What do you think?

[VivieneLee]

Hey all!

Submitted for my first listing and got my first return, progress!

I had my own notes for this recording before submitting and the screener shared some of these critiques:
- drums need work, could sound more modern
- the vocals I thought could be cleaner, recording wise.

The one note I'm a little confused with is " It seems like some of your instruments aren't all playing the same chord. And at times, the chord doesn't match the vocal notes (like at 0:50–0:55)"
^ I'm unclear with the chord that doesn't match the vocal note at 0:50-0:55, there isn't a distinct chord in the short section, it's more of a sound effect.

What do you think?
Any feedback is welcome! I'm just getting started and I'm eager to learn + improve until I can get a forward

https://www.taxi.com/members/U3cto4u_Qs ... 9nwP8BnoLA

https://www.taxi.com/members/U3cto4u_Qs ... -medicated

[irthlingz]

Hi Viviene - Welcome! It would be good to include the listing, including links to the references, in your post.
===
Michael

[VivieneLee]

Hey Tom,

Yes, boxy! That is the perfect word for how I would the vocals (I had been trying to find the right way to describe it).

Thank you for your feedback on the pitchy areas between the vocals and piano. I definitely hear the piano "pling" you referenced. I also agree there's a lot going on during the chorus. Giving it a few more listens with your notes in mind, I have more clarity on what can be done differently/changes to make.

To be fair I didn't expect to get a forward on my first go, it was important to me to at least get my foot in the door and experience what to expect. Thanks again for your feedback, this got me juiced to work on another listing!

[VivieneLee]

Hi Viviene - Welcome! It would be good to include the listing, including links to the references, in your post.
===
Michael

Thanks, Michael! Including the listing is important, I appreciate the note!
Adding them below for my own reference as well.

Listing:
https://www.taxi.com/listings/S220126DK

Listing References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg6Zkry06cc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CieFqG1c0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_ud9qZ52U

[cosmicdolphin]

Hey Vivienne

It sounds like you haven't really got the gist of what the reference tracks are about. It might help if you learned what to listen out for first before you start your next song.

This might help https://youtu.be/Z8D01tjIawU

Mark

[VivieneLee]

Hey Vivienne

It sounds like you haven't really got the gist of what the reference tracks are about. It might help if you learned what to listen out for first before you start your next song.

This might help https://youtu.be/Z8D01tjIawU

Mark

Thanks Mark,

Yea, I did a no-no and submitted a song I didn't write for the listing. I will be writing for listings, I just wanted to submit my first to get my foot in the door.

Thank you for the video! This definitely helps

[melodea]

Hey Vivienne

It sounds like you haven't really got the gist of what the reference tracks are about. It might help if you learned what to listen out for first before you start your next song.

This might help https://youtu.be/Z8D01tjIawU

Mark

That‘s a good vid! Good to hear over and over again what you prob know already!

[VivieneLee]

Hey Vivienne

It sounds like you haven't really got the gist of what the reference tracks are about. It might help if you learned what to listen out for first before you start your next song.

This might help https://youtu.be/Z8D01tjIawU

Mark

That‘s a good vid! Good to hear over and over again what you prob know already!

I totally agree!

[cosmicdolphin]

Yea, I did a no-no and submitted a song I didn't write for the listing. I will be writing for listings,

Ahhhh...yeah, that's always a bad idea and much more likely to get a return. At least you know moving forward.

[VanderBoegh]

I did a no-no and submitted a song I didn't write for the listing.

We've all done that at some point, I think. And I'm pretty sure we've all gotten returns on those submissions, haha. It's just so incredibly hard to take an already-written piece and try to force it into the parameters of a listing. It's kinda like trying to make chocolate chip cookies for your kids and having the recipe (listing) right in front of you, but you don't have any chocolate chips, or flour, or sugar. So you just say, "I'll just make them a grilled cheese instead", and then seeing the look on their faces when they were expecting a sweet cookie.

This to me sounds very 80's. From the chord choices, to the melodic runs by the bass, the harsh piano, the reverb, the drums.... everything. So I can see why the screener said it needs to sound more modern. My advice would be to surround your ears with music by Sia, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Adele, etc, and banish any music pre-2010 from your speakers to try to lobotomize those tendencies from infecting your own songwriting & production!

~~Matt