Observation from 2011 Rally

[mazz]

Even though I'm not currently writing pop songs, the final A&R panel at the rally is always a "must do" for me.

I learn so much about how these top producers hear music from listening to their comments on the panel and it teaches me how to further detach from the end result of my efforts in order to more clearly hear my music and how it can be improved and where to place it once it's done.

It's also pretty obvious, in the bright light of the reality in that ballroom, when a song is a "hit" with the panelists because the audience picks it up too. It's pretty amazing how a large percentage of the audience just "knows" when something is amazing as opposed to something that's good but not great. This just goes to show how one's tastes may run counter to the public or to the panelists, but a great song is still a great song, and it's obvious that it can affect many people at the same time. Hmmmmm..............

One of the things that came through on that final panel, which is sticking with me and which applies to any type of writing is:

Write a great song or piece of music before applying the production to it. ("otherwise it's putting lipstick on a pig")

The songs that presented the best were typically very stripped down productions with awesome vocal and instrumental performances that simply served to enhance the already excellent songwriting (Austin and Anj, for instance!).

These days, it's so easy to produce a finished product, that often we get mesmerized by the sound and forget the content. Some styles of music are, of course, production based, like dance music, but even there, if you don't have a good hook, all the great beats and sounds won't help you.

So the take home for me, and it's a big one, is to focus on the writing and make it as strong and impactful as possible before dressing it up in the clothes of the production.

So great seeing and hanging with everyone this year!!

Mazz

[comasj]

Nice summation.

[Casey H]

So true, Mazz!

I'd also add that my observation for today's film/TV market is: Often (not always), production-wise, less is more. Tons of very simply produced songs get used. Not talking rough here, talking simple (well done) production such as guitar or piano, light percussion, maybe some bass, and vocal. This wouldn't apply to an 'a la' for some rock act but many singer-songwriter songs do well with less. There is also a better chance of being ageless and timeless with less.

I heard one track at a panel whereby the backing music track was great but the vocal was poor--- pitchy and buried. It's SOOOO worth hiring a vocalist when needed.

Casey

[davewalton]

Every year I get this basic reinforcement... keep it simple and just focus on the end product, not on the potential complexities of getting there. Kevin Kiner (CSI Miami composer) is like many of us... doesn't really know what that little slide or knob thing is called but he knows basically what it does. "If I push this thingy up it gives me more brightness" is the same as "I applied a 5db treble boost in the 10k-20k range" or whatever. Rob Chiarelli (top mixing engineer with >100 Gold/Platinum records) does panning using center, left and right and volume in whole db increments. Simple. He just puts his focus into the things that really matter (uh... like the song itself).

Anyway... I found that it's OK to use the white keys a lot and that I don't have to know engineering talk as long as I have good ears.

[thekman]

You are so right. I have come to realize this fact in the past year too. Coming from a rock/metal band background we always wanted huge and heavy sounds with thick walls slamming against our brains. Now I'm just sitting with my acoustic and trying to make every moment the best it can be.
Jason Blume had great things to offer in this regard too!

btw....The 5 year plan class was great! Thanks to all 3 of you guys for that.

[eeoo]

I forget who said it, Michelangelo, Da Vinci? Anyway something like "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
Seems appropos in regards to this discussion...

eo

[mojobone]

"Spot on" comments from all of the above.

[RogerG]

Hi all,

Seems so simple doesn't it? Write a good (ok, preferably undeniable) song first, then produce it. But it's sort of like Jason Blume in his melody class stating you can't write novels when writing lyrics because lots of words will make the melody too complicated and therefore unmemorable. The class laughs but then he says "You laugh, but I hear it in your songs!"

I guess knowing what you should do and actually doing it are two different things...

[AnthonyCeseri]

Every year I get this basic reinforcement... keep it simple and just focus on the end product...

SOOO true. I heard that loud and year this year too! Great tip...

[AnthonyCeseri]

"Spot on" comments from all of the above.

Congrats on your award, ma man!! That was sah-weeet!