Where You Belong - Casey & Joe L.

[Casey H]

Hey all. First mix of a song, co-written by me and Joe L. (joe44850). Produced and performed by mega-talented Paul Otten.

https://s.disco.ac/sshexxqnnoqi

We love it but want get any suggested tweaks. It's not for a specific listing, just a song with a bit of a Lumineers vibe.
Is the vocal a bit hot?
Do you think verse 2 needs more build?
Anything else?

BTW, This forum and the rally rock. I got to know Paul years back first on this forum and more later at the rally. Joe and I met here on the forum and have started collaborating.

Thanks!
Casey

[funsongs]

Hey all. First mix of a song, co-written by me and Joe L. (joe44850). Produced and performed by mega-talented Paul Otten.

https://s.disco.ac/sshexxqnnoqi

We love it but want get any suggested tweaks. It's not for a specific listing, just a song with a bit of a Lumineers vibe.
Is the vocal a bit hot?
Do you think verse 2 needs more build?
Anything else?

BTW, This forum and the rally rock. I got to know Paul years back first on this forum and more later at the rally. Joe and I met here on the forum and have started collaborating.

Thanks!
Casey

For comparison-sake, it'd be nice to hear a mix with the wide instruments a bit louder; to A-B compare and chose.
Nice harmonies.

[johnnyrowing]

The vocal feels well-placed.

Verse 2 has plenty of build.

Love the lyrics - "first step is the hardest on the road". and "when you see the sun go down, dance under the moon".

The chorus is catchy. The echoes on the 2nd Chorus are nice too.

Love the little vocalizations before the 3rd Chorus.

Some "possible" comments that I don't even know if I know I really feel.
1) Possibly - piano is a bit too hot, as I read it as more textural than hooky.
2) The guitar, particularly in the open might be a bit too heavy on compression.


Way to go Casey, Joe, and Paul.

Johnny

[joe44850]

The vocal feels well-placed.

Verse 2 has plenty of build.

Love the lyrics - "first step is the hardest on the road". and "when you see the sun go down, dance under the moon".

The chorus is catchy. The echoes on the 2nd Chorus are nice too.

Love the little vocalizations before the 3rd Chorus.

Some "possible" comments that I don't even know if I know I really feel.
1) Possibly - piano is a bit too hot, as I read it as more textural than hooky.
2) The guitar, particularly in the open might be a bit too heavy on compression.


Way to go Casey, Joe, and Paul.

Johnny

Nice feedback here -- thanks for taking the time, Johnny!

[Casey H]

We made a few mix adjustments, same bat-channel, same bat-link. https://s.disco.ac/sshexxqnnoqi

Brought the lead vocal down a little.
Beefed up the instrumentation in verse 2.

Thanks for the feedback!
Casey

[funsongs]

We made a few mix adjustments, same bat-channel, same bat-link. https://s.disco.ac/sshexxqnnoqi

Brought the lead vocal down a little.
Beefed up the instrumentation in verse 2.

Thanks for the feedback!
Casey

Liking it even better. Sounds more cohesive to these ears - through JBL 305s.
Cheers!

[funsongs]

For what it's worth, Gents - I am jammin' along on mandolin and realize this
would work really well with a full Irish Trad/Celtic instrumentation -
Uilleann pipes, fiddle, concertina, wood flute, penny/tin whistle, tenor banjo, backing guitar, and bodhrán hand-drum.

[cosmicdolphin]

More verb / delay on the vocal...put it in a big sounding space ( but be sure to duck verb a little with the lead vox so it kinda swells around it instead of masking it )

Chorus...could hear much more of a gang/group vocal workign here..more voices / layers..bigger vibe..stacked harmonies

Verse 2...try a four to the floor kick to bring up the energy, it drops too much IMHO

At 1:30 drop the drums out for the pre-chorus..strip it back so the 2nd chorus has more impact

A couple of sections I'd halve them to make it tighter