Shoegaze Indie Alt-Rock (S230508GZ)

[irthlingz]

Used "The Middle of Nowhere" ref primarily - seemed to fit the song the best.

For Myself Alone (version III - most recent)

Based on Tom's feedback about reverb, in the new version above:
* On the guitars and uke, we reduced the "room size" from 91 to 50, and lowered the "Wet" by around 7dB.
* On the vocal reverb (a separate track with a receive from the vocal track) we reduced the decay from 5.3s to 3.0s.
* We already had a "mud free" EQ on the vocal reverb track, so no change there.




For Myself Alone (version II)

Based on feedback, in the new version above:
* Sharon does the vocal instead of Michael
* ValhallaPlate reverb for vocals, instead of Reaper's ReaVerbate
* Still ReaVerbate on instros
* Vocal reverb is ducked
* EQ to try to de-muddy everything
* Balance to try to make both instros and vocals clear (brought instros up)

For Myself Alone (first version)

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Thanks,
Michael

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Lyrics
I'm looking for my silence
You know it's been a while since
I have sung and dance a wild dance
With myself and for myself alone.

With myself and for myself alone. (2x)

You know I'm looking for my beach free
Where the city cannot reach me
And I can be a friend a teacher
To myself and for myself alone.

To myself and for myself alone. (2x)

I'm looking for my sunshine
Where I can slip into my own mind
And drop a little love-line
To myself and for myself alone.

To myself and for myself alone. (2x)

To myself alone
Myself alone ...

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SHOEGAZE INDIE/ALT-ROCK SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are urgently needed by a Music Library with a ton of credits in Feature Films, TV Shows, and TV Commercials.

This Library is urgently looking for a range of Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs in the general wheelhouse of the following references we got directly from our contact at the Company:

"Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" by Tame Impala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wycjnCC ... impalaVEVO

"For the First Time" by Mac DeMarco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZCm_i6 ... arco-Topic

"Bridge" by High Highs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfxfisS ... =HighHighs

"Middle Of Nowhere" by Vancouver Sleep Clinic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9v9fLR ... leepClinic

"Saltwater" by Geowulf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXO-Hnj ... fmusicVEVO

Please send in top-notch Shoegaze Indie/Alt-Rock Songs with an overall ethereal, atmospheric vibe and feel that could work well for placements in TV, Film, and TV Commercials. Your submissions should have memorable melodies, unforgettable hooks, engaging lyrics, inviting grooves, and excellent arrangements. Indie/Alt-Rock instrumentation in the general wheelhouse of the references will suit your submissions best – think guitars, airy vocals, drums, bass, etc. Please be sure your production and any virtual sounds or samples you use are high-quality and not dated-sounding. Expressive, well-performed vocals with plenty of atmosphere are needed, as well.

Lyrics should avoid references to specific names, dates, times, brands, and profanity. Do NOT copy the referenced examples in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.

NOTE: While this listing is open to Songs from any composer, this Company is also interested in working with Artists and Bands that make this style of music and have some killer Songs!

IMPORTANT! Per our client, your Submissions must:

1) Be owned and/or controlled by you (Composition and Master Recording), and NOT be encumbered by ANY other exclusive publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, etc.

2) Be 100% original – no soundalikes, covers, or recordings with samples.

This Company offers a NON-Exclusive, 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of any applicable sync fees and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of any sync fees and 100% of the Publisher’s share. You must own or control your Master and Composition to submit to this pitch. Please send as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. Please include lyrics! NO DEADLINE EXTENSIONS for this request. Sorry folks, but we're on an extremely tight deadline, so please don't even ask! All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Monday, May 8th, 2023. TAXI # S230508GZ

[cosmicdolphin]

Some reasonably good ideas there and you have picked up on some of the production aesthetic from the refs which is commendnable.

The main issue for me is that the vocal kinda kills it. It's the same reason that despite spending many years writing and singing my own songs and getting professional vocal tuiition I still mainly make instrumentals or use more pro souding singers because I can't imagine any music supe or editor hearing and thinking ' that's the one ' if they heard something I'd sung myself...and I have the same opinion here.

I second Graham's comments and this part of the Listing also jumped out at me :

" NOTE: While this listing is open to Songs from any composer, this Company is also interested in working with Artists and Bands that make this style of music and have some killer Songs!"

I think this indicates that the bar may be set reasonably high. Back in 2016 my buddy and I produced a Lo-Fi Indie song which was kinda simllar in style, it got returned and we put it into some non-exclusive libraries and about 5yrs later it did get placed once but the payout was literally pennies.

https://soundcloud.com/cosmicdolphin/gi ... al_sharing

[gitanosoy]

Hi Michael,
You already have one of the top two guys giving you advice here so I will just point out which I have before to you in private messages about that "Bathroom reverb" sound you put on your vocals,it kind of ruins your song. Also guitar or ukulele are to low, can hardly hear them.You really need to play around and really dig deep into what ever EQ plugin you have to make your tracks sound better.

Good songwriter and songs if you just get the production down you will do better.

Good luck,

[irthlingz]

Thanks, everyone, really appreciate the feedback!
Michael

[CTWF]

The mix is problematic. Aside from the vocal performance that Mark critiqued, the reverb does not work - as Andre pointed out - and the instruments are too low in the mix. Overall it sounds muddled, and not in a good Lo-fi way.

I think it could be a good exercise to take this song as is - with the original recordings - and just work on the mix and re-post it. I would first try to get the vocals as crisp and clean as possible, and so the instro, and just raise the volume of the latter. Then start playing with reverb options, and maybe consider ducking the reverb behind the voice. The instro might have very different reverb than the vocals.

Tom

[irthlingz]

Thanks, Tom! New version in first post.

[CTWF]

Thanks, Tom! New version in first post.

I hear that the instrumental is now louder, but I agree with Graham mostly in that the reverb and the EQ is as problematic as before. It sounds muddy. It sounds as if someone played wayyy back at the end of the school corridor.

Knowing nothing about your production setup, you could try cutting the reverb length (displayed in s or ms) in half and go -7.5 db on its wet part. Maybe try high-passing the wet part of the reverb at 250 Hz and the whole track at 80 Hz to remove low frequencies that muddy the water. As I wrote, knowing nothing about your work process or setup, it is difficult to recommend anything, but if you can do these things, why not try them out and see what it sounds like?

Tom

[Casey H]

In addition to what's been said, I don't think the type of melody fits the listing either. It sounds more like a children's song that you are trying to re-purpose.

[irthlingz]

I hope these comments don't put you off trying. Instead, I hope they stir you find a way forward that works for you and will allow you to show your ideas and songs in their best light. I wish you good luck.

Thank you, Graham! Others, with all the best intentions, have sincerely tried to put us off of this enterprise. Ain't gonna happen any time soon! Two reasons: a) fun, b) we think our skills and knowledge are increasing, though slowly. For example, we got the ValhallaPlate recommendation from Andre, and even though we may have overdone it here, it is a good tool to have for lead vocals. We really appreciate that people here are willing to take time to try to help us.
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Michael & Sharon

[irthlingz]

In addition to what's been said, I don't think the type of melody fits the listing either. It sounds more like a children's song that you are trying to re-purpose.

Hmm, I had been subliminally thinking that the overall feel of "Middle of Nowhere" is more flow-y than ours. Not sure if it's the melody. Maybe the way the vocalist performs it?
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Michael