Mix Challenge

Please consult this news blog post regarding an overhaul to the voting mechanic. To make it simple for me for counting the votes - please use the forum usernames in your listing. Thank you!

Please also consult the previous post that features a summary for this month's mechanic (see "Bonus Info" in the red colored box).
.


This month's SWC participants giving feedback to each other is mandatory, it is the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please also do not just collect feedback, and give nothing in return. The concept of the Songwriting Competition is interaction and "learning by doing". If you have collaborated with somebody, then only the one doing the main entry needs to give feedback and vote. Bonus feedback is always welcome. However, please be open minded, objective and constructive.


INFORMATION: If you have submitted your entry in multiple file formats, the statistic sheet (posted alongside the results) will focus on the uncompressed material first (WAV), then FLAC, then MP3. The higher the quality (e.g. lossless format), the less possible loss on bonus points for "Loudness Specs" due to offsets introduced by a used CODEC.

TrojakEW – Light In A Dark
Fits the brief nicely. The vocal samples sit very well within the arrangement, as do the guitars, and the gently rambling looping rhythm section conjures up the feel of an evening walk very well. The mix all sounds very good to my ears with a very natural feel, good use of the stereo field and plenty of detail in the arrangement. My only suggestion for improvement would have been to have added a different variation/section in the middle but I appreciate that there were time constraints working against you

Elcubano67 – Leave
You have produced a very accomplished song here, the structure is quite loose but I think that suits the feel you have created with the use of Synth V and some excellent guitar playing (I love the guitar tones you have chosen). Nice drum programming with those snare rolls lifting the rhythm arrangement. Your lyrics are absolutely fine and nothing to worry about there. I know exactly what you mean when you say that using Synth V feels more difficult than actually singing! My only suggestion for improvement here would be to spend time doing some fine editing of the expressive parameters within the program to make it sound more natural and less ‘Synth V’

kukobass – Summer Evening Walk
This is a very relaxing track which fits the brief nicely and really does conjure up the feel of a gentle evening stroll. Your choice of sounds is perfect and the gentle chord progressions with meandering guitar line work well. The variation at 1:20 comes just at the right time although I would have extended that section a little more within the arrangement. As far as the mix is concerned there are a couple of issues to address. The guitar and electric piano are a little too loud to my ears and could also do with some reverb to sit better with the drums

Esteve Corbera – Passejeda Tots Tres
This is a another very interesting track, nice laid back feel and some good choice of sounds which create a lovely chilled vibe which fits the brief well. Overall the arrangement is good. I do like the panned synth Fx but by the end of the track I did feel that the panning effect had been perhaps a little overused. The pulsing synth pad with runs throughout the track was too loud in the mix for my taste and could do with being pulled back just a little bit. The brass sounds however fit very well and create some nice variation with the freeform arrangement that suits this style of track so well, well done

VCA-089 – I Walk Alone
Great track reminiscent of early The Cure with that great bass sound. I hope you are pleased with your new bass, it sounds great here. Like all the tracks this month it fits the brief fine, although it did not feel like a relaxing walk, your choice of chord progressions created more of a sense of menace and threat! As I was listening to the mix I kept saying to myself ‘this sounds a little muddy, lacking any top end sparkle, as if it’s all been recorded on an old 4 track cassette Portastudio – then I checked your production notes and realised it was intentional, genuine 80s feel, that Waves cassette plugin is spot on!!! Great feel and great track

PonySho – Blacktop Road
This took me by surprise as I was expecting all instrumentals this month. Congratulations for producing a proper song, and a good song too. You have a great voice that suits this style well, nice delivery, good lyrics with great storytelling. I have used Elevenlabs AI many times for spoken vocals in the past but never knew it could also do sound effects – very impressive and useful to know. I appreciate that this is a demo level recording, the guitars are a little too loud in parts and the drums a little too lost in the mix in the chorus for my taste, but the overall arrangement is great and in a songwriting challenge that is what counts much more, the slightly ‘unfinished’ feel to the mix suits the style well anyway. Great track

Chasey24 – The Stroll
I like the jazzy feel and the ‘walking’ double bass line works extremely well for the brief, gives a true sense of strolling along. I did like the freeform structure, the timing is a little loose here and there, perhaps a little too loose even for jazz! The mix sounds ok to me and you have made good use of the stereo field with your instrument positioning. I would suggest a few changes to the arrangement. The piano part needs fleshing out with some individual note runs to create some variation from the repeated chord playing. Both the trumpet and saxophone sound very MIDI and need some velocity/phrasing/articulations to improve the realism which can be quite lot of work but really does pay off, although I appreciate it does rely on the source sample set providing these options and it may not have been available in the instrument you used

dsf – Under Gas Light
It is a shame that you had to withdraw from the competition this month but I understand your reasons. This is a great instrumental track which could serve very well as background music to an evening walk. Good choice of sounds, particularly that lovely flute. I like your arrangement particularly the ‘call and response’ of the different instruments throughout the track. I was less keen on keyboard sound that comes in at 1:00 and would probably have stuck with piano for all the keyboard sounds, the piano also needs to be louder in the mix throughout the whole track. Good effort

