Opinions on return for Indie Pop Listing

[BradleyHagen]

Hey Everybody!
Looking for additional feedback on a returned track for an Indie Pop listing. Typically, I do not question feedback, I just learn from it and move on, but this one has me baffled to be quite frank....
LISTING:
Lots of HIGH-ENERGY INDIE ROCK SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed for several Direct-to-Producer/Music Supervisor placements for a HIT TV Show on a Major Broadcast Network.

This Producer/Music Supervisor needs fun, Up-Tempo Songs in the stylistic ballpark of the following references:

"Runaway" by Imperial Teen

"Over & Over" by Smallpools

"Gimme Twice" by The Royal Concept

Please submit modern Indie Rock Songs with fun, emotionally upbeat energy and lots of feel-good vibes! Catchy melodies, singalong choruses, energetic rhythms, solid arrangements, and well-written lyrics with a positive message are all needed here. Instrumentation and productions in the general stylistic ballpark of the references will work best. Any virtual instruments or samples you use should be high-quality, modern, and realistic sounding. Well-performed vocals (Male or Female) that bring excitement and energy to the track will go a long way!

Lyric Tip: Positive, emotionally upbeat lyric themes about having a good time are the most appealing to this Producer/Music Supervisor. Avoid submitting anything with sad or melancholy themes. Avoiding lyric themes that are too "heartfelt" would be a good idea, as well!

Please avoid references to specific names, dates, times, places, brands, and profanity in your lyrics. Do NOT copy the referenced songs or artists in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.

AI ALERT: This company does not accept or sign music that has been lyrically or melodically composed using generative AI, nor does it accept backing tracks, full instrumental tracks, or vocal performances created with generative AI.

The forwards for this pitch go directly to the Show’s Executive Producer/Music Supervisor, so this is a great opportunity! You’ll keep 100% ownership of your Copyright and Master Recording. You’ll also get any applicable sync fees and performance royalties! No publisher splits! You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Thursday, January 16th, 2025. TAXI # S250116BD

I encourage everyone to listen to "Gimme Twice" (the third reference), because that is what I followed the closest with my track...

Feedback: https://www.taxi.com/members/DVGQpc37Tk ... Wt0w7ZdCUw

Track: https://www.taxi.com/members/DVGQpc37Tk ... w-mendoza-

JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER AT THIS, AND FEEDBACK FROM THE FORUMS IS A KEY PART OF THAT PROCESS! THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

[BradleyHagen]

Sorry,,,,,, The part of the feedback about harmonies in the chorus is very strange, because at least that 3rd ref track doesn't have ANY vocal harmonies, so I purposely did NOT do them
#2 - The screener refers to only the Imperial Teen Ref track...... If that is what they wanted, why not just use that reference only??
#3 - I submitted a couple of other existing tracks from my catalog as a "hail mary pass" for this, and received almost the exact same feedback on those........ They pointed to the Imperial Teen track again, and used almost identical verbage regarding chorus harmonies.... Problem is, that the catalog tracks had chorus vocal harmonies!

Is this because the listing is Direct to Music Supervisor/Producer?? DOes this mean that it is not a real TAXI screener listening?? Maybe Casey, Matt, Graham, and the others can chime in on this?? Again, I am not whining about a return here, I am just trying to understand and learn - Thanks!

[telefunkin]

I like the song Bradley and its not easy to say why it didn't get through, so I can only offer a few thoughts or guesses but they might not mean anything.

I think you've already considered the main reason though - it wasn't a Taxi screener who screened it and provided feedback, it was the music supervisor themself. My suspicion when they do that is that they they know better than anyone else exactly what they're looking for even if they can't precisely articulate that. So maybe we're back to the old "I can't tell you what I want but I'll know when I hear it".

I think your submission has similar qualities to the ref tracks but IMHO it leans slightly more toward rock-pop than indie-pop, and that subtle change of vibe just might not suit the show they're working on. There's also a chance that they've temped-in the ref track they mention, or they know that it works perfectly so they want more of the same. 'Singalong choruses' was mentioned in the listing so maybe that's not quite there, and I hear some thickening of the vocals layers in the chorus of some of the refs, but what can you say when something doesn't feel right but you can't exactly say why?

Its still a really good song and I'm sure it will get picked up by the right library. Good luck for that happening soon.

[BradleyHagen]

I appreciate your taking the time Graham - Thanks!

[Casey H]

Looking at the screener feedback, you have to read all of it.

A thought would be some harmony vocals in chorus to offer some sectional contrast with verse. Finally, the song could tie closer to modern indie rock territory for this request. Note "Runaway" by Imperial Teen for review.

He's not just saying it's the lack of harmony vocals, he's saying it needs more sectional contrast for this listing. I have to agree there. It doesn't have the standout singalong chorus. It's fairly linear. But a really good track.

The song could share more common ground with the modern indie rock reference tracks.

The 3rd reference doesn't have a ton of sectional contrast, a touch more than yours. I think your song is close. Maybe pauses and harmonies would help. Listening now, maybe bring the part you have at 2:37 in as a pre-chorus.

Don't sweat it. Write, Submit, Forget, Repeat. There's a whole world of listings and libraries out there. Taxi listings get you to create which is one of the best things, regardless of the forward or return.

Best,
Casey

[BradleyHagen]

Great points all! Casey - And I thank you for your time

[WSAO]

Bradley, besides everything already mentioned, which I agree with, there’s another thing to consider.
I’d say the drums are a bit too powerful. Those tom fills and the first chord progression, combined with that guitar tone, lean heavily into rock.
That’s probably why I liked the song immediately! But after revisiting the references, I can see why “the song could tie closer to modern indie rock territory for this request.”
Old rockers like us struggle to make indie pop-rock songs—myself included! Haha.
But slowly, we’ll get there!
Cheers!

[BradleyHagen]

Great point right here Andre- Thanks

[BradleyHagen]

Thanks everyone for your feedback on this.....I submitted it again to a similar brief with no changes, and it was forwarded! lol

[WSAO]

Great!
Same screener or a different one?