety - listen to the refs, a lot of the percussion isn't complicated but there are subtle modulations, filters, automation, panning to make the same general riffs have more variety.

For me, I wouldn't do the ritard and pause after :45 - this grabs too much attention for my ear and also changes the feel, so I can't imagine it sitting under dialog easily. Just my two cents.

Cheers,
Mike