Genre Anxiety

[Beets]

I have a song, which I intended to be very pop. As we worked on production is is now sounding more live band/adult contemporary. I can't figure out if I should take out the live drums and add a more electronic midi element or keep it as is. As it stands right now, what genre do you guys see this song and whatwould make it more commercially appealing. I'm all over the place.
https://soundcloud.com/chloeborthwick/no-2/s-gjnX0

[ttully]

Hi Beets,

It is a very nice track.... BUT there are a few problems.

First off... the pizzicato strings are not good....the sound like they are from a dramedy track.
It is also a too slow for a pop song.... speed it up and maybe!!!!

The live drums are good.... that's not the problem.... lots of pop songs have live drums.
The sax solo is also a bit odd for a modern pop track...... I know some pop tracks have sax in them... but this solo is more like from an old Billy Joel song.

IT seems more AC than modern pop....
It is a very good track...make no mistake about it!!!..... but not modern pop.

Of course...this is my 2 cents and someone else may say I'm completely wrong!

Tim

[Beets]

Thanks @ttully. Specific feedback like this is super helpful. I am used to writing without purpose or intention and my music always tends to blur genres so this guided feedback is useful.

[Paulie]

I think this song is quite catchy, had my head bobbing. I agree with much said above, but this is definitely something worth continuing to work on! Great vocals!

[nicotina]

I agree with what was said above- it is more AC then contemporary pop. That's due to instrumentation choices (sax, bass guitar, real drums, lack of loud synths), but also chord choices. I hear dominant sevenths in there (second chord), and some jazzy sounds in the bridge.

However, the "live band" feel may be partly in the production. Maybe try more compression and EQ on the overall mix, or something like that so that the individual instruments blend better and sit well in the mix. I find this is easier to achieve with "fake" midi sounds and sample-based stuff then with live playing. But there is nothing wrong with live drums- they will lend your music more grit and authenticity.

Nice work,

Vince

[DannyWeber]

Everything sounds great but I have to agree with ttully... the pizzicato strings are distracting from such a well performed and produced track.

Great vocal, great background music but the pizz strings are not working for me. Great idea but the pizz strings sound too synthesized.

Maybe you should ask one of the super successful "Dramedy" guys or gals what they use? I'm sure they would love to help you find the right pizzicato sample library to work with for this tune.

Again, great job!!!

Dan

P.S. As far as genre.. I would say more R&B than Pop, definitely! I think R&B is the way to go, when pitching this one.
Just my 2 cents

[NaeDae]

I have a song, which I intended to be very pop. As we worked on production is is now sounding more live band/adult contemporary. I can't figure out if I should take out the live drums and add a more electronic midi element or keep it as is. As it stands right now, what genre do you guys see this song and whatwould make it more commercially appealing. I'm all over the place.
https://soundcloud.com/chloeborthwick/no-2/s-gjnX0

Nah forget trying to make this modern pop, it wouldn't work and you'd end up forcing a sound that wouldn't fit the song. But you actually have a great track here and this singer is someone you should keep working with. It kind of feels like a nice pop song from the late 90's, but one that was actually played on modern radio because people still really like it; it's not cheesy. The song's sound fits some things and I think you should keep it mostly how it is besides making just a few changes to enhance it. First off, the plucky string sound felt a bit forced and was distracting from the easy-going contemporary thing you had going, so I'd just take it out if I were you. Also the vocals need to be a bit louder. And it's ok to compress them a bit more to make her performance a bit more even. Other than that I'd say leave it because it's pretty charming.

Making it sound like modern pop isn't everything. The instrumentation you did really fits this beautiful song, so I'd say leave it.

[Beets]

Thanks for the positve reinforcement. In the sea of rejections, it feels good to have your music appreciated.