Month: July 2016

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Love song

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Beck (Producer, Remixer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Ian Lee - Love SongThis is a nicely done ballad. Your production value is always really very nice. You know how to build a track and your songs and productions always sound extremely good.I love the electric piano intro with the synth embellishment. Love how the drum break brings in the rest of the instrumentation. As with all of your productions the dynamics are excellent. It's really very well done.Here's my issue. The song itself seems a little dated to me and a little lyrically pedestrian. Especially when compared to the previous track 'Missi'. Missi has a far more contemporary feel than this track and I think is 'Missi' is much more commercially viable in the current market place. I would also maybe try to find a more clever title. Something in the lyric that can work as a title as well.That said. Love Song is still a very nice track. I would just lean a little more towards the vibe and production of 'Missi' because I think that will serve you better in this marketplace.Artist's Submitted Question: Hi Doug, Thanks for your previous review. This certainly spurred me on to write more material and I've now completed a full album of 11 songs. I'd like your feedback on artists you feel are in a similar genre and which distribution channels might be best for me to focus on. Also do you feel this is of release quality or are there areas I still need to work more on? I'm now starting to write my next album and would like to incorporate what ever I can to improve and develop my sound. Thanks IanLBHey Ian,Like I stated above. I think the direction of 'Misi' is the way to go. All of your songs have great emotional appeal but 'Misi' captures it in such a way that works for what is happening now in the music industry. I also think music supervisors would really love that track and style. A placement in a TV show or movie can yield big dividends for a young artist. In any event, all of your stuff is really nice and very well done. You've got serious skills!

Quote From Pro: 'Love Song' is a beautiful song about an age old emotion.

Broadjam Artist: Jim Reeder
Song: I Believe

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Chris Keaton (Music Publisher, Artist Manager, Song Plugger)

Pro General Comments: "I Believe" is an elegant and moving composition and has always been one of my favorite hymns. The melody and lyric are memories I have carried close to my hear nearly all my life. I loved singing it as a child and hearing it sung in church from the time I was very, very young. I loved it when Elvis recorded it (with his direct and emotive delivery) Your voice sounds calming and the timbre evokes the right emotions in me. I am vey impressed that you would be bold enough to tackle such a well known song and carry it off in such a professional manner. The backing vocals never shade the lead but only enhance the listener's experience. I love the guitar figure that carries the instrumental track. The sparseness of the track really makes this arrangement work...the intimacy and the tenderness of your voice match the lyric perfectly. In my humble opinion, you should have this mastered and released to CCM radio. It's a timeless message that everyone should hear. My only critique would be the reverb on the vocal...it is not my favorite. Otherwise, I am very impressed with this wonderful performance. I'm not sure what else I can say about this performance. Please keep up the great work and feel free to submit more material to me at any time!!! Thank you for submitting and allowing me to listen and respond.

Quote From Pro: This is a very impressive cover of a classic and timeless hymn.

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: Sometimes You Just Don't See It Coming 3:33

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Chris Keaton (Music Publisher, Artist Manager, Song Plugger)

Pro General Comments: This is an exceptional country song. The lyric is as strong as gas and really evokes deep emotion in the listener. The vocal reminds me of the late, great John Denver and his great song writing and vocal delivery. I am very impressed with the vocalist and the instrumentalists (it sounds like a very professional demo). This is definitely ready to be pitched to major artists in the country genre. The melody in the chorus is easy to sing and very memorable (in my professional opinion, those two elements are essential in a hit song's chorus.) I will find myself humming this melody all day long today. Let me also mention the bridge...it ties the story together in a very neat bow and does what a chorus should do...be the morale of the story. If you are not getting this song in front of music industry professionals, you certainly should be. It sounds like a hit song to this reviewer. Thanks for allowing me to hear this!

Quote From Pro: "Sometimes You Just Don't See It Coming" is a hit song waiting to be discovered. It has timeless appeal and should be in Country Radio right now!!!

