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I am thinking of submitting one of my songs that i produced and wrote for one of the Taxi Opportunity Below. I'm not sure if you think that my song submission would be appropriate for what the listings calls for. I'm new to Taxi, and still trying to get into my groove with listing submissions. Please let me know your thoughts.


Please let me know if you think this is a good idea or if I missed the mark on thinking this song could work for one of these listings.

My song link is:
https://soundcloud.com/pkanakis1/there-will-be-times

Thank you! - Phil

Here is the Taxi Listing:
1.EMOTIONAL SINGER/SONGWRITER SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed for a few (up to) $5,000, NON-Exclusive placements by a successful Music Licensing Company that’s pitching directly to a TV Series in need of this style.

They’re looking for Down-to-Mid-Tempo Songs that could fit in the general stylistic ballpark of the references our client gave us:

“Better Days” by Old Sea Brigade

“Love of Mine” by Keelan Donovan

“End of July” by Paper Lions

Please submit emotionally moving Singer/Songwriter Songs with captivating lyrics and big, infectious choruses. Your vocal stylings should be as confident and engaging as the ones found in the references. Instrumentation can be as simple as an acoustic guitar/vocal or piano/vocal. A small, subtle ensemble or band behind the singer could work as well!

They didn’t specify any lyric themes; but based on the references, hopeful and introspective lyrics seem to be the order of the day. You’d be wise to avoid specific names, dates, times, brands, and profanity in your lyrics. It just makes it easier for a Music Supervisor to use it! Do NOT copy the referenced artists or Songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a guide for tempo, texture, and tone. Broadcast Quality is needed.


2.FUN INDIE POP/ROCK SONGS with Female Vocals are needed for a few (up to) $3,000, NON-Exclusive placements by a successful Music Licensing Company for a specific TV Series.

They’re looking for several Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs that could fit in the general stylistic ballpark of these references our client gave us:

“I'll Be Back Someday” by Tegan and Sara

“Star City" by Olympia

“Pineapple Girl” by Molotov Jukebox

Please submit cool, contemporary-sounding Indie Pop/Rock Songs with a fun, youthful appeal. Your productions should tastefully blend authentic-sounding live instrumentation with electronic elements. Having an Indie vocal approach could help you win over this Music Library, as well!

TAXI Tip: Please avoid sending anything that's obviously mature for this request. Please keep your Songs' content pointed towards the younger side of the spectrum. Avoid sending anything that's dark, depressing, or sexualized. This show appeals mostly to female “tweens.”

Lyrics that avoid references to specific names, dates, times, brands, and profanity will probably work best. Please do NOT copy the referenced artists or Songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and vibe. Broadcast quality is needed.

Hey Phil!

Initial take is that your track sounds pretty dated in comparison to the reference tracks (at least for the first listing, which is what I listened to). The way it's mixed and the vocal performance sounds like it is from the early or mid 90s to my ears.

Unless a listing is specifically asking for a specific era sound, it's best to really try to hone in on modern production techniques. Working on really picking apart the reference tracks helps... asking questions like "how are they mixing the vocals", "what tonal characteristics to the individual instruments have", and "what style of reverb" are they using can get you thinking in the right direction at least.

Another thing that might be helpful to you is possibly rethinking how you're comin at this thing. When I started, I immediately started doing what you are doing now... tryin to fit what songs I had into the listings that I saw, and hoping for the right one. I'm thankful that I was able to get some good advice and switch that mindset pretty early. Now I write stuff specifically for the listing itself. This helped me on a few levels.. one of them being I was able to learn what I was doing wrong pretty quickly when I as attempting something specific. A rejection from a screener for something you made specifically for a listing will let you know EXACTLY what you need to work on to improve, whereas a rejection for something you hoped might work is very likely going to be for something that was intentional when you originally made it. (not really all that helpful)

Anyway, keep it up and keep learning as you go. If you keep posting here, you're sure to get lots of good advice. Sometimes it stings a bit, but it is a phenomenal resource to have and worth every bit of pain it might inflict.

Good luck!

Andrew

Hi Andrew,
Thank you so much for listening and for the feedback.
Yeah, you're right. It was recorded around 1998ish. Always appreciate the feedback, I'd rather someone be real with me
than not.
Right now I'm just kicking myself... I started getting mail from Taxi in the mid 1990's but never joined.... I feel like I missed the boat for the last 25 years (yikes!), and not trying to rush to play catch up..
Anyway, thank you again for the feedback.
See you around. - Phil

Hi Phil, I just listened from a seat behind you. Nice work!

I do agree the writing and the mix did sound late 80s/ early 90s. It also fell sort of in between genres, with the (Southern Rock style) slide gtr and the hammond, while being a cute pop song with modulation in the last chorus. But for late 80s, thats not uncommon in pop/rock, like it would be today (at least with these type of sonics).

Of the two listings, I think it's closer to singer/songwriter, but especially the melody construction reveals the time or references of writing.
I would suggest using this song as an example, when reading Robin Frederick's book "Shortcuts to Writing Hit Songs", because if you do that, I think it will become clear how styles have moved, and what elements and how the writing and arrangement needs to be changed, to fit with current requests. While it takes a while to get what differences matter, it is definitely doable when you got some musicianship and still have the engagement in music intact. You are in the same bus with many Taxi members, who can really write but struggle with contemporary nuts and bolts. Robin Frederick's books are invaluable, because she offers detailed analysis and writing suggestions for writers who struggle with this, like a tour guide from the front seat!

I still like this song because it is from my formative years, and I can hear you definitely got the chops, so just stick to it!

You might still want to submit, to get proper feedback from the screeners. They don't wrap it in, but can be very helpful.

Don't know if I'm unbiased, you never know yourself do you?

Definitely a follow on SC, I'd love to hear more of yer writings, old or new. Good luck in this ride!

Best