Month: July 2016

Broadjam Artist: COSTA / Costa Ioannides
Song: Let this in

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Malik Williams (Producer, Artist, Engineer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Hey Costa,Thank you for the opportunity to review your songs. I really like the drive of this track. A lot of the new songs out these days seems to have some type of flair from an older song from say the 80s or 90s and I always like hearing that. Especially because of the musicianship it might take to pull that off. In this case, I referred to an artist names "Dino" from the late 80's because of your vocal tone and his dance songs (hits) were very upbeat and fun. I think Maroon 5 might be the closest I could refer you to because you have that Adam Levine vocal tone that's pretty smooth. I'm always careful how to constructively compliment an artist regarding a throwback sound but so much of today's music is derived from songs of the past anyway. First off, I chose the title Can't Let It Go because I thought your vocal performance really drove that point home... stuck in my head a bit more to me.The intro flange fx is nice coming into the song. I like the drum programming and percussion programming. The bass guitar works overall but at about 2:52 and at the break, the timing or quantization could be tighter. It's a bit mechanical... It's really important to keep that kick and bass grove in the pocket. The piano and synth arpeggiation is great. Also, the funky guitar plucking and the nylon guitar sound in your break add a lot to the song. Vocally, the lead is pretty good and so are the lyrics. The backgrounds in the pre-chorus could be tighter and maybe even spread out a little wider. On that note the overall mix is good. Although, I'd like to hear a fatter but still punchy kick drum mix under your bass guitar. Other than that I think the choice of instruments and your preliminary mix is all in the right direction!

Quote From Pro: Costa Ioannides: "you have that Adam Levine vocal tone that's pretty smooth"

Broadjam Artist: Pink and White Bridge
Song: Later

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Joe Vitale (Producer, Songwriter, Drummer)

Pro General Comments: Hey Paul (Pink & White Bridge)....Thanks so much for sending me this song to review. I've listened to it a few times now and it really grows on you !! This story can be told forever it seems. No matter how you say it, it hits home with so many folks !! I especially love the harp and other instrumentation. It fits the lyrics and mood so well. This is a great vibe and so easy to listen to. BRAVO !!

Quote From Pro: Pink and White Bridge have a beautiful song here !! I don't know anyone who couldn't relate to and feel the depth of these lyrics. Great passion here !!! It's wonderful to hear original music with great melody and words....BRAVO GUYS !!!Joe Vitale

Broadjam Artist: Jim Reeder
Song: I Believe

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Dave Hnatiuk (Music Supervisor)

Pro General Comments: Hi Jim,Thank you for your patience in receiving my review. I have been BEYOND busy lately which I am thankful for! Generally speaking, this is a classic song with a ton of emotion behind it, a very inspirational message, and generations of fans and listeners who have experienced it in a variety of different ways and contexts. I think your simplistic instrumentation choices were the right way to go here. This song is all about the lyrics and the vocal melody, and the instrumental aspect of the song is very much secondary. Good job on this.I think the general mix and production is fine although I would DEFINITELY consider pulling back on the delay effect on your vocals. The delay gets so intense at times that I seriously cannot decipher what your lyrics are saying, and for a message heavy song like this one, you cannot risk any one not being able to understand the lyrics. And by the way, I'm listening to your song on a perfectly working pair of Genelec 1030a studio monitors.

Quote From Pro: Jim Reeder was smart to accurately cover the classic song "I Believe" written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953 and made popular by Frankie Laine's original performance. It's my belief that Jim Reeder's cover of "I Believe" could be a useful alternative version of the song for those media producers who cannot afford to license more well known versions of the song.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Runaway with me

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Malik Williams (Producer, Artist, Engineer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Hey Ian,First off.. I really like the diversity I'm hearing in your music so far. I listened to this one a bunch of times and there's a ton of potential for this song.This is a cool grove with a sing-along chorus. This song sounds like a true story for sure. Most listeners can probably relate to a story about the knight in shining armor that tries to save the helpless little girl, take her to a far far away and live happily ever after! Good job with that! I like the vocal style, attitude and tone, although I think the verse performance could be a little tighter and in the pocket. I like the big chorus vocals and you did a pretty good job layering those parts. Especially at the end of the song. I like the big chorus vocals and you did a pretty good job layering those too and I can really hear the "voices" well in the mix.The instruments were very well produced. The drum execution and arrangement caught my attention for sure. You bass is simple and holding down the groove and the guitar parts and the sound is pretty retro. Nice stereo imaging with the guitars too! Overall, I really do think this song has a lot of commercial appeal.

