Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC076 December 2023 - Voting until 03-JAN-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 02:01 CET
by Mellow Browne
Hello,
Edit: I forgot to copy the complete feedback, one participant was missing.
I apologise.
This month I learned the importance of the key of a song when composing. At a certain point I was looking if I could transpose the song because the lowest bass note I used was a Bb 0 and I couldn’t really hear/feel that note. But the vibe was totally gone in another key so I decided to keep and concentrate on the sound design and mixing of that bass sound to compensate the lack of energy down there. It was challenging but at the end I’m happy with the result.
Here is my feedback, and please, don’t take it personal, it is just the way I personally „feel“ and see music. I really love tension and release from strong chord progressions and voicings, melody is definitely not the main thing which drives me. I need a certain feel and vibe when listening to music and not a melody I can whistle or hum. Give me chords and I create my own melody if needed.
So, here we go:
My voting:
Edit: I forgot to copy the complete feedback, one participant was missing.
I apologise. This month I learned the importance of the key of a song when composing. At a certain point I was looking if I could transpose the song because the lowest bass note I used was a Bb 0 and I couldn’t really hear/feel that note. But the vibe was totally gone in another key so I decided to keep and concentrate on the sound design and mixing of that bass sound to compensate the lack of energy down there. It was challenging but at the end I’m happy with the result.
Here is my feedback, and please, don’t take it personal, it is just the way I personally „feel“ and see music. I really love tension and release from strong chord progressions and voicings, melody is definitely not the main thing which drives me. I need a certain feel and vibe when listening to music and not a melody I can whistle or hum. Give me chords and I create my own melody if needed.
So, here we go:
► Show Spoiler
Brandon740
Very calm and well chosen chord progression. Drum programming is appropriate but I think more realistic sounding samples (especially the snare) would fit better. Very relaxing vibe. The drums would benefit of more presence, volume and more low end of the kick.
I don´t know but the voicing of the chords of the guitar is not the best (too wide) or some notes sound „off“ and out of tune to me overall. There is a certain dissonance between the piano and the guitar chords I hear and which I find distracting overall.
It gets even more obvious in the „B“ part or bridge, the piano and the guitars are clashing and I have the impression there are two different scales or keys playing.
The electric guitar gives it a nice climax and is a highlight in your production, I also hear a pad/organ in the background. The end is a bit „strange“ because except the pad all other instruments are fading out very fast. I would have love to hear the song decreasing in tempo towards the end. The mixing is ok, only the electric guitar is standing out volume-wise. Unfortunately no download link.
Overall solid work.
Lady Incognito
Interesting vibe, I like the instrumentation, the percussion groove and the great filter fx. The song has a very romantic feeling overall, not only because of the title and the lyrics. It is very calm and I enjoyed it while listening. It is rather „simple“, and I mean this as a compliment, because regarding the length of 03:28 it was not repetitive to me.
The singing and the performance are both good and really fit the music very well. The mix is good, I just think the vocals could be more clear with a touch of eq @ 3-4 kHz to bring them more to the front and some more compression to fix them in the center stage. I find them sometimes a bit buried under the instrumental. Unfortunately no download link.
Overall a good entry.
1ktone
This is more abstract music and has a slight meditative vibe. It has something relaxing and calming even though most instruments are very plucky and sharp which is a hard contrast, maybe this was on purpose, I don’t know. Unfortunately, there is no big changes in the overall structure, apart from the choir that comes in. Overall, I find the song too repetitive, maybe a change in the key could help to build some more tension and action. Also, the track is very low in volume.
aFutureinNoise
Very unusual chord progression and melody structure overall, I had to listen to it a few times before I could „feel“ it, this is not the typical „pop song“. Overall, I find this is an interesting entry, the instrumentation is good, but I find most instruments sound very „cheap“. I think with real instruments, or more realistic sounds, the song could have been more pleasant (at least) to my ears. Also, even though it is not stated I can hear the „autotuning“ here and there a bit too much. The vocal recording is really good, she has a nice and clean voice. The overall mixing is ok, but I like I said, I don’t like the sound of the vsts.
Overall solid work.