Broadjam Artist: Thierry Coupey
Song: One Of a Kind

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Weiss (Music Supervisor, A&R)

Pro General Comments: Hi Thierry,Nice sounding song overall. Obviously it sounds like it has a special meaning to you and was written with someone specific in mind. I liked the arrangement and sectional contrast. While I don't hear it having a ton of potential in a contemporary rock market, it could make some headway in the spiritual or Christian rock area. Really solid guitar playing throughout which helps the song move along and helps the overall positivity of the message. While I'm hearing the heartfelt lyrics in the song, perhaps it hits the emotion a little too on the head. In other words, sometimes its better to leave the listener with something to ponder in terms of interpreting the lyrics, instead of going forward with a simple and overly familiar phrase like One Of A Kind.

Quote From Pro: A very positive and uplifting message in this song, along with a solid vocal and instrumental arrangement.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Missi

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Beck (Producer, Remixer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Ian Lee-MissyIan. This is really nice. What starts as a gentle folk love song explodes into an emotional musical storm. The dynamics between the start of the song and the end are fantastic.The intro of acoustic guitar and bass is very nice. I love the keys and secondary guitar that comes in with the first verse. The keyboard break between verses is very tasteful. This track is almost a throwback to the great ballads of the 60's. It has a real hint of that favor for me while at the same time being totally contemporary.The overall production suits the song perfectly. The instrumentation you chose really helps to translate the mood of this song. I can't think of anything I would have done differently on the production front.Arrangement wise the only thing I would change (and this is pretty minor) is I may have gone back for a just one quiet vocal phrase at the very end.The vocal performance is very nice. The emotion is believable and I love the secondary vocals weaving throughout the chorus. Very nice.Artist's Submitted Question: Hi Doug, This song is certainly at the more Rock end of the spectrum for me, it has a gentle opening but picks up to a more Rock ending. Do you think this style suits me? If so how can I develop this style, and is it the right direction to go or should I focus on ballads, like my other submissions? Now I have completed and recorded an album (11 songs) how should I release this? Is it worth waiting and finding a label to support me or should I release on iTunes and see how it goes? thanks IanLBHi Ian. Thanks for being patient to get these reviews.This is a great song and I think these style suites you very much. I love the mood of this track. There is nothing wrong with branching out. Very few artists do just ballads and you pulled this style off very well. I would continue to write songs in this vein. It really does work for you.As far as releasing a record now? That is such a tough question. There is certainly no harm in putting this on iTunes and other sites and promoting it through social media. If you do live shows even better. Many artitst these days are building their following organically. I can tell you first hand that a label in not the answer to everyone's problems when it comes to releasing music unless you can find a label that really believes in what you're doing. I would search out similar indie folk artist like yourself and approach those labels.

Quote From Pro: Ian Lee's song 'Missi' is a gentle love song that explodes with emotion as the song progresses. Worth a listen for sure!

Broadjam Artist: Maxim Senin
Song: Old Shoebox

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Mitch Goldfarb (Producer)

