Shiney New Music

Apside, anyone with big pants in the industry can get you on tv, etc. Especially with the right connections. You should be grateful you've got this far. But sometimes you have to step outside of that and become a business manager/critic within yourself, Ask yourself why is my music good? Why is my music original? How can I develop a sound in our music that could be the next wave? The music world is as volatile as the stock market. Just because 3 or 4 other bands in your area that are good rock bands might have signed does not mean that you should or will be signed. Even if you are realistically better than those other bands. Record labels will only sign a few "project" or "potential" bands or maybe none at all if the boss man decides to put his fist down. And most producers will not take the time these days to try and create "hits" with a band. They are looking for bands that have an immediate hit in their pocket. Your best bet would be to scour the landscape for a producer who's willing to sculpt your music a little more if that's possible now that you are on a fast track. The A&R guys in the business have to be careful with what they submit to their overlords cause their jobs are at stake too.

Here ya go Al (AKA Mr. Jingle) Here's your execution for Shallow Water.

First thing that came to mind that was the snare hit is not loud enough...crack that thing! It sounds very dull. Piano sounds very midi. The song sounds like a guy and his engineering skills rather than a live band. Bass is too full. When your voice comes in it's a complete let down compared with the musical intro. Vocals are a little bassy and you might want to give the vocals a bit of a boost and take some of the lows out of the vocals too. Also when you come into each phrasing of each sentence vocally you are out of sync with the vibraphone hit or whatever synth sound that is. In fact I don't think the vibraphone sounds natural timing wise. You have to be very thorough in making sure that everything is pretty close with regards to timing, that's extremely important. Even if it's off slightly. If everythings not structured correctly in a visual sense or in a timing sense you've already missed your opportunity to impress. The drums sound like they were miced with one mic - they sound like they're recorded into the same mic and are very mono. Very muddy mix so far. Everything sounds on top of everything. When you bring in the horns I would bring them outside so you hear them in more of a wide stereo approach in this song especially considering there is so much bass cluttered in the middle already. It's definitely a pleasant song but not enough of a difference between chorus and verse for it to grow wings and melody wise it's not original enough to not make it sound like 50 or maybe even a 100 more other songs played in the British charts over the last 20 years. By now that looped piano is starting to really aggravate me. I don't think you're giving it your all vocally, your words taper off here and there and the voice sounds tired and I hate to say it but old too. Need to work on vocal mixing - "clothes" sounds like "clode" or something. I don't know if it's just me but the vocals sound like they're slightly panned right which feels strange. When I hear an artist or a band I listen from the vocals down and if the music doesn't match the personality of the vocals then there's a problem. Your voice is very gruff (in a good way) and emotionally strung, maybe too predictably, and I think you would do better with music that doesn't excite us too much, maybe a little more dull. With a voice like yours you don't need a band to take over. You need subtle music that allows the attributes of your voice to shine through - melodic music but tempered slightly. Overall this song sounds very "theme like," not a radio song but more for a TV show or movie, well unless you're Wayne Newton in Vegas. Lyrics are pretty original and as a songwriter I think you've got something. Good jingle.

RE: All I Want Is You

The drummer sounds like you just dragged him out of bed or something and he has a massive hangover and I think that's mostly due to the mix. Also, I don't know if anyone knows how to mix drums these days. For gods sake, make sure the drummer doesn't sound like he's off in the corner somewhere doing his own random thing. Most of the drums sound dead and I can't even hear the beat. All I can say is snare, snare, snare. The cymbal crashes sound too irrelevent also. And you can't get away with rim taps unless they are truly dictating the beat. Playing them on the second and fourth beats like that is remisicent of an intro or "low" moment in the song and should never be done for that long, it ends up as a distraction to the ears. It's ok at the beginning for a short period but get it over with. I don't hear a firmness and intent when I listen to the drums and drummer. There's got to be energy in the drums otherwise this song will never end up on the radio. That trinket effect is good but would sound better if there was more percussion in the song, maybe a little conga. And you definitely need to pick up the tempo a hair. I would really give those electric guitars near the end more "air play" and turn them up." Those guitar parts will end up being a major part of the song and I think they're great. When your vocal is reintroduced make sure the other instrumentation is not too loud. Remember that most people listen to music through the speakers of their cars and home stereos and maybe occasionally some ceiling speakers in a shop somewhere. So when I listen to a mix (aside from the subtleties) I turn the volume down and listen to it in a normal environment and listen for what stands out and what doesn't. People like to mix these cute little perfect songs where it's got a lot of little things going on everywhere which don't matter. Too many sparse things going on. Every instrument should feel like a musician and not just a part here or there in the song. I do like the melody and find the song overall has a pleasant laid back feel. But as far as mixing goes with what you have:

Drums - make sure all the tom hits are audible along with all the other snare hits

Organ - be careful when you use an instrument that's playing the exact same thing as another instrument especially when they're both centered, it can play games with the ears. I would pan them in a way where they don't sound like they're competing against each other. And maybe add a little depth to one of them to to break them apart even more.

Guitar - I would add a bit more of a stereo effect to the guitars even at the beginning. Don't be afraid to increase their volume slightly. And let the guitar ride out rather than just picking at it - more strumming and maybe more open chords.

Vocals - I would add more lows to your voice a little bit. Find that right warmth in your voice and even make the vocals more forefront. And make sure you hold the vocals long enough at the end of each sentence. You should really go after it in the chorus.

Synth or Strings - could be turned up and balanced otherwise not worth having. Turn it up towards the last 3rd of the song end for hells sake. The song should be "kicking butt" by now.

The best piece of advice I could give to you is also to make sure the vocals stand out and don't dawdle along. One major reason songs like yours don't become hits is because the vocalist sings to the music rather than let their personality lead the music. Remember there should always be a constant rhythm when listening to a radio song. Even if the song stops for a second the listener should still be aware of the rhythmn in their head. The drums and guitar should be tattooing the melody and rhythmn into people's heads. And when writing a chorus write a melody where you climb enough notes octave wise so you lift the emotion of the song, cause if you don't you'll end up with a flat song that ends up in some college radio station's DJ's hands where only him and his housemates think it's really cool.