Api ZZ
Another unusual entry which is not „popular music“. What I really like is the odd meter and the groove and rhythm. Another good thing is the „B“ part which creates some variation. When listening to it I had think of Tibet and Himalaya. Overall, I find your entry a bit too repetitive or too experimental for such a „competition“. Of course, the main goal should be to have fun and to enter into new territories. End yes, at the end it is all a matter of taste and this is just my opinion and my personal and musical point of view. I can hear some distortion in the mix, it is in the right channel when the choir comes in during the „B“ part.
Overall an interesting entry.
Becsey gyorgi
Well composed entry, this could be something for a movie or TV commercial. The instrumentation is very powerful and the composition is very „cliché“. I have to admit, I don’t like Christmas songs at all and I certainly don’t like this style of classical (Christmas) music, but your entry is very strong. I can hear the dedication and the effort. I have nothing to complain here. Awesome work!
Colorado weeks
Nice retro vibe and cool instrumentation. Super cool chord progression and a nice bridge part. I like the idea and the route you went with this song from a musical point of view. There is just something about the mix and the master which makes the song sound a bit „cheap“, maybe due to some heavy compression and/or saturation (I assume from Ozone 10). The vocal performance is solid, at times I just can hear too much of „autotuning“. The song would benefit from a more open sound, it sounds like under a blanket and lacks of some hitting transients. But overall, a very good entry.
Doc John
Although I don’t like Christmas songs the composition is nice and I really like the bass sound. The instrumentation is well chosen. But, I have to admit I don’t like this robotic sounding singing, it’s not convincing me, and I feel like the lyrics are ai-generated. It has to do with the cadence and flow, the rhythmic does not sound human to my ears. But I could be wrong and I certainly don’t want to offend you. The mix is good. Overall, this is a good entry although it sounds very sterile and generic.
EsteveCorbera
What I like about this entry is the shuffle groove somewhere in the middle of the song. But it feels very disconnected to the rest of the instrumentation and groove especially @ 02:43 (chord switch on beat 13/14). In my opinion this sounds like random music (no offense) with no real goal or intention, emotionally it stays in this everlasting build up of friendly chords(all white keys), there is no real tension and release and I can’t find a clear structure. Overall I would recommend you to have a look @ something like Scaler2 or similar to make your music more interesting and playful. I have already noticed this in previous entries.
KukoBass
I find the melody and motif very calming. I like that you have an A and a B part, I also like the instrumentation. The horns really sound nice, the drums are powerful and have the right amount of presence and punch. Only the repeating the drum fill is a bit annoying. The clarinet sounds a bit generic/sterile and unrealistic because some notes are slightly overlapping. The performance would benefit from legato playing. Overall a good entry.
Merci ferdi
Cool instrumentation, great half time drum programming. I like that you worked on the mixing, now the lyrics can be heard clearly. Normally I struggle with french lyrics (mainly „le verlan“), although I can speak it fluently. So, it is nice to understand the vocals. I also really like the musical direction of your entry, even though it is a bit short. A second verse would have been nice. The vocal harmonies in the bridge are cool. The mix is good overall (but it has an integrated of -13.6 LUFS and max peak @ -0.1 dBTP). Really good work!
MSGaltsweet
Another calm and meditative entry which is more on the „boring“ side of music. The instrumentation is very simple, the piano sounds are nice with that little delay fx. But I think another synth pad sound would give the piano performance more depth and realism. I like the little changes in feeling with the alteration @ 02:00 of the synth pad, I wish you would have made more of these to change the mood more often and to create more tension and release between „light and shadow“. Overall, a very simple entry but, I could enjoy it in a way while listening.
VCA-089
Nice style and superb intro fx. I really like the instrumentation, the vibe and the musical idea of your entry. The only thing I have to critic is the mixing, it sounds a bit weak (like under a blanket) and distorted (I think because of the use of „cassette“ on almost every channel?). It sounds like the bitrate is reduced or something, which I don’´t like. I think your entry would benefit from more punchier drums and a more hip hop orientated mixing approach (massive low end from both the bass and the kick). Overall a very good entrance!
Arelem
This entry absolutely stands out, it is very hard and pretty loud. Personally, I’m very big fan of rap and I think your voice is pretty nice for such a hardcore genre. I wouldn’t really call it Trap, this is more Trapcore or something, especially because of the distorted vocals. I think your flow is good for the most part (apart from the „touch the sky“ part), although I would have loved to hear double or tripple rhyme patterns and not this „house-mouse“ rhymes. Your musical idea is a totally different approach, which still fits the theme, although it is a very dark perspective. Overall, a very solid entry.
