What does the screener mean? .. for AMERICANA/FOLK SONGS listing

[deantaylor]

Thank you for your earlier comments. We submitted to the listing and got a return.

Here is the screener feedback. Do you get what the screener means and can you suggest anything 'actionable' to address it? Does it simply mean that the vocal is not cutting thru well enough and/or the vocal level is too low?

I think you could improve this song by: The vocal has unique character, but I could hear the performance being a little more present and graspable in the production. The current treatment is a distant.

Returned because: The vocal placement could be fine tuned to help with listener connection.

https://s.disco.ac/wfxwmjndemht

Thank You!

[feaker66]

Hi Dean. This is very very good IMHO. Always loved that E minor chord. The vox is the chorus (especially the first two lines) has to come up a touch. Gets a little buried there.
Got that deep down south vibe. Instrumentation all top notch. Others with good ears and talent will hopefully chirp. congrats on yur low voice too

[eeoo]

Hey Dean! Sounds great as usual with Marc's productions. I suspect for this listing it will sound a little too "produced". The references seem to lean toward a more live, rootsy production sound. But it'll find a home somewhere.

Good luck!

[deantaylor]

Thanks Paul. Good feedback. At first I thought the vox might be a little buried in the chorus, then I got used to it. Since you hear it too, we'll take another look.

Thanks E. It's always good to get your opinion. Yeah, good insight, you may be right about this one being a little more "produced" than what the listing wants.

[deantaylor]

One additional question: Does anyone have 'style alikes' for this song?
Right now we have Caamp, Colter Wall. I'm not 100% sure of those, but that's the best we've come up with for now.
Thanks for any ideas.
https://s.disco.ac/wfxwmjndemht

[eeoo]

I don’t know how helpful this is but the vocal delivery reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen.

[WSAO]

Very cool song!
The only thing I’d take a second look at is the snare in the chorus — it sounds a bit too bass-heavy.
Maybe something more natural would work better.
That said, I doubt the screener will notice it — probably only drummers would pick up on that

[deantaylor]

I don’t know how helpful this is but the vocal delivery reminds me a bit of Leonard Cohen.

Hey E, Actually that is helpful, because we had Cohen on our first list. Then I removed him, trying to target more closely. I think I'll add him back now.

[deantaylor]

Very cool song!
The only thing I’d take a second look at is the snare in the chorus — it sounds a bit too bass-heavy.
Maybe something more natural would work better.
That said, I doubt the screener will notice it — probably only drummers would pick up on that

Thanks for the feedback WSAO! Glad you like the song! Good ear on the chorus snare. It is a completely different snare than on the verses. The verses are brushes and the chorus switches to sticks. But that was intentional to get that chorus snare sound, which we both like. But it's good to know in case others start mentioning the same thing.

[deantaylor]

Thank you for your earlier comments. We submitted to the listing and got a return.

Here is the screener feedback. Do you get what the screener means and can you suggest anything 'actionable' to address it? Does it simply mean that the vocal is not cutting thru well enough and/or the vocal level is too low?

I think you could improve this song by: The vocal has unique character, but I could hear the performance being a little more present and graspable in the production. The current treatment is a distant.

Returned because: The vocal placement could be fine tuned to help with listener connection.

https://s.disco.ac/wfxwmjndemht

Thank You!