EMOTIONALLY MOVING A/C POP SONG EXPERT'S EARS NEEDED :)

[ShaR4]

I'd love your input on my attempt at a song like "Skyfall" by Adele. I'm no Adele but I tried my best...do you have any advice for this song and/or recommendations on who I should collaborate with to increase this song's potential of getting forwarded?

Thank you so much in advance for your time!!

https://soundcloud.com/shar4/love-again-2/s-FOyvokI2z8Y

EMOTIONALLY MOVING A/C POP SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by a 5-Star Publisher for several (up to) $12,000 placements in a new Netflix TV Series!

They’ve requested Down-to-Mid-Tempo Songs that fit in the general stylistic wheelhouse of these references our client gave us:

"Skyfall" by Adele

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus

“Say Something” by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera

"Someone you Loved" by lewis capaldi

Please submit modern, emotionally engaging Adult Contemporary Pop Songs that have touching melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and compelling choruses. Your productions should be polished and your Songs should capture the general vibe and style of the references above. Having super strong vocal performances could really help you seal the deal for this request. Give them Songs that pull the listener in and emotionally resonate with them!

Quoting the Publisher: "Looking for Song ideas that are driven emotionally with strong vocal performances, solid productions, with lyrics that can make you tearful."

The Music Publisher didn’t specify any lyric themes; however, it seems that they're looking for lyrics about the sad side of love and relationships. Please avoid references to specific names, dates, times, brands, and profanity in your lyrics. Do NOT copy the referenced artists or Songs in any way, shape, or form – use only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed.

TAXI Tip: Relatively simple, Stripped-Down Guitar/Vocal or Piano/Vocal performances might work for this request, as well as versions with bigger productions.

[Zaychi]

Beautiful song!

I'd say the drums need most attention, in particular the snare and high toms... they sound like really cheap samples (but it may be an EQ issue as well), and once they get really going, distract from the actual song. Either leave them out, or focus on them like you obviously did to the rest of the instrumentation.

[ShaR4]

Beautiful song!

I'd say the drums need most attention, in particular the snare and high toms... they sound like really cheap samples (but it may be an EQ issue as well), and once they get really going, distract from the actual song. Either leave them out, or focus on them like you obviously did to the rest of the instrumentation.

Thank you!! Will do!

[ShaR4]

Beautiful song!

I'd say the drums need most attention, in particular the snare and high toms... they sound like really cheap samples (but it may be an EQ issue as well), and once they get really going, distract from the actual song. Either leave them out, or focus on them like you obviously did to the rest of the instrumentation.

Ps they’re not samples but percussion has always been a bit of a weak point for me. Will continue working on them! Thank you for your time and input

[ShaR4]

Beautiful song!

I'd say the drums need most attention, in particular the snare and high toms... they sound like really cheap samples (but it may be an EQ issue as well), and once they get really going, distract from the actual song. Either leave them out, or focus on them like you obviously did to the rest of the instrumentation.

Sorry for all the replies- I just realized you’re probably talking about samples in a DAW (thought you meant pre-made loops). Yep they’re instruments in my DAW, that would be SO cool to have a real drummer on here for sure!!

[ShaR4]

This should do the trick!

https://soundcloud.com/shar4/love-again-1/s-buBze93kB5x

[Zaychi]

Yeah, better. Something else surfacing now though, there's something weird about this song, in the intro the piano is in triplets, but when the drums come in they're a straight 4/4... makes you feel wrongfooted as a listener. Did you intend that effect?

[lesmac]

You set the emotion nicely. Tempo and key sound good.
My thoughts:

Cut the intro in half.

I agree with the drum suggestion. Aggressively cut from 55Hz down on the drums.
Choose an instrument that is going to carry the bass - Piano or bass and cut other instruments from 200 down say 6Db slope to let drums and bass instrument have that area.

There is a build up in the mud and box areas.
Don't have everything contributing in the 200 to 500Hz areas. Do some hi passing on instruments and keep what you like about them.

After that I'd look at the vocals. Maybe take out a little boxiness. I'd dry them up a little. In my own productions I have been guilty of using reverb to try and mask things I subconsciously can't reconcile [don't like but don't deal with] and it never works. Some of your vocal lines are conflicting with one another timing and melody wise. You may be able to do some small pitch correction too.

Overall I think it needs to be cleared a little for separation and the vocals need to be clarified - less reverb and tighter matching. Plus a little EQ differentiation between the vocal tracks might help, especially where they are masking one another. With some of the low end tamed you might want to ease the highs back a bit. Don't forget that when you cut with EQ you lose volume so gain it back up so that volume bias doesn't affect your decisions-louder usually sounds best [but it's not!]

Just my opinion, I could be wrong

2 cents

[ShaR4]

You set the emotion nicely. Tempo and key sound good.
My thoughts:

Cut the intro in half.

I agree with the drum suggestion. Aggressively cut from 55Hz down on the drums.
Choose an instrument that is going to carry the bass - Piano or bass and cut other instruments from 200 down say 6Db slope to let drums and bass instrument have that area.

There is a build up in the mud and box areas.
Don't have everything contributing in the 200 to 500Hz areas. Do some hi passing on instruments and keep what you like about them.

After that I'd look at the vocals. Maybe take out a little boxiness. I'd dry them up a little. In my own productions I have been guilty of using reverb to try and mask things I subconsciously can't reconcile [don't like but don't deal with] and it never works. Some of your vocal lines are conflicting with one another timing and melody wise. You may be able to do some small pitch correction too.

Overall I think it needs to be cleared a little for separation and the vocals need to be clarified - less reverb and tighter matching. Plus a little EQ differentiation between the vocal tracks might help, especially where they are masking one another. With some of the low end tamed you might want to ease the highs back a bit. Don't forget that when you cut with EQ you lose volume so gain it back up so that volume bias doesn't affect your decisions-louder usually sounds best [but it's not!]

Just my opinion, I could be wrong

2 cents

Wow thanks for your in depth input! I really appreciate it! I’ll see what I can do. The intro I’m mimicking the length in “Skyfall” by Adele, the listing they provided

[AlanHall]

Cut the intro in half.

Wow thanks for your in depth input! I really appreciate it! I’ll see what I can do. The intro I’m mimicking the length in “Skyfall” by Adele, the listing they provided

I agree with Les. In my mind I heard the vocals come in after the first 4. May seem picky, but for me the expectation was there.
A really pretty song. Good work