Month: July 2016

Broadjam Artist: Mary Segato
Song: Don't Give Up On Me

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
John Anderson (Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Hey Mary, quality song all around, first thoughts of artists I can hear it for are Don Henley, John Mayer, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Seal, Ed Sheeran, or Sam Smith to name a few. Also reminds me of the Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel duet "Don't Give Up" (In theme only) which came out on 1985. Easily crosses the Rock, Pop, Country and R & B genres, incredibly universal. Works as a Duet or for a solo artist with prominent backing vocals, Male or Female leads. The demo recording and production quality is superior to what I typically hear. GREAT! I personally focus more on film/television/ad placement for artists then getting songs recorded. That said, it would certainly be an appropriate pitch for a wide range of artists crossing several genres. It does strike me as a song that would fit nicely into a film and really enhance the emotion of the scene as well. I'm sure there are song publishers out there that would be proud to submit "Don't Give Up On Me" for a major label or independent artist to record. Do be weary of getting too close to the John Mayer sound, it could turn some artists off. You're good to go with this one!

Quote From Pro: A beautiful heart felt ballad that tenderly pulls you into a damaged relationship with a plea for forgiveness. 1st class songwriting and a track that's ready for the charts.

Broadjam Artist: Coach Fox
Song: Coach Fox (feat. Rudiger) Soldiers of Love

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Diana Williamson (Songwriter, Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Please note I don't rate individual instrumentation since my expertise lies more in marketability, lyric, melody, and overall performance.I'm going to mention some things to think about- always to consider- but the general consensus is that you wrote a pretty good little song and I wouldn't change too much! Great work!That is a voice that begs to be listened to. Smart and tasteful choice of vocalist. Really, really good. The vocal and track go together very well. When that hook comes in- the vocal really sells it.Your arrangements are very colorful, tasteful and intriguing- they never get stale- good going. Arrangements build nicely.Your hook resonates- just like it should. It feels like "Maybe" you should have some kinda lyric over the percussive part- doesn't have to be much- but something that is a call back to the soldiers of love....? On second thought- the space might be nice there. Just something to consider.Maybe when the second percussive part comes in- you could have an additional instrument- to add another dynamic- (would be nice)- but not absolutely necessary. For eg- a bit of strings to build some tension? Maybe have some loud hand claps to increase the intensity of the percussion?

Quote From Pro: Soldiers of Love bursts with heart, good song.

Broadjam Artist: Thierry Coupey
Song: Home

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Nikki Hornsby (Songwriter, Artist, Producer, Arranger)

Pro General Comments: As an artist we all know once music is set in stone (recorded) the only choice is to cut a new stone if we can do a better job. Recording a song professionally is that cut marble or cut diamond which needs to be polished before offering it to the public or anyone to see or in the case to hear. Now "Home" the selection of your choice of instruments for your song is good. The instruments (music) carry me forward to want to hear more of this "my heart is homeless" "Home" song from the opening to the end. The balance with vocal and the instrumental part let us give a TINY bit of attention. Again, the man you pay to do your vocal demo work is good so don't worry. Let me pin point for you to experiment with somethings my little tiny ears hear. I suggest you try to pull back instrument volume at meter 41 just a little since vocalist 'by my side' lyric was walked over a little by the music... but do not pull back so it's greatly noticed. Ok? Adding the bongo/conga work is a great touch. 2:27-28 there is a doubling thing (syncopation like) on the percussion notes that could distract from hearing words at that point. Then at 3:01 the increased bass volume may distract here a little, so try a pullback of the bass drum / bass guitar track there, but it depends on if you want to keep it that way as it does work up front better later on. Just try and compare doing that and see how it feels.3:20 is a piano type spot (not a negative key stroke form which I understand creatively that could be acceptable or corrected) which that same piano effect seems to continue until 3:23 at the break spot even into the key modulation transition which maybe what you wanted. It is all up to you of course if you like what you have don't change them. I am sticky picky since I can hear maybe more than the average consumer. I think you know NOT to take my opinion as gospel by any means...but do a test for yourself by laying down different track lines of more precise piano notes or conga /bongo at that meter point to see after you compare the first one to the other one and which one will make you FEEL better. In the arts the precise points of perfection are not only what music is about at all. We must never loose the feeling. Music has the passionate element of course we must not forget like loving someone requires! Back to your "Home" 3:34 has a booming bass. Maybe try upping a tiny bit the vocal track here. Start with as much as a grain of salt or lowering the bass track volume instead. 4:21 start to pull back as the vocalist does on his volume. I like the wind sound effects at the lyric point "I made my way And now I go" fits certainly. Oh...trust me, I LOVE doing this pro reviewing for you. Please hang in there as the musical artist you are. Remember too music requires the marketing and promotional budget elements in business which for many artists without such talents discover and this is their way to succeed. To me the success is that you are satisfied making a commercial song for the consumer to purchase or a composition of expression for posterity regardless of acquisition but how it touches the heart...the concern should be the spirits you touch in a crowd of listeners who relate to the healing emotional tool that music really is.

