Interpreting "No Vocals"

[musicalweather]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking at a listing for world and world beat tracks (Y110623WO -- see below) that asks for instrumental cues and "no vocals." Am I correct in understanding that that means no vocals at all, even if they're background vocals and not lead vocals?

I started working on an African style cue with choral background vocals in it, then reread the listing and realized I'm probably off track. I'm asking just to see if there's a chance I could salvage what I've done so far.

Thanks for your help.


WORLD & WORLDBEAT COMPOSER/PRODUCERS needed by an Independent Film and TV Music Publisher with lots of placements under his belt. Instrumentals can be either Traditional or Modern Hybrid (Worldbeat) but all ETHNIC instruments must sound AUTHENTIC. This publisher is looking for go-to producers who can quickly create authentic sounding World and Worldbeat tracks for various TV and film projects. You MUST show that you can cover more than one style. Demonstrate your range by submitting tracks from two or more ethnic regions. (No American folk music, please.) Watch a few travel shows (Globe Trekker, the Travel Channel) for some idea of what he could be looking for. Cues must be at least 1:30 in length and under 3:00. Use button endings - no fade outs. Submissions must be Broadcast Quality (great sounding home recordings are fine). This company pays $125 per INSTRUMENTAL CUE. Composers keep 100% of the writer¹s share of royalties, but do not share in the sync or master fees. This is a Buyout deal - the publisher will own the copyright. Your income stream will be from the writer's royalties on the back end. Other TAXI members who have signed with this publisher have been happy with the relatively high number of placements they've gotten. Please submit one to three INSTRUMENTAL cues online or per CD. (NO VOCALS.) All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Thursday, June 23, 2011.
TAXI # Y110623WO

[hazineju]

hi musicalweather - this is a subject that comes up now and then. it has been my experience that if the vocals are treated as an instrument it's usually ok. a song with lyrics and obvious lead vocal would be a definite "no." it sounds like your piece would be ok, though.

you might just want to double-check with taxi before submitting - i think they wrote in "no vocals" to make it obvious to people who submit vocal songs to instrumental listings, but there is a chance they mean "no vocals whatsoever." great, that just made it more confusing, didn't it?

[Casey H]

Yup, Juliet (hazineju)'s got it right.

If voices are used subtly as instrumental sounds, it can be OK. Actual vocal with lyrics would not be OK. Error on the side of caution though. If you use voice sounds make sure they really don't stand out as if you have a "vocal track".

Asking Taxi can't hurt. But sometimes opinions vary even among screeners so YMMV.

Best,
Casey