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[Stubee]

https://www.taxi.com/members/V2G7ZzSiTs ... ave-me-now


This is not for any particular listing yet. I would like to know if this sounds contemporary enough. What kind of listings
can I submit this for.

I hope the link above works. I tried to use the copy link function but it causes an error.

Thanks, Stu

[cosmicdolphin]

This is not for any particular listing yet. I would like to know if this sounds contemporary enough. What kind of listings
can I submit this for.

Hey Stu...Link works.

When you ask is it contemporary enough it's usually best to qualify that with a specific listing as there may be some wriggle room depending on the listing requirement.

Genre wise if fits into folk / singer / songwriter but I would say no , it doesn't sound very contemporary to me. Vocal style/delivery , playing style, production , lyrics & metre all sound more like 60's - 70's type era to me.

If you want to sound contemporary it's usually best to listen to the references on heavy rotation , make notes if you need to about how they are constructed and what makes them different to what you're doing.

Mark

[Stubee]

Thank you Mark. I am having a hard time getting my arms around the contemporary sound.
I'm trying to pull myself out of the outdated mode. I'll keep listening to conquer this.
Do you have any suggestions on artists that I might be able to emulate? I was listening to
Zayde Wolfe and Ed Sherran. Obviously I can't emulate those guys.

[cosmicdolphin]

Thank you Mark. I am having a hard time getting my arms around the contemporary sound.

You need to ask yourself why that is. Most folk write the type of music they listen the most because it influences them. i.e.

Do you listen to radio stations that play current music rather than those that just play former hits or songs from a certain era ?

When you drive to work are you listening to new releases and up to date playlists ?

At the supermarket are you listening to reference tracks or podcasts that may help you ?

Do you watch Taxi TV religiously ? Have you read the Books of Robin Fredericks that are published by Taxi ?

When you watch TV do you make listen out for the songs they use and look them up ?

Do you regularly go to watch live bands other than the artists you liked from back in the day ?

Have you watched a current song being broken down on Youtube and tried covering / recreating part of it ?

Or did you just grab your guitar and write what came out of you ...which is fine if you're 22.....not so much when you're 52 like me.

Remember there's still the same number of notes as ther ever was and people are still creating this new music with the same instruments you are. All that's changed is the way they use them is slightly different. Come to recognise those differences and rewire your brain by putting some of the above in to your routine.

I was listening to Zayde Wolfe and Ed Sherran. Obviously I can't emulate those guys.

Why can't you emulate them ? Is there anything stopping you from pulling one of their songs apart and recreating something very similar ? Don't look at the big picture and say you can't do it. Break it down into tiny pieces that are manageable..can I play the same type of guitar pattern ? Can I use the same type of phrasing ? What about chord structure, steal theirs, transpose it , change a chord or two...the clues are all there. Pull the references into your DAW and really study them. Steal if you must.

Hope that helps

Mark

[Stubee]

Thank you, Mark. Very insightful and motivating!

I have read Steve Barden and Robin Fredricks. I'm actually reading Steve's book for the 2nd time right now.
I do watch TAXI TV Religiously. However, I have to admit that I am not listening to the right playlists,
I'm not even sure what they are yet. I will read the book I have by Robin Fredrick again. I guess it's like switching from
flute to guitar. I know the 12 notes but I have to find them on the new instrument. I'm looking for guidance.
Thank you for your insight and mentorship. I really appreciate it. I hope to see you at the Road Rally in November.

[cosmicdolphin]

Thank you for your insight and mentorship. I really appreciate it. I hope to see you at the Road Rally in November.

Sounds like you are doing some of the right things but have identified something you're not doing which is an easy fix. There are current playlists on all the popular music streaming platforms , I don't even think you necessarily need focus on one genre - just listen to new music generally, it will seep in after a few months.

There are loads of tutorials like this around and I recommend going through a number of theam i.e actually follow along and make the track yourself : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQthMZ ... el=93Acres

Doesn't necessarily have to be that song but find one you like , follow along with it, you can often find tutorials that are specific to one or two of the reference tracks for the listing which will really help you understand them. The main thing I would say is don't make songs in isolation until it's so embedded that you naturally sound contemporary. Always use reference tracks.

I've never been to a RR Stu - it's just too expensive a trip from here and there never seems to be a spare couple of grand to cover it but I'm sure you'll get a lot out of it, everyone who goes seems to really recommend it.

Mark

[kregdurant]

Thank you Mark. I am having a hard time getting my arms around the contemporary sound.
I'm trying to pull myself out of the outdated mode. I'll keep listening to conquer this.
Do you have any suggestions on artists that I might be able to emulate? I was listening to
Zayde Wolfe and Ed Sherran. Obviously I can't emulate those guys.

i think your Ed Sheeran, Zayde Wolf may be a big first step into contemporary pop, just based on this recording

Because you do a somewhat folk type i would recommend these more modern folk influenced artists and then work your way in to the pop, indie pop, disco/funk pop style realm (ed sheered Zayde, etc). Just because its easier to improve something you're already good at (clearly, based on the song you posted) than to just make a full leap to a different genre. Folk is making a come back in a big way right now, and while some of these artists are a few years outdated, or in psuedo similar genres, they are all great artists, and will be easier to emulate.

Bon Iver
The Lumineers
Mumford and Sons
Tyler Childers
Colter Wall
Coldplay
Phillip Phillips
Shane Smith and the Saints
Alabama Shakes
Zach Bryan

Pay attention to the pocket of the vocal, how does it follow the music bed? Listen to the delivery, how fast are the vocals delivered, what is the literation? What instruments are being used? How are they being used?
And then just deconstruct it, and then reconstruct it in a different way. Critical Listening is your friend.
What you have is great, and wouldn't take very much finessing to bring it up to date, its just a muscle that needs to be retrained is all <3
One of the best overall classes out there as well is Ryan Tedder's Class on Studio.com its $12 a month and its fantastic, i highly recommend it.

[Stubee]

Thank you. This is very helpful. I'll start pulling them up on YouTube and study the format.
I'll redo Come Save Me Now when I think I am at least starting to get a grasp on the style, especially the vocal style.


-Stu

[Stubee]

Thank you for your insight and mentorship. I really appreciate it. I hope to see you at the Road Rally in November.

Sounds like you are doing some of the right things but have identified something you're not doing which is an easy fix. There are current playlists on all the popular music streaming platforms , I don't even think you necessarily need focus on one genre - just listen to new music generally, it will seep in after a few months.

There are loads of tutorials like this around and I recommend going through a number of theam i.e actually follow along and make the track yourself : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQQthMZ ... el=93Acres

Doesn't necessarily have to be that song but find one you like , follow along with it, you can often find tutorials that are specific to one or two of the reference tracks for the listing which will really help you understand them. The main thing I would say is don't make songs in isolation until it's so embedded that you naturally sound contemporary. Always use reference tracks.

I've never been to a RR Stu - it's just too expensive a trip from here and there never seems to be a spare couple of grand to cover it but I'm sure you'll get a lot out of it, everyone who goes seems to really recommend it.

Mark

Thank you, Mark. I just bought you a cup of coffee. Enjoy!!

[cosmicdolphin]

Thank you, Mark. I just bought you a cup of coffee. Enjoy!!

That's very kind of you thanks