1) PonySho
2) VCA-089
3) Elcubano
4) TrojakEW
5) Esteve Corbera

MY VOTES from 1 being my favourite
1 Doc Jon - City 17
2 VCA-089 - I Walk Alone
3 Elcubano - Leave
4 TrojakEW - Light in A Dark
5 EsteveCorbera - Passejada Tots Tres

FEEDBACK
VCA-089 - I WALK ALONE
A good punchy-sounding track with a great balance. Good contrast between sections like the change at 1.13 where the musical vibe hangs for a moment, then at 1.18 with the progression change adds a nice musical build. I like the width and spaciousness in this track. The change at 1.55 has a sinister vibe. This sounds like a movie soundtrack - in a good way. I was hoping that there might have been a melodic line to really hook me in but I feel like that wasn't your intention with this piece of music.
If I picture somebody walking to this song, it seems like a confident, almost arrogant individual with a clear destination in mind. I like the way you've settled the kick and snare well into the track but still kept them punchy. Great work. Remember, it's only an opinion.

ESTEVECORBERA - PASSEJADA TOTS TRES
I like the texture of elements at the beginning of this song. There is an interesting disharmony at 0.55 that creates a lot of tension - not sure if this was intentional, but if not, I'd call that a happy accident :-). The emotion I'm getting is a kind of vanilla daydream, like there's no angst or emotion, just a 'chilled out stroll with nothing on my mind' kinda vibe. I did find the two-chord progression a little mundane (sorry!) like the music just rocked back and forward and didn't really take me on much of a journey. However, it's a relaxing and well organised piece that I enjoyed - thanks. Again, a nice soundtrack vibe. Great work and remember, it's only an opinion.

KUKOBASS - SUMMER EVENING BRAKE
I like the real acoustic drum sound and the spacial depth that puts them further back into the mix right at the start, but I would have liked the drums to be a little more prominent. Another relaxed and chilled-out instrumental. I liked how the progression moved to new places - this kept the song interesting. I thought the acoustic guitar sample was a bit loud in the mix and kind of floated above the rest of the instrumentation. Anyway, really good work and remember, it's only my opinion.

ELCOBANO - LEAVE
I really like the intro to this song. It builds tension and the expectation of good things to come. The female harmonies were a nice touch. I felt that the electric guitar solo was fighting with the vocals. The soloing was SO GOOD that it should have been made a feature, as in, those vocals stop and the guitar steps into the limelight as a lead element. I would have preferred a little contrast/relief earlier in the song by way of some variation in the arrangement. The chord progression gave a strong emotional sense of yearning - it's awesome to be able to impart any emotion through music so well done. The song finishes abruptly on a snare hit, which I like because it's unexpected. Great work. Remember, it's only an opinion.

DOC JON - NATURE'S THERAPY
Initially, I didn't connect with this song, but as it progressed it seemed very much like a Beatle's song without the vocals, which I quickly appreciated. I found the chord progression to be a bit overused (1-5-4?), but I really do like the way the song builds, especially with the climatic bagpipe solo at 2.10. This is a well organised arrangement of instrumentation that develops into a full and interesting production with lots of space and depth. You've really handled frequency masking well in the mix. I like the many different melodic and pad elements that have clearly been crafted with some effort. Quite an uplifting piece of music. I had this feeling of the 'elation of a homecoming' vibe. I think a lot of effort has been put into this track. Great work and commendable effort IMO.

TROJAKEW - LIGHT IN A DARK
What really appeals to me about this song is the Middle Eastern vibe of the female voice. I was hoping there would be more of this vocal and I felt a bit disappointed when it stopped at around 0.34 seconds in. I like the balance of the percussion/drums - punchy but nicely mixed. The guitar solo at 1.04 was pleasant, prominent and nicely balanced in the mix. As the song progressed, I wished that there might have been a bit more movement in the chord progression as this song remained on essentially one chord throughout. I got a slightly solemn and 'groundhog day' vibe from this track - not a criticism just a comment on my experience of the emotion I got from listening - if that's what you were going for, then great! You nailed it! Great work and remember, it's only an opinion.

CHASEY24 - THE STROLL
It was good to hear a blues entry in this competition. It liked how the blues progression transitioned into a jazz-style chord progression as the song developed at around 1.25 - this added a freshness to the production. However, I think the song could have been improved if it avoided the 'always on' syndrome that plagues so much music, that is, having all instruments playing non-stop from start to finish. There's so much magic in contrasting song sections; less elements in the verses and more in the choruses...light and shade, if you like. I would have loved to hear a melodic hook that the song kept returning to. To add realism to your sax, it's good to have a bit more space between runs to simulate a real player taking a breath. It's clear that a lot of effort has gone into your song based on the many instruments playing. I'd love to hear this song played by a real band! Please take my comments with a pinch of salt and keep on pushing yourself to make great music.