TAXI.com

Hello. Only on Taxi for a few months and definitely not an expert in producing and/or recording. I need some help on understanding some of the comments made on the return. The listing was for a patriotic Kid Rock sound a-like about America. I thought I nailed it. Obviously I did not. TIA for your comments and help. Wayne.

Here's the listing - https://www.taxi.com/listings/S220915CR

Here's the song - https://www.taxi.com/members/Vwh1hGKUSz ... -e-r-i-c-a

Here's the return - https://www.taxi.com/members/Vwh1hGKUSz ... n3-xfta4dA

I pasted the listing text since the link doesn't work once a listing has expired:

HIGH-ENERGY "KID ROCK"-Style COUNTRY/ROCK/HIP-HOP SONGS about AMERICA with Male Vocals are needed by a Music Supervisor for several (up to) $2,000 placements in a Hit TV Show streaming on Amazon Prime Video!

This Music Supervisor is searching for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs with Male Vocals in the general wheelhouse of the following references:

WARNING: The references may include graphic and explicit lyrics. Listener discretion is advised.

"My Kind of Country" by Kid Rock https://youtu.be/mJuIWCS49Jc

"We The People" by Kid Rock https://youtu.be/kyFnLqJx-uU

"American Rock ‘n Roll" by Kid Rock https://youtu.be/i7Aqg8SkGek

Quoting the Music Supervisor: "We're looking for some energetic Country/Rock and Rock/Hip-Hop in the vein of Kid Rock with lyric themes like: pro American exceptionalism, patriotism, Make America Great, etc."

Please send them top-notch Country/Rock/Hip-Hop Songs that are bursting with tons of impactful energy! Your submissions should have catchy melodies, easily memorable hooks, rockin' rhythms, and well-crafted lyrics centered around the themes mentioned by the Supervisor. Your arrangements can range from Country/Rock to Rock/Hip-Hop to a blend of all 3 genres – just be sure your instrumentation falls in the general ballpark of the references (think electric guitars, hard-hitting beats, etc.). Whichever approach you take, please be sure your production and any virtual instruments or samples you use are high-quality and not dated sounding. Top your submissions off with passionate, assertive, well-performed Male Vocals and you could have just what this Music Supervisor needs!

This Music Supervisor has specifically requested that your lyrics are completely clean (NO profanity). Lyrics should avoid references to specific names, dates, times, and brands, as well. Do NOT copy the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use the references 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.

The estimated license fee for each of these placements is up to $2,000, depending on the ultimate use. This will be a Non-Exclusive, Direct-to-Music Supervisor placement, so you’ll get 100% of the Sync Fee, you’ll keep 100% of your Publishing and Master ownership, and you’ll also get 100% of any applicable performance royalties. No Publisher splits! You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit for this opportunity. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD; please include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. NO DEADLINE EXTENSIONS for this request. Sorry folks, but we're on an extremely tight deadline, so please don't even ask! Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Thursday, September 15th, 2022. TAXI # S220915CR

It comes down much more to the production, engineering, and performance here than the actual songwriting. That's mainly what I'm reading from the screener. Keep in mind that this is a pretty high bar listing, having an upfront fee of up to $2K. Your recording would be for use "as is" on a hit TV show. It has to be what's called "Broadcast Quality", which means maybe not as good as the radio hits but way up there in that direction. Do some A/B listens between the first Kid Rock reference, for example, and yours. Listen to the vocal performance, the sounds used (nothing synthy/dated), the clarity of the mix, etc. One thing that's easy to pick out from the get-go is your vocal sounds muffled.

I'm not a production/mix guy, but my advice is study production and engineering using books and videos. There are also lots of helpful folks here who can offer guidance. I strongly recommend you come to the Taxi Road Rally as there is a wealth of learning there as well as networking with peers. Also, consider collaborating with others who can help with the production side.

Others will chime in with more specifics on the production/engineering of your track.

Best,
Casey

Casey.....thanks very much. Good stuff!

Graham....thank you!

It sounds to me like the whole thing needs a lot of work. I thought the first little section with the chanting in it was the best part but once the verse comes it all comes across as very lacklustre.

Arrangement and production wise it's got a very dated vibe to it, the guitar part in the verse is very repetitive and the drum part is quite plodding and lacking in excitement. Like the screener said it just sounds more like a rough demo than a finished song. I think even if the song was professionally arranged and performed it would still be lacking the drive and energy of the Kid Rock tracks , so that's more of a songwriting issue than a production one.

As mentioned by others the vocals sound very odd at the moment, like you've added some effect over them like maybe an ADT and it's making them sound like they've been processed through a flange pedal. I had a listen to a few other songs on your profile and they have much clearer sounding vocals than this track , so I'm not sure what went wrong here.

Thank you C.D. Appreciated!