JeroenZuiderwijk
This sounds like some pc music to me with some 808/909-ish generic drums and plucky synth and pad sounds. I hear a „A and B“ part which creates some tension and release. But overall, this entry sounds too generic and „wild“ to my ears. I don’t really find an emotional anchor and it seems a bit like random music to me. I would recommend you to use something like Scaler 2 to upgrade your musical ideas a bit.
Very calm and well chosen chord progression. Drum programming is appropriate but I think more realistic sounding samples (especially the snare) would fit better. Very relaxing vibe. The drums would benefit of more presence, volume and more low end of the kick.
I don´t know but the voicing of the chords of the guitar is not the best (too wide) or some notes sound „off“ and out of tune to me overall. There is a certain dissonance between the piano and the guitar chords I hear and which I find distracting overall.
It gets even more obvious in the „B“ part or bridge, the piano and the guitars are clashing and I have the impression there are two different scales or keys playing.
The electric guitar gives it a nice climax and is a highlight in your production, I also hear a pad/organ in the background. The end is a bit „strange“ because except the pad all other instruments are fading out very fast. I would have love to hear the song decreasing in tempo towards the end. The mixing is ok, only the electric guitar is standing out volume-wise. Unfortunately no download link.
Overall solid work.
Lady Incognito
Interesting vibe, I like the instrumentation, the percussion groove and the great filter fx. The song has a very romantic feeling overall, not only because of the title and the lyrics. It is very calm and I enjoyed it while listening. It is rather „simple“, and I mean this as a compliment, because regarding the length of 03:28 it was not repetitive to me.
The singing and the performance are both good and really fit the music very well. The mix is good, I just think the vocals could be more clear with a touch of eq @ 3-4 kHz to bring them more to the front and some more compression to fix them in the center stage. I find them sometimes a bit buried under the instrumental. Unfortunately no download link.
Overall a good entry.
1ktone
This is more abstract music and has a slight meditative vibe. It has something relaxing and calming even though most instruments are very plucky and sharp which is a hard contrast, maybe this was on purpose, I don’t know. Unfortunately, there is no big changes in the overall structure, apart from the choir that comes in. Overall, I find the song too repetitive, maybe a change in the key could help to build some more tension and action. Also, the track is very low in volume.
aFutureinNoise
Very unusual chord progression and melody structure overall, I had to listen to it a few times before I could „feel“ it, this is not the typical „pop song“. Overall, I find this is an interesting entry, the instrumentation is good, but I find most instruments sound very „cheap“. I think with real instruments, or more realistic sounds, the song could have been more pleasant (at least) to my ears. Also, even though it is not stated I can hear the „autotuning“ here and there a bit too much. The vocal recording is really good, she has a nice and clean voice. The overall mixing is ok, but I like I said, I don’t like the sound of the vsts.
Overall solid work.
Api ZZ
Another unusual entry which is not „popular music“. What I really like is the odd meter and the groove and rhythm. Another good thing is the „B“ part which creates some variation. When listening to it I had think of Tibet and Himalaya. Overall, I find your entry a bit too repetitive or too experimental for such a „competition“. Of course, the main goal should be to have fun and to enter into new territories. End yes, at the end it is all a matter of taste and this is just my opinion and my personal and musical point of view. I can hear some distortion in the mix, it is in the right channel when the choir comes in during the „B“ part.
Overall an interesting entry.
Becsey gyorgi
Well composed entry, this could be something for a movie or TV commercial. The instrumentation is very powerful and the composition is very „cliché“. I have to admit, I don’t like Christmas songs at all and I certainly don’t like this style of classical (Christmas) music, but your entry is very strong. I can hear the dedication and the effort. I have nothing to complain here. Awesome work!
Colorado weeks
Nice retro vibe and cool instrumentation. Super cool chord progression and a nice bridge part. I like the idea and the route you went with this song from a musical point of view. There is just something about the mix and the master which makes the song sound a bit „cheap“, maybe due to some heavy compression and/or saturation (I assume from Ozone 10). The vocal performance is solid, at times I just can hear too much of „autotuning“. The song would benefit from a more open sound, it sounds like under a blanket and lacks of some hitting transients. But overall, a very good entry.
