TAXI.com

Hey guys,

Wanted to share my misery (it loves company, right? I am totally baffled by the return of my rockabilly song "Sweep Me Off My Feet" http://www.taxi.com/jmkslyder

The screener's comments were:

"The rhythm guitar on this track is mixed too far back in the track. The piece needed more rhythm elements overall. It feels too sparse for this specfic use."
Listener ID # 325

FYI...I purposely used an acoustic guitar to get a more chunky, driving rhythm guitar sound (as opposed to a very brite electric rhythm guitar). As far as needing more rhythm elements, I'm not sure how the screener could NOT have been tapping his toes and snapping his fingers to this one! I felt the moving bass line, rockabilly drums, electric guitar accents, lyrics and vocal phrasing provided plenty of rhythm for the song and totally met the listing requirements.

Anyway, I thought this song was a slam dunk for this listing. What do you think? Should I ask the head screener to review it again?

Thanks for your comments....

John Michael Karnatz


Y190430BY
ORIGINAL ROCKABILLY SONGS with Male Vocals are needed for several $4,500, NON-Exclusive, Direct-to-Music Supervisor placements in an Action Adventure Fantasy TV Series. The Music Supervisor is looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs in the general stylistic ballpark of artists/bands like (but not limited to) Stray Cats, Reverend Horton Heat, Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, etc., etc., etc.
Please listen to the following references to get in the general stylistic wheelhouse of what he’s looking for:
“Rock This Town” by Stray Cats
“Let Me Teach You How To Eat” by Reverend Horton Heat
“Race With The Devil” by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
NOTE: Over the course of the next few days, you will see quite a few requests from this Music Supervisor as he is working on a series that uses Guitar-based music to represent different eras in music history. This series will need a LOT of different kinds of guitar music, and the Music Supervisor will be using TAXI as one of his primary sources to find that music!
Please send this Music Supervisor toe-tappin’ Rockabilly Songs with authentic, guitar-driven instrumentation. Your submissions should have super cool guitar riffs and prominent walking bass lines paired with a nicely performed Rockabilly style vocal.
NOTE: Recently recorded Songs, as well as Vintage recordings, are both fair game for this request; however, this Music Supervisor would prefer to hear NEWER recordings that authentically capture the requested musical style.
Quoting the Music Supervisor: “I need uplifting songs with plenty of dynamics and Infectious Riffs! Great catchy rhythms with deep pocket energy and drive. These tracks need to feel and sound like the real deal.”
Please avoid lyrical references to specific names, dates, times, places, brands, and profanity. Do NOT copy the referenced artists in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a guide for tempo, texture, and tone. Broadcast Quality is needed.
The estimated license fee for each of these placements is $4,500, depending on the ultimate placement. These will be Direct-to-Music Supervisor placements, so you’ll keep 100% ownership of your Master and Composition rights, plus you’ll also get 100% of the sync fee and any applicable performance royalties. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to pitch for this opportunity. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD; please include Lyrics. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Time permitting, the Music Supervisor himself might be able to screen submissions for this request! Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT) on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019. TAXI #Y190430BY

jmkSlyder wrote: ↑

Mon May 06, 2019 10:18 am

I thought this song was a slam dunk for this listing. What do you think? Should I ask the head screener to review it again?

Hi John -

I'm at best a casual fan of rockabilly, but after giving your track a listen I'm also baffled!

Very engaging track, nice song writing, sounds fully produced, and hits all the known markers for the rockabilly genre.

Maybe someone more seeped in the genre will hear something that you and I have missed, but from where I'm sitting I'd say that track is easily worth a follow up email to the head screener.

Best of luck man!

Jay

Your mix is not very well balanced, the vocals are way too loud for the backing track. I think that's why he says the rhythmic parts are too far back.

I don't think it's too sparse, you just can't hear them properly. Thought the song was very good but the production is not up to the song.

Mark

Yeah I agree with Cosmicdolphin, doesn't quite sound pro. Your track has to sound as good as the reference tracks, might not be fair but that's the reality. Plus i just wanted to say "I agree with Cosmicdolphin..."

No, I dont think you should ask for another review. It is a cool rockabilly song, and the parts are good, but the mix just doesnt come together as a whole. The vocals doesn't sit well in the mix, and sort of sounds like it floats on top. The reverb also sound a bit digital clean, which isn't quite right for the style. It lacks a bit of glue. So the song could need a remix, with better level balances, and a bit more grit to match the references, imo. Very good effort, though.

Thank you Jay, Mark, Ethan, and Kolstad for taking the time to read my post and listen to "Sweep Me Off My Feet." I really appreciate your input and consideration!

John Michael Karnatz

Reality check: listen to the forwards for that rockabilly listing, there were some really great stuff forwarded! http://blog.taxi.com/forward/page/2/

Kolstad,

I agree that most of the forwarded songs were really good. Based on the above suggestions, I remixed "Sweep..." adding more pop to the snare, cleaner bass, and more hi end, less low end and increased vol on acoustic guitar. If you guys have a chance, I'd really appreciate your listening to the remix on my Taxi site HTTP://www.taxi.com/jmkslyder , "Sweep Me Off My Feet" .

Thanks a bunch!

John Michael Karnatz