Wrongful return!!

[SoulfulSwede]

OK, so I just got my critique for listings S130409PO and S130416PO where Listener ID # 368 stated that my track "Hearsay" didn´t get forwarded because it had male instead of female vocals. The only problem is, it has female vocals!!! And I don´t see how it could be mistaken for a male vocal.

Anyway, these are 2 major listings that could make my career, and I really need this to be put right by TAXI. I´ve sent an email to Member Services aswell and I´m hoping maybe someone from TAXI sees this post in the forum.

There are a few different emails on the TAXI contact page, does anybody know the best and fastest way to get in touch with TAXI?

/Johan

[Piewackit1]

Post the song so we can hear it.

[Piewackit1]

I found your song. It's good...no doubt. Sound like male vocals to me....but I'm old and have played in loud bands for years...could be my ears.

[michael11]

It sounds young male teen at first a la Justin’s Beever,then it sounds androgynous,then ambiguous then just downright impossible to discern and I guess the screeners have to err on the side of caution.

Very good song though!!!

[SoulfulSwede]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I guess it´s hard for me to hear this since I´ve recorded the vocals in my studio with my girlfriend.

Granted she sings in a pretty low key on the verses, but come on, almost all female voices can be mistaken for a young male teen since they often sing in the same register. If this voice can be mistaken then so could also a voice like Pink for instance.

Why does the TAXI screener just assume it´s a male voice and not a girl with a low voice, when the listing clearly states Female vocals only? Why would I send in a track with male vocals...

[eeoo]

Killer track and I love your old school funk stuff! But, I too thought it was a male vocal, sorry.

Keep at it, you obviously have the skills!

eo

[davewalton]

I couldn't resist popping in for a listen. Cool track and excellent vocals but I never would have guessed that's a female vocal. Now this may sound a little weird but by the same token that this got rejected, I think that a similar listing looking for male vocals that this would fly. It doesn't matter who *really* is singing, just the perception of what it sounds like.

[Casey H]

Hey SS
It really does sound like a male vocal. I would have never known in a million years it was a female singer, especially in the verse.

Cool song!

Casey

[VanderBoegh]

Just so you don't think you're only hearing the bad news from a few people, I'll chime in here too. It DOES sound like a guy singing this song.

One easy fix that you may want to try would be to adjust the formant settings on the vocal. Some versions of Melodyne have this feature, and it's super easy to use. Just import the vocal into the program, click on the formant tool, and raise the whole thing. This will change the quality of the voice to a more "girlish" sound without affecting the pitch or timing. I've done this on a song where I had a 30-year old doing a tween thing, and she needed to sound younger. So, a quick formant adjustment, and wha-lah. If you don't have Melodyne, you'll need to get something other than their lowest offering, which will probably cost around $150'ish.

~~Matt

[manninghollow]

I do the melodyne thing on my wife's voice all the time. Makes her sound like a teenager. Of couse she is young and beautiful anyway!