Pro General Comments: Great Intro. I love the musical line. It has an appealing euro-ethnic quality. Tempo is perfect. You captured a great toe-tapping groove.The sonics & recording are really good. There's a balance of highs & lows. The instruments are crystal clear. The sound of the acoustic guitars, the percussion, the band, and the lead instruments fit like a glove, focusing the listener on the vocals. You've captured the Knopfler quality--just right for storytelling. Your vocals make the track!The first verse pulls the listener in with its stripped down intimate feel. Try holding off on the fills and have the violin's entrance around the turn (My heart sank to the stomach). Let the track build slower. Don't be in a rush to give away all your fun musical flavors right away.The band entrance is in the correct place to build the excitement. Again, try holding off on all the fills. Let the listener enjoy the band establishing itself. Great use of the snare drum to amp up the beat. It adds real character to the track.In general, the fills (the violin, the flute, and the guitar licks) need to be mixed in a way that directs the listener. Instead of going gangbusters, I suggest picking one element at a time and allow that instrument to speak and establish itself in the holes around the vocal statements. Then switch to another instrument and do the same. At times, there is too much to focus on. All the instruments seem to be vying for the same space. Most people can process up to three ideas, but give them a forth and it all goes out the window. Plus, be careful not to let the fills obfuscate your hook line, which is great. This is a good example of where "less is more." By the way, I love your choices of the fill instruments. The colors are perfect for this song.The melody in your Pre-Chorus is a wonderful lift. The Chorus is very good too. The lyrics are just right. The vocal double gives the hook character without going overboard. I love the beat change in the Chorus. It makes it stand out as special. Nice job!The Breakdown Verse after the Solo is perfect. This creates the rollercoaster of ups and downs for the listener, and gives you an opportunity to build the track again. Well done!All the performances are very good. The track keeps chugging right along.The song feels too long. You have two Solos and a one-minute tag. By time we are at the Tag, the listener has heard everything. More licks do not make it better. If the listener isn't sold on the track by the Tag, something is wrong, which is not the case here. I suggest that you focus your creativity on leaving the listener "wanting to hear more" and not satiating them. This way they will play the song again, and again, and hopefully again. Consider dropping one of the Solos, or at least cutting them in half. Fade out much earlier. Play with getting the track down to 3:30 or even just over 3 minutes. You can always save an extended version to use elsewhere. I often create several versions of a key track to give the record company options for marketing.In addition, the Solos and the Tag needs to be focused in the mix. Direct the listener. Actively choose which instrument and which statement you want the listener to hear. Use the best licks and forget the rest. You can even create a call and response theme with trading licks back and forth, giving one part to the violin, then the next to the guitar or flute. Be careful not to have all the lead instruments speak at the same time. If you are going to cut the Solos in half, I suggest using only one instrument to make the statements in that section.One last note, consider changing the title to something more poetic, like The Only One. Even "Shoebox" would be easier for the listener to remember. The lyrics "Old Shoebox" are not in the song, only Shoebox.I've very impressed with your growth as an artist. You are bringing a maturity to your expression.Congrats on your son--a wonderful life changing experience!

Quote From Pro: "Old Shoebox" is a winner. This upbeat track focuses playfully on the age-old story of "what do you tell the new live-in girlfriend about the ex-girlfriend." If that's not enough, Maxim Senin takes the back peddling for an explanation to an art form when what tipped off the new lover is a box of old photographs, only the photos are from years of ex-girlfriends. Just try getting out of that jam with a smile and a song.

Broadjam Artist: RekLes Studios
Song: Buried Alive

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Shawn McKenzie (Producer, Artist)

Pro General Comments: You're sitting on a cool track, but you don't get to hear much of it as you have vocals riding from beginning to end. You should give your music some breathing room, by creating a 4-8 bar intro buildup and then lead into the chorus, it makes it more radio friendly that way. Your vocal styling is a little on the dated style, not a lot of dynamics in the phrasing of your words. In saying that, what is old is new now, so it could possibly work in your favour. . In the future when you are crating sung choruses don't make it too wordy, you can say more with less. Plus when a vocalist is performing live the song it allows them to catch their breath. Your vocals styling reminds me of Young MC. I could see this track being placed in a TV series or movie Drama relating to your subject matter, you can definitely get the song licenced. Take advantage of those opportunities. You have the ability to create a picture so that your audience gets involved in your song. Today's lyrics don't deal with much in terms of subject matter, with the exception of a few rappers, good to see that you stay true to your art. Keep going for it.

Quote From Pro: You have the ability to create a picture so that your audience gets involved in your song. Today's lyrics don't deal with much in terms of subject matter, with the exception of a few rappers, good to see that you stay true to your art. Keep going for it.

