an experiment with a different genre.

[Hipster Bales]

Hey guys.

I made a new track a few weeks ago during the production of Hemsworth, but it's not the dance music that I usually do, it's more of a slow pop song. It's not that great, but it's good to show that I can create different styles.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u8A0dL ... sp=sharing

It took me like 2 days to do (this was for a music grade at school) because I had to use FL's default samples (which are kind of good in my opinion) so any review would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[TechHaus]

Listen to some Bobby Brown, Bel Biv Devoe, Another Bad Creation, even some Janet Jackson... synth has be funkier and the drums have to punch harder. Maybe another layer w/ the drums. Just imo.

But that new jack swing groove is kind of there. Not sure if that's what you were going for but you did a little bit of a late 80's early 90's thing.

[Hipster Bales]

Listen to some Bobby Brown, Bel Biv Devoe, Another Bad Creation, even some Janet Jackson... synth has be funkier and the drums have to punch harder. Maybe another layer w/ the drums. Just imo.

But that new jack swing groove is kind of there. Not sure if that's what you were going for but you did a little bit of a late 80's early 90's thing.

Thanks for the feedback! I'm not releasing this one though, as this isn't my main genre

[aaron aardvark]

Hipster Bales,
Thank you for the review! Now your song: sounds quite pleasant and upbeat. Some good vocals wouldn't hurt. Though it's quite good as is. Would be good for background music for a video or a TV show.

[Hipster Bales]

Here's Hemsworth, the track I was talking about on the topic header.

[Paulieworld]

This is a great backing track for some vocals. Have you ever checked out Looperman? They have lots of good acapella vocal tracks that you can use with your music. There are many different genres to select from, although Rap seems to be the main one. I don’t do much of that since I’m an old, suburban white guy. Most provide a key and tempo to work with. I have gotten some “interesting” results by ignoring both and just see what happens. I recently posted something called Atmosphere that uses vocals by a UK dude named CallMeDezz. He has a great voice and writes some decent lyrics. I did a piece called I Swear To God where the music was finished before I added the vocals. I completely ignored key and tempo and just overdubbed it as-is. It got a few thousand plays!

As a lifelong musician, I lean towards instrumental music, but the vocal stuff seems to get a lot more plays, if that’s your goal. As I recall, you are a young dude with many years ahead of you. Keep on making original music. Maybe some day I will say… yeah, I knew that guy before he became famous!

Decades ago, we would go to see a local band named Cheap Trick for $2 at crappy Chicago rock clubs. They did pretty well for themselves! We opened for them in the late 90s at a big outdoor summer festival. It was a blast!

[Hipster Bales]

This is a great backing track for some vocals. Have you ever checked out Looperman? They have lots of good acapella vocal tracks that you can use with your music. There are many different genres to select from, although Rap seems to be the main one. I don’t do much of that since I’m an old, suburban white guy. Most provide a key and tempo to work with. I have gotten some “interesting” results by ignoring both and just see what happens. I recently posted something called Atmosphere that uses vocals by a UK dude named CallMeDezz. He has a great voice and writes some decent lyrics. I did a piece called I Swear To God where the music was finished before I added the vocals. I completely ignored key and tempo and just overdubbed it as-is. It got a few thousand plays!

As a lifelong musician, I lean towards instrumental music, but the vocal stuff seems to get a lot more plays, if that’s your goal. As I recall, you are a young dude with many years ahead of you. Keep on making original music. Maybe some day I will say… yeah, I knew that guy before he became famous!

Decades ago, we would go to see a local band named Cheap Trick for $2 at crappy Chicago rock clubs. They did pretty well for themselves! We opened for them in the late 90s at a big outdoor summer festival. It was a blast!

Thanks! I might record my own vocals if I get the chance. My goal is to make music I like making and post it. I’m currently working on a new song, I don’t know when I’ll be done though

[eassae]

I think taming 2500Hz on your snares and hats will help the mix a bit. All the structural elements are here for a standard track except maybe a top-line melody. I think you should look at expanding your chord repertoire, both in content and how they are played. Those stabby, parallel fifths don't, almost can't, lead to something that really catches the ear harmonically. Also, I mentioned this in your other tracks, but I still think you need to add some more sonic variation and texture to everything.

I don't say any of this to discourage you—it seems that you are putting a decent amount of effort into your musical journey, and I think you can start pushing yourself a bit further. This may require seeking out some mentors, whether they be someone you actually know, more traditional education(I think this will lead to the least interesting results, but I have a bad attitude about that sort of thing:), or other media based sources…youtubers, books, dissecting tracks you like…

Keep at it.

[Hipster Bales]

I think taming 2500Hz on your snares and hats will help the mix a bit. All the structural elements are here for a standard track except maybe a top-line melody. I think you should look at expanding your chord repertoire, both in content and how they are played. Those stabby, parallel fifths don't, almost can't, lead to something that really catches the ear harmonically. Also, I mentioned this in your other tracks, but I still think you need to add some more sonic variation and texture to everything.

I don't say any of this to discourage you—it seems that you are putting a decent amount of effort into your musical journey, and I think you can start pushing yourself a bit further. This may require seeking out some mentors, whether they be someone you actually know, more traditional education(I think this will lead to the least interesting results, but I have a bad attitude about that sort of thing:), or other media based sources…youtubers, books, dissecting tracks you like…

Keep at it.

Thanks! School projects aren't really my top priority, so I focus on my main songs first. I've started dissecting a few tracks in my main genre after making this one (so house and trance music), so I have a clear understanding of the mixes and how I could achieve that same effect.

[Hipster Bales]

Sorry to bump this. My school wouldn't let me add the stuff you all were suggesting on the track unfortunately