S240204EM - HAPPY, EMOTIONALLY UPBEAT POP INSTRUMENTALS with HORNS
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:21 pm
Hi guys,
Please help me to understand and improve in future listing. I sent 2 songs for this listing:
HAPPY, EMOTIONALLY UPBEAT POP INSTRUMENTALS with HORNS are needed by a globally distributed Music Licensing Company that has a lot of success landing TONS of Major Network placements every year.
This Company is looking for Instrumentals that are in the general stylistic ballpark of the examples below:
SCHEELS Commercial
"Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man
"Valerie" by Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse
Please submit well-crafted Pop Instrumentals loaded with happy, emotionally upbeat energy, hooky melodies, danceable, upbeat rhythms, and dynamic arrangements with forward motion. Instrumentation that's in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the references will work best (think horns, guitar, drums, bass, etc.). Please make sure that any virtual instruments or samples you use are high quality, realistic, and not dated-sounding.
Your submissions should be about 90 seconds to 2 minutes long, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Do NOT copy the referenced material in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.
2 songs were sent to this listing and the reference used was the first one:
SCHEELS Commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOZq-viT6DE
First song I sent:
https://www.taxi.com/members/WJQg0yIBTr ... 240204em_1
Critique:
What I like most about this song
Fun Swagger and Soul track. I like the blend of Rock, Pop and Funk. I like the heys. Cool horns.
I think you could improve this song by
This is fun and energetic. But the virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding. The mix could be more polished as well. Revamp your production sounds.
I returned or forwarded this song because
Could have stronger virtual sounds and a more balanced mix.
Second song:
https://www.taxi.com/members/WJQg0yIBTr ... 240204em_2
Critique:
What I like most about this song
Another fun Swagger and Soul track with Marching Band and Surf Rock flavor. Cool quirky 60s flavor.
I think you could improve this song by
As with "S240204EM_1," this is fun and energetic. But the virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding and could use a revamp. Needs to be warmer and more organic.
I returned or forwarded this song because
Nice potential. Just could be more polished production / virtual sounds wise.
Any advice in regard to the mix? It doesn’t sound bad when I listen to it, in the car, or headphone, I tried to match the reference and a TV commercial sounding and it was even mastered for this propose but I understand mixing is a personal choice sometimes and what sounds good for one is not good for another but I’m open to any suggestion.
But this part of the critique was odd:
“virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding and could use a revamp. Needs to be warmer and more organic."
The only VST in the songs I sent is the drums and is normally quantized, the same way the reference was, all the rest is true guitar, bass, saxophone and trumpet played by musicians, no VSTs at all. So, I’m kind of confused by this…
Thanks.
Please help me to understand and improve in future listing. I sent 2 songs for this listing:
HAPPY, EMOTIONALLY UPBEAT POP INSTRUMENTALS with HORNS are needed by a globally distributed Music Licensing Company that has a lot of success landing TONS of Major Network placements every year.
This Company is looking for Instrumentals that are in the general stylistic ballpark of the examples below:
SCHEELS Commercial
"Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man
"Valerie" by Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse
Please submit well-crafted Pop Instrumentals loaded with happy, emotionally upbeat energy, hooky melodies, danceable, upbeat rhythms, and dynamic arrangements with forward motion. Instrumentation that's in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the references will work best (think horns, guitar, drums, bass, etc.). Please make sure that any virtual instruments or samples you use are high quality, realistic, and not dated-sounding.
Your submissions should be about 90 seconds to 2 minutes long, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Do NOT copy the referenced material in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.
2 songs were sent to this listing and the reference used was the first one:
SCHEELS Commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOZq-viT6DE
First song I sent:
https://www.taxi.com/members/WJQg0yIBTr ... 240204em_1
Critique:
What I like most about this song
Fun Swagger and Soul track. I like the blend of Rock, Pop and Funk. I like the heys. Cool horns.
I think you could improve this song by
This is fun and energetic. But the virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding. The mix could be more polished as well. Revamp your production sounds.
I returned or forwarded this song because
Could have stronger virtual sounds and a more balanced mix.
Second song:
https://www.taxi.com/members/WJQg0yIBTr ... 240204em_2
Critique:
What I like most about this song
Another fun Swagger and Soul track with Marching Band and Surf Rock flavor. Cool quirky 60s flavor.
I think you could improve this song by
As with "S240204EM_1," this is fun and energetic. But the virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding and could use a revamp. Needs to be warmer and more organic.
I returned or forwarded this song because
Nice potential. Just could be more polished production / virtual sounds wise.
Any advice in regard to the mix? It doesn’t sound bad when I listen to it, in the car, or headphone, I tried to match the reference and a TV commercial sounding and it was even mastered for this propose but I understand mixing is a personal choice sometimes and what sounds good for one is not good for another but I’m open to any suggestion.
But this part of the critique was odd:
“virtual sounds are a bit too stiff and demo sounding and could use a revamp. Needs to be warmer and more organic."
The only VST in the songs I sent is the drums and is normally quantized, the same way the reference was, all the rest is true guitar, bass, saxophone and trumpet played by musicians, no VSTs at all. So, I’m kind of confused by this…
Thanks.