Doc John
Although I don’t like Christmas songs the composition is nice and I really like the bass sound. The instrumentation is well chosen. But, I have to admit I don’t like this robotic sounding singing, it’s not convincing me, and I feel like the lyrics are ai-generated. It has to do with the cadence and flow, the rhythmic does not sound human to my ears. But I could be wrong and I certainly don’t want to offend you. The mix is good. Overall, this is a good entry although it sounds very sterile and generic.
EsteveCorbera
What I like about this entry is the shuffle groove somewhere in the middle of the song. But it feels very disconnected to the rest of the instrumentation and groove especially @ 02:43 (chord switch on beat 13/14). In my opinion this sounds like random music (no offense) with no real goal or intention, emotionally it stays in this everlasting build up of friendly chords(all white keys), there is no real tension and release and I can’t find a clear structure. Overall I would recommend you to have a look @ something like Scaler2 or similar to make your music more interesting and playful. I have already noticed this in previous entries.
KukoBass
I find the melody and motif very calming. I like that you have an A and a B part, I also like the instrumentation. The horns really sound nice, the drums are powerful and have the right amount of presence and punch. Only the repeating the drum fill is a bit annoying. The clarinet sounds a bit generic/sterile and unrealistic because some notes are slightly overlapping. The performance would benefit from legato playing. Overall a good entry.
Merci ferdi
Cool instrumentation, great half time drum programming. I like that you worked on the mixing, now the lyrics can be heard clearly. Normally I struggle with french lyrics (mainly „le verlan“), although I can speak it fluently. So, it is nice to understand the vocals. I also really like the musical direction of your entry, even though it is a bit short. A second verse would have been nice. The vocal harmonies in the bridge are cool. The mix is good overall (but it has an integrated of -13.6 LUFS and max peak @ -0.1 dBTP). Really good work!
MSGaltsweet
Another calm and meditative entry which is more on the „boring“ side of music. The instrumentation is very simple, the piano sounds are nice with that little delay fx. But I think another synth pad sound would give the piano performance more depth and realism. I like the little changes in feeling with the alteration @ 02:00 of the synth pad, I wish you would have made more of these to change the mood more often and to create more tension and release between „light and shadow“. Overall, a very simple entry but, I could enjoy it in a way while listening.
VCA-089
Nice style and superb intro fx. I really like the instrumentation, the vibe and the musical idea of your entry. The only thing I have to critic is the mixing, it sounds a bit weak (like under a blanket) and distorted (I think because of the use of „cassette“ on almost every channel?). It sounds like the bitrate is reduced or something, which I don’´t like. I think your entry would benefit from more punchier drums and a more hip hop orientated mixing approach (massive low end from both the bass and the kick). Overall a very good entrance!
Arelem
This entry absolutely stands out, it is very hard and pretty loud. Personally, I’m very big fan of rap and I think your voice is pretty nice for such a hardcore genre. I wouldn’t really call it Trap, this is more Trapcore or something, especially because of the distorted vocals. I think your flow is good for the most part (apart from the „touch the sky“ part), although I would have loved to hear double or tripple rhyme patterns and not this „house-mouse“ rhymes. Your musical idea is a totally different approach, which still fits the theme, although it is a very dark perspective. Overall, a very solid entry.
JeroenZuiderwijk
This sounds like some pc music to me with some 808/909-ish generic drums and plucky synth and pad sounds. I hear a „A and B“ part which creates some tension and release. But overall, this entry sounds too generic and „wild“ to my ears. I don’t really find an emotional anchor and it seems a bit like random music to me. I would recommend you to use something like Scaler 2 to upgrade your musical ideas a bit.
My voting:
► Show Spoiler
7 pts - Becsey Gyorgi
6 pts - VCA-089
5 pts - Merci Ferdi
4 pts - Colorado Weeks
3 pts - Lady Incognita
2 pts - Kuko Bass
1 pt - Arelem
6 pts - VCA-089
5 pts - Merci Ferdi
4 pts - Colorado Weeks
3 pts - Lady Incognita
2 pts - Kuko Bass
1 pt - Arelem