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: If I Had The Time Kmix7

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
A.J. Gundell (Songwriter, Composer, Music Supervisor, Producer)

Pro General Comments: "If I Had The Time" is a genuine, heartfelt song, sensitively delivered by the warm and believable voice of Matt Taylor. The subject matter has that universal appeal that makes every listener want to listen: who hasn't yearned for the day, or even just a day, when we could all have a little more time to do the things we really want to do? That idea is effectively woven into the tag line of the A section--making for that sweet marriage of main idea with hook and title. With an authentic, country/folk/Americana backing track and beautiful, organic instrumentation, this one is right in the singer-songwriter's pocket and Matt sells it beautifully.

Quote From Pro: "If I Had The Time" is a genuine, heartfelt song, sensitively delivered by the warm and believable voice of Matt Taylor. The subject matter has that universal appeal that makes every listener want to listen: who hasn't yearned for the day, or even just a day, when we could all have a little more time to do the things we really want to do? That idea is effectively woven into the tag line of the A section--making for that sweet marriage of main idea with hook and title. With an authentic, country/folk/Americana backing track and beautiful, organic instrumentation, this one is right in the singer-songwriter's pocket and Matt sells it beautifully.

Broadjam Artist: TBD...
Song: Half A Love

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
A.J. Gundell (Songwriter, Composer, Music Supervisor, Producer)

Pro General Comments: I appreciated being asked by the Artists to review "Half A Love" specifically because my previous Pro Reviews have been straightforward and honest--and they welcome the criticism, even if it's 'rigorous and harsh.' Sorry if this disappoints you then, guys--but I love "Half A Love", and the most rigorous criticism hardly turns up anything for me that's not to love. So, first and foremost, congrats on a truly exceptional piece of work. This is both a perfect Nashville artist pitch, and an extremely licensable song for film and TV.As I also say in previous reviews, I'm always on the lookout for what I call the 'holy trinity': excellence in songwriting, vocals/performance, and record/production. "Half A Love" nails the trinity--the song craft/storytelling is evident in every line, with a truly original central song idea the singing and playing is world-class the record is state of the art Nashville demo production that rises to the level of a broadcast/release-ready master. Anything less than that in today's insanely competitive indie music market doesn't stand a chance. So that, along with their willingness to dig deep and welcome the chance to always improve, points the way to an extremely promising future for Tell Her I Love Her.

Quote From Pro: I love "Half A Love", and the most rigorous criticism hardly turns up anything for me that's not to love. So, first and foremost, congrats on a truly exceptional piece of work. This is both a perfect Nashville artist pitch, and an extremely licensable song for film and TV.I'm always on the lookout for what I call the 'holy trinity': excellence in songwriting, vocals/performance, and record/production. "Half A Love" nails the trinity--the song craft/storytelling is evident in every line, with a truly original central song idea the singing and playing is world-class the record is state of the art Nashville demo production that rises to the level of a broadcast/release-ready master. Anything less in today's insanely competitive indie music market doesn't stand a chance. So that, along with their willingness to dig deep and welcome the opportunity to always improve, points the way to an extremely promising future for Tell Her I Love Her.

Broadjam Artist: Frank Dixon
Song: Back to the Stars

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Chris Keaton (Music Publisher, Artist Manager, Song Plugger)

Pro General Comments: I am absolutely enamored with the gorgeous piano intro...the recording of the piano is exquisite!The lead vocal is enchanting and really attracts the listener's attention from the first note. Reminiscent of Michael Buble, yet still an original style and timbre.What a wonderful melody and lyric. They really work together well and deliver the message in a lovely style. The lyric is dreamy yet right on point and, to me, the message stays clear throughout.The chorus is memorable and singable and, again re-engages the listener and demands his attention.By the time you get to the "We're going home" section, the musical tension has built to a marvelous crescendo and the release at the end of the section is really climactic and effective.In my personal opinion the vocal seems to be a bit buried or masked when all of the instruments are playing and I think it would have been better if the vocal was brought out front just a bit.Your vocal range is excellent and never sounds strained or forced...beautiful. The e motion you display in your voice is truly magical and makes the listener want to hear more.

Quote From Pro: An incredible talent and song. If this song and performance are any indication, Frank Dixon will be a major star!