Speed of Light (Demo, Not Produced)

[Casey H]

Hi
This is a guitar and vocal for a rock song I wrote, recorded by a contact of mine. I wasn't sure about it, listening to my own bad version, so I got help to make it sound more respectable. Not produced, just e-gtr and vocal, drums would help.

Anyway, thoughts on the song? Worth doing a full production on? It's OK with me if it ends up as more classic rock than contemporary as long as long as it works.

Do you think the bridge fits OK musically? Hard to tell without production elements differentiating it.

What ref artists, any era, come to mind for production?

https://s.disco.ac/sfpjlxnzhqqp

Thanks!
Casey

[GaryShaffer]

Hey Casey,

Nice song. For my money this has a solid 80s vibe. First reference I thought of was Huey Lewis and the News. I could hear their big harmonies in the chorus. If you kept it more stripped down, perhaps a Bryan Adams' vibe? Good luck with it!

Gary Shaffer

[RealPickle]

I like the track! And the vocal is really strong.

Definitely agree on the Bryan Adams shout. That's for sure the first thing I heard, and I think you'd have a much easier time making this fit that 80s/90s rock sound than try to make it contemporary.

This might be a weird comp, but if the chorus had a different guitar sound and was produced a certain way, it would have really strong CCM/contemporary worship vibes. I'm not presuming you'd want to take it that direction, and it's not an insult, as I grew up on that stuff, but just letting you know I can hear that in the chorus, just in case you want to make sure the final production veers far from that

[Casey H]

Thanks, Gary and Geoff! Bryan Adams is a good idea.

Do you think the bridge fits OK musically? Hard to tell without production elements differentiating it.

Best,
Casey

[Phuovine]

Hi Casey, nice song! I think it has potential and you could go a few directions with it.

I only have a few minor things. First is when the line "I'll run faster than the speed of light" gets repeated at the end of the chorus I was expecting the chords to change/modulate underneath. You could do that with just the bass, too, when or if it gets added. Now it sounds a bit copy/paste -like.
Second is about the bridge, which I think fits musically, no problem but it ends with long vocal notes in the line "like it seems to me" and then the last chorus starts again with long sustained notes and it just feels too much of the same. I would make the last line of the bridge more understated and end every word quicker (more staccato, less legato). Sorry, I'm not finding the right musical words to describe it but I think you'll get my point.

[Casey H]

Hi Casey, nice song! I think it has potential and you could go a few directions with it.

I only have a few minor things. First is when the line "I'll run faster than the speed of light" gets repeated at the end of the chorus I was expecting the chords to change/modulate underneath. You could do that with just the bass, too, when or if it gets added. Now it sounds a bit copy/paste -like.
Second is about the bridge, which I think fits musically, no problem but it ends with long vocal notes in the line "like it seems to me" and then the last chorus starts again with long sustained notes and it just feels too much of the same. I would make the last line of the bridge more understated and end every word quicker (more staccato, less legato). Sorry, I'm not finding the right musical words to describe it but I think you'll get my point.

Thanks so much for the valuable feedback! Much appreciated! From the melody POV, good catch on the long notes ending the bridge going into long notes in the chorus. It's rough form. Production whereby bass and drums are varied will do a lot though I'll see what I might do on that melody before final production.

Warmest,
Casey

[Phuovine]

No prob! I get that it's a rough demo but I wanted to share the very first ideas I got based on one listen. Don't wanna get too deep into drums and bass, though. Too many options! I could maybe do you a quick drum demo if you are interested? I need something to work on and to get my engines fired up again after a break. I would keep it at demo level for now.

[WSAO]

Cool song, mate!
If you ever need bass and drums, hit me up — just for fun
Cheers!