Harp Dubstep.... listing for tomorrow with Steve Purdie

[wen]

Well, who knew... I've just started listening to Skrillex today, and hot dang!!! I really like this Dubstep stuff, it's so fun and aggressive and ... witty almost Where have I been the last few years, oh well.

Thanks Steve that was awesome fun I hope there's not too much harp or harp too loud etc.

What do people think, y'all...? There's another listing coming up so revisions may still be possible.... I need to listen to the a la's for the second listing below still...

https://soundcloud.com/wendawilliamson/ ... sunday-mix It is called BadJack Sunday

DUBSTEP INSTRUMENTALS in the style of Skrillex, Rusko, Datsik, etc., are needed by a well-established Music Library for use in various TV projects. This Library has gotten a slew great placements for TAXI artists this year so let's knock their socks off! They're looking for well-developed PULSING and sonically interesting instrumentals that have plenty of movement from START to FINISH. Pieces submitted MUST have a HIGH-ENERY, authentic DUBSTEP sound in the vein of the referenced artists. Rhythmic intensity and great bass drops are key. Be sure your pieces are FOCUSED and DYNAMIC. Tempo should fit the standard of the genre: between 140-174 BPM. As always, DO NOT rip-off the referenced artists in any way, shape or form! Use them ONLY as a guide for TEMPO, TEXTURE, TONE, and VIBE. Broadcast quality is needed (excellent home recordings are fine). NO samples. ORIGINAL instrumentals ONLY! Presentation must be top-notch. You must own 100% of your master and composition. Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, January 29, 2013. TAXI #Y130129DS________________________________________

CONTEMPORARY DUBSTEP SONGS and INSTRUMENTALS in the style of "Guilt" by Nero, "First Of The Year - Equinox" by Skrillex, "Annihilate" by Datsik, etc., are needed by an LA-Based Music Licensing Company specializing in TV/Film placements. Tracks should have OVERWHELMING BASS LINES, syncopated drum patterns, and in TRUE Dubstep fashion, a HUGE and DRAMATIC DROP. Tracks submitted should showcase CURRENT and CUTTING-EDGE production and programming in this genre. If submitting songs with vocals, both MALE and/or FEMALE are OK. If you submit a song with vocals, they've specifically asked that you have an instrumental version on hand in case they need it. Vocals MUST have PLENTY of PERSONALITY & TONS of ATTITUDE. Your production and performance must be competitive with the referenced songs. Songs with universal/general lyrics are preferred. Avoid specific names, places, brands, dates/time, or detailed storylines that might conflict with dialog, etc. Lyrics should be rated PG. You must own or control 100% of the Master and Composition rights. Original songs only. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent home recordings are fine.) Please submit two to three songs online or on CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than Thursday, February 7, 2013. TAXI #S130207DS

[jazzstan]

First, the intro doesn't stake a claim as "dubstep." Most dubstep 'declares its presence' pretty aggressively and rather quickly. To me this intro said "lite electronica." When the drop does come, there is a wobble bass, but then it moves into glitch - which is a related but different genre altogether (and one I don't hear much on TV projects). And then the piece smooths back out into the lite eletronica. To my ears, it's missing the "pusling, high energery, overwhelming...." in the listing. For me, Dubstep, conjers up the remnants of my 17-year-old testosterone filled in-yer-face noisy, disruptive, expletive-spouting, defiant self. Yeah - back when I had hair.

There are some nice musical ideas here, but i fear a wee bit of wobble bass won't make it dubstep enough for the screeners.

[wen]

Stan, thank you. Since I grew up on the East Coast (NYC/Boston), I truly appreciate directness

This is a very new genre for me so I should expect it to take some time before I really understand it (and I need to see what you mean by Glitch). Setting the "a la's" in Pandora might be very helpful here.

Listening to Skrillex, I hear all kinds of little things that I wouldn't associate with dubstep and I felt there was a chill aspect to the piece also. So yes - maybe it is more electronica.

I didn't even know about dubstep or drum-n-bass etc., until I went to the Rally. (The rally, the rally, the rally. Will I never stop talking about the rally? Nope! Cuz it literallly changed my life.)

Anyway, one gets rather impatient at times, and perhaps disappointed, but even those things are all part of the learning process, eh what? That is the hidden value of the Taxi experience, I think; of growing and maturing as an artist who can be detached and objective about their work, and listen to it with that "outside" perspective. "Listening with one's ears, vs. one's heart!!!!!" OK, now if I can just figure out how to do that, we'll be all set

Whether or not this piece works for the listing, and I think you are probably right, now, that it may not -- it's ok for me. It was a blast to work on; I came up with what I think are some great sounds for the harp; I like the piece very much; and I think Steve did a great job with it as a piece of music in itself. I definately want to do more things together!

[stevepurdie]

Hey Stan !!

Yep I get your point. I wouldn't however pigeon-hole figit and dubstep in entirely separate genres. There's a lot of crossover between the two. Although, you are right that the screener is probably looking for a lot more "wibble wobble" within the bass itself, so i guess I need to re-think that section.

However it is awesome that you took the time to listen and give feedback, very much appreciated.

Perhaps Wen and I should go back to the drawing table and work on some plan B fixes.

Peace,

Stevo

[jazzstan]

True the genres are related, but when a listing is asking for Dubstep (or any genre) I've found they are usually looking for stuff very much in the center of that genre's distribution curve. However, it is interesting that Dub's wobble is showing up in Pop and in TV commercials ... so there's an opportunity to blend it with other genres. (well, maybe not swamp blues, tho') But there are lots of threads here about how creative genre-blending innovation doesn't fit with most of the listings that Taxi runs. But regardless - have fun, be creative, explore. Well, that's part of the adventure for me.

[richmstudios]

I think the amount of aggressiveness and wobble bass really depends on the a-las (though I've not experienced a dubstep track forward yet). If the reference point is a bit more chilled then I'd go with that. A lot of the more popular dubstep stuff I hear these days give the listener a little bit of low-key intro before the wobble bass kicks in at the drop further down the line.

I personally like your track - maybe just "wobble" a bit more aggressively when you're in that part of the song is all.

My 2 cents,

Rich

[jazzstan]

There is also a genre called "Post-DubStep" ... that includes Chill elements.

[richmstudios]

FYI, Suzanne and I just got a return on our recent dubstep track "Komitted" primarly because the introduction was chilled - so please feel free to disregard my post above taking this into consideration. The listing did call for HIGH-ENGERGY DUBSTEP and we didn't get to the point quickly enough to garner a forward.