Quote From Pro: Thierry, this composition especially at the bridge & the feeling of the entire piece all the way through sounds like another TC (Thierry Coupey) original... and again the tears came to my eyes as I heard the ending as the lyrics touched me with the feel of the music fade out. It is a GREAT job as your great personal experience expression. Thank you for allowing me the honor to pro review another great Thierry Coupey styled song. I wish you many more songs to come as the artists within us knows there is another one ahead that we strive to make even better than the last.

Broadjam Artist: jdsoundworx
Song: Rocks in my head

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Diana Williamson (Songwriter, Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Hi James:Please note I don't rate individual instrumentation since my expertise lies more in marketability, lyric, melody, and overall performance.Hello, good energetic performance. Definitely Romantics- What I Like About You vibe- but also you may be curious to check this little "hit ditty" out... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz-2jckjeHo (The Monkees- Little Bit Me, Little Bit You)- reminds me of the melody a bit... (not in a bad way/legal way).. in the jangly part.It's got a fun title- definitely not boring. You want a title to evoke a mood and your title suits your song. A bored music supervisor sifting through a ton of tracks would definitely pick this to listen to over "track thirty six metal" as a title. And if you can add a little bit of humor into the title- all the better.The thing that may be hindering the song/instrumental from getting cut for one are the voices. I actually like the voices but if someone was to use the song for an action sequence- the voices would seem to come out of nowhere and distract. Do you have a mix without?It's kind of like when people put people clapping in the beginning- it limits the songs usage (for a lazy editor). Sure they can edit around it- but some can't be bothered and just go on to the next track.

Quote From Pro: Energetic 80's flavored track.

Broadjam Artist: Tom Ballister
Song: Lauren's Theme

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Doug Diamond (Music Supervisor, Engineer, Producer, Composer )

Pro General Comments: Hi Tom -Thanks for the submission. "Lauren's Theme" is an interesting instrumental piece that is very simple-sounding on the surface, with not a lot of instrumentation - and yet very effective and moving. Nice job all around. I really like the chosen sounds and performance. The simplicity is a bit deceiving because there are some fairly complex things going on as well, which I really like.This song's synth strings I feel really work well with the electric piano sound they complement each other nicely.This song is mixed well and I don't really have any suggestions there.The only thing I can think of that's missing from this song is... more of it! I'd like to see it be a bit longer and go in new and interesting directions. In other words, what you have is really great, but I can hear this song building from about where it ends right now, on into an actual full-band (or orchestra) type of version with (tasteful) drums and percussion and perhaps some other instruments replacing or doubling with the electric piano melody. Building on your current arrangement might give this song the added emotion I feel it could use to make it into something that could be useful in television or film. Right now, without having other parts that add drama or emotion, it'd be fairly hard to synch in my opinion because what's there is good, but it's not "enough" and very specific-sounding. Finding a scene in a film that needs exactly this type of song might be difficult.I say take it a step further and develop an addendum to what you have. That will give it more flexibility to be licensed. Extend it by adding further production that complements and builds on the current arrangement and go in a new, more significant direction. You can still use this version you have if you'd need to, but by adding to it, you'd have even more to offer folks looking at potentially synch licensing it because then they could use the simple version like you have, but could also use the more expanded version like I'm suggesting in different areas of the film.With a "score" type of feel like it has, it's a little harder to license those types of tracks because essentially you've scored a scene that doesn't really exist if that makes sense. This song sounds like it was written for a very specific scene in a film or other type of show, so finding that perfect match would be tough in my opinion.From a music supervisor's perspective, you start with a scene and need to find (or score) music that fits your visual (and possibly dialog) perfectly - not the other way around. It's next to impossible to start with a specific song and find a scene or visual that fits the song perfectly. The visual always will take priority (as it should in filmmaking), so it's much easier to then find music to fit THAT. Hope that makes sense.

Quote From Pro: "Lauren's Theme" is an excellent instrumental piece with a memorable melody, full of emotion and depth that would work well in certain dramatic or montage scenes in a film or other type of media.

Broadjam Artist: John Hazlett
Song: I'm So Lonely Without You

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
David Weiss (Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: John,Thank you for submitting your work to me. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in reviewing your submission -- thank you for your patience.I like the emotion that you convey in this song. I know it has a sad title, but I heard a lot of positivity here, and hopeful/optimistic music. It sounds like you have a good ear for music, and I hope you continue to compose and record. As you see from my scores, I do believe you have some additional work to do. The biggest thing that stands out is that "I'm so Lonely Without You" sounds like many MIDI instruments recorded in a computer, or from a MIDI keyboard/synth. If you are gunning for synch placements on TV, film, etc... I believe you'll need to make your sounds more realistic, since many of your competitors have mastered the art of MIDI orchestration to make highly realistic sounds. The progressions are nice, but they feel like they meander to me -- the song should have more changes of some sort, to take the listener on a deeper journey. Does that make sense?

