Hi,
This track, my second upload, was recently rejected. I’d really appreciate some feedback. Maybe from others who have been rejected before and remade their track? What should I change? How different should a remake be? Or should I not bother?
Many thanks,
Mike
Hey @HearThisMusic / Mike,
I had a listen and it’s a nice fun track, though there are certain aspects that need to be improved upon for the track to be commercially viable - mainly in the composition and structure. Here are some general comments:
Composition:
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In general, I noticed a distinct lack of harmony and melody in the composition; as well as too many changes throughout the track for it to be accepted as a stock music item.
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The intro is quite abstract sounding and unwelcoming. Usually with this style you’d be aiming for use in business / corporate / promotional videos and in this case the introductory melody doesn’t sound very memorable. Try starting a simple melody using only the acoustic guitar harmonics or the piano and then slowly build the track around it with a simple chord progression.
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The right-panned background delayed piano (mainly from 0:34) doesn’t support the flow of the track - I would work on making it sound simpler, more melodic and supportive.
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The background wooshes throughout the track sound a little overpowering and distracting, especially in the transition from 0:24.
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The section between 1:04 and 1:36 sounds out of place. The transitions (in this case, modulations) create a strange mood change and departure from the original vibe of the track. With stock music it’s best to avoid key-changes or mood changes as this takes away commercial viability. Unless in the rare case where buyer is looking for a track that switches mood at certain areas, it’s best to keep a consistent feel and mood throughout the entire track.
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Aside from the melody from 1:04, the track lacks an overall theme, hook or motif to hold it together. I would work on a simple but memorable riff to unify the piece.
Production:
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The wobbly synth at 0:50 doesn’t fit in my opinion - it sounds a little comical to be used in a style like this.
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The same goes for the the quirky square synth, which sounds out of place in the context of the rest of the track.
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The delayed piano sounds quite choppy and robotic - consider tweaking the velocity, attack and release times of the MIDI notes to add a more ‘human’ touch to the composition.
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The mix itself sounds fine, although with SoundCloud’s compression it’s hard to accurately observe the high end, though by the sounds of it, nothing seems wildly off here.
All in all, I’d say it’s the composition and structure that’s mainly letting the track down. One of the main goals of writing stock is to create an item that’s as versatile as possible - ie usable in a variety of projects, which is why sticking to simpler, more flowing structures, and crafting simple but memorable melody and harmony is important.
Hope you find this feedback useful!
James / AA
I think Aurus Audio nailed it, ask yourself the following question: Would I hear this track in a commercial?
Commercial value is the most important feature a track needs to posess.
I think overall this an awesome track, and you should by no means scrap it or toss it trash.
There are some awfully hooky parts, and just a couple things need some attention.
See if you can find a new, less playful synth patch for that section. Synths can be dangerous, as they can easily make a great track seem lacking if they aren’t powerful patches.
Also, I would I would try to change some velocities on the plucky piano part to make it seem less stiff and more alive. You could probably add some low end in there too to make the track feel and sound more “full” to the listener.
Finally, at about a minute in, it sounds to my ear like you modulated or had some harsh chord transition into the verse? I would definitely take a look at that and see if you can smooth it out.
Overall, great work. I’m sure it will be accepted if you tweak some of the things I mentioned, as well as Aurus Audio’s tips.