Quote From Pro: Atmospheric and pleasingly ambient.

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

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tom Bocci (Music Supervisor, Producer, and Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Greetings Matt,This is another fine example of your natural talent in the areas of storytelling, melody, and production blending together to produce a memorable, maybe even signature sound.You seem to be able to sing and interpret your own words authentically,which allows you the freedom to always be real instead of trying to be stylized. In this song you have paid a lovely musical tribute to your Dad and his belief in bucket lists and reincarnation.He'd be proud.Overall this track has many stunning things going for it, but I offer a few suggestions for you to consider. First, change the title to "If I Have The Time" to keep it in the present tense always looking forward to more. Second, the key change going into the bridge is too abrupt and takes me out of the flow every time, even though it resolves and recovers nicely in the second line. Try keeping your original vocal melody line there, but find some chords that ease into it with more light and less weight.Third, the vocal repeat in the ending can be shortened by going directly to the line with the harmony. The instrumental double-stop fiddle hook and piano can carry it from there.Fourth, did you ever try singing the title with the accent on "IF i have the time".It tends to soften the repetitive elongated "if IIII have the time" Does it change the song's meaning for you that way or make no difference.This tune seems to have evolved since the original guitar/vox version which is endearing in its own way,but this version represents the best of what I've heard so far. Onward!

Quote From Pro: This is another fine example of your natural talent in the areas of storytelling, melody, and production blending together to produce a memorable, maybe even signature sound.

Broadjam Artist: John Hazlett
Song: No Longer Home

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
David Weiss (Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: John, thanks for submitting "No Longer Home." I thought this was a stronger track than "I'm So Lonely Without You," primarily because I think the chorus has a good, strong hook. I like the way it has a motivational feel to it, like something or someone continuing to drive on in the night. That would be a good scene choice for this song, BTW -- someone or something that has to keep on going. Again, your instrumentation/arrangements need some work. There's not enough going on to maintain listener interest throughout the song. It seems to wander again in the verse sections, but again the chorus is a nice strong hook. It reminded me, in a good way, of Giorgio Moroder's sounds in "Scarface," which is a great soundtrack. The military inspiration of your work makes this a good match for themes of battle/war. I could also see it being used for montage scenes, where they have to show a lot of progress being made to build/rebuild a vehicle or something similar. This song shows more of your potential as a songwriter. Keep it up!

Quote From Pro: A moving and motivational track.

Broadjam Artist: Tony DeSimone
Song: Stay Beautiful

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Jonathan Stone (Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Really good all the way around. Reminds me a little of U2. I think this will have great opportunity for film and TV use as well. Its clear that the author/artist is experienced and professional. This is a perfect example of writing an idea that has practical application to many visuals which is great for sync opportunities. The lyric never really gets to specific and they bring forth a very positive message "Stay Beautiful" inside. Don't know if this was the author's intent but never the less it opens up a wide variety of potential uses by doing same. I often get songs pitched to me and the artist wants to get syncs, which all tracks have potential for such, but as soon as you go off into subject matter that is too specific like "my pet butterfly flew away" your song can only be pitched for projects about pet butterflies. You get the point. It could be that the artist here just wrote from his heart and out came the perfect "sync" song. I hope thats the case, so much the better. Or perhaps we have a wiley craftsman here who intended to write a song just for sync ops. Doesn't really matter. Regardless, he has one here and he would be well served to get this out to as many film and Tv libraries as he can that accept outside "songs" and see what happens.

Quote From Pro: Tony DeSimone nails it with "Stay Beautiful". Great track, message and performance! Check it out!

Broadjam Artist: Cindy Tuttle
Song: Someday

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tom Bocci (Music Supervisor, Producer, and Publisher)

Pro General Comments: Greetings Cindy,Thanks for the opportunity to review your song. "Someday" is very straightforward with its hopeful message of letting the still small voice inside be the guiding light for overcoming life's challenges. It also is a positive reminder that living without a connection and commitment to love in the form of another person or perhaps The Source of love itself, is the best approach one can take for a full existence on Earth.Your "spoken/sung" vocal captures an innocence that sounds heartfelt with good intentions, but the overall construction would be stronger with the inclusion of a brief lyrical bridge that would come after the instrumental, just before the last verse. Some of your other tunes have a similar format of CH/V1/CH/V2/CH/V3 WITH AN INSTRUMENTAL SECTION. Suggest you try including a bridge, when appropriate, that would further the story lyrically and break up the same musical pattern throughout so the listener hears variety and depth.

Quote From Pro: "Someday" is very straightforward with its hopeful message of letting the still small voice inside be the guiding light for overcoming life's challenges.Tom Bocci