Quote From Pro: This is a cool grove with a sing-along chorus!

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Lonely nights

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Malik Williams (Producer, Artist, Engineer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Lonely Nights is very catchy and smooth! Out of the three songs, this one is my favorite and I like the intro a lot. It's simple but it sets the mood. This song's instrumentation reminds me of The Script but the more I listen to your vocal tone, I hear the same voice texture of Bruce Hornsby and Christopher Cross (I mentioned him before). I couldn't figure that out at first but... I really mean that as a compliment! This song style is very different from Runaway With Me and Rainbows Without Rain. It makes me appreciate you more as a songwriter. Diversity is good, especially considering the music licensing and song placement route. Nice arrangement on this song as well. My only constructive comment is in the chorus vocals. I feel that the backing vocal under your lead lines could be a bit tighter but it's not super critical if you're not able to go back to edit. Intonation and timing is something to pay attention to anyway. Spreading or panning the vocals out can remedy this as well. Just treat the voices like another acoustic instrument to have fun with. It helps to have another set of trusted ears in the room too. The overall production and mix of this song is really good. It seems that you have a recording formula that works well. The guitar mix, tremolo effects and stereo imaging of your guitars sound pretty full and interesting. You should definitely stick to this recording and engineering methods. It's definitely working for you!Very easy listening and the market is definitely there for you as an artist, for film and tv placements or even to pitch for other signed artist looking for songs.

Quote From Pro: Very easy listening and the market is definitely there for you as an artist, for film and tv placements or even to pitch for other signed artist looking for songs.

Broadjam Artist: Michael Brandmeier
Song: JUST LIKE THAT

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

Pro General Comments: I am very impressed with the emotion and vibe of this song. The lyrics, obviously heartfelt and real, work SO well with the melody. I agree with you that is certainly a universal, yet very personal theme, and, to me, that is one of the things that really makes this work for me. The lyric, melody and the texture of the rhythm section pulled me in and made me want to really get inside the song.Your love, respect and gratitude for your mother is quite obvious from not only the melody and lyric, but the vocal delivery which is quite beautiful.I'm not sure I would suggest changing anything about this song. In my humble opinion, it really works!Don't know if you ever play this song in a live setting but I would be interested to know how it is received...what kind of responses you get...does it move people...those types of things. Again, this is really excellent on all levels.

Quote From Pro: In my professional opinion, this is a hit waiting to happen. The melody and lyric never waver from the intimate and loving message.

Broadjam Artist: RekLes Studios
Song: Buried Alive

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Serge Durand (A&R/Publisher/Manager)

Pro General Comments: I think this is a good song. I like the fact that it's not the cookie cutter attempt at a club anthem. I like your story telling ability. I like the way you paint pictures with your words. You bring the listener into your world. I also like the lyrics, concept, and hook. It's evident that you're talented and a good rapper. After hearing this, I'd probably like to hear more from you. The only thing that I would suggest is maybe adding a short intro. The song jumped right into the chorus. The chorus is catchy and memorable, so I would add a short instrumental intro then jump into the chorus. It's always refreshing to hear artists rap about real situations and bring the listener into their world. Stay in that lane. Artists like J. Cole, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are winning big in that lane. Even older like Nas has been able to sustain a long career because of their story telling ability. This song doesn't scream a strong first single, but it would be a good song on a project. It's not a traditional club or soulful record. It's a great fuse of rap and rock because of the instrumentation used. I'd like to hear a strong first single from you. Keep up the good work.

Quote From Pro: It's always refreshing to hear an artist that has the ability to write records with substance. After hearing "Buried Alive", I was drawn to his music and I was interested in hearing more from him.

Broadjam Artist: Ian Lee
Song: Rainbows without rain

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Malik Williams (Producer, Artist, Engineer, Composer)

Pro General Comments: Hi Ian,Thank you so much for allowing me to review your music!This is a really great story and a really nice pop/rock ballad.. It's timeless! I love the emotion you put into this performance as well. I like the simplicity of this song and the somber, but rich piano sound. "Why can't there be rainbows without rain?". Very cool.. that vocal line really drew me in! The lyric is well written and you did a great job with the vocal performance. Christopher Cross came to mind in regard to your vocal tone and delivery. As I listened to it, I could also hear this song produced with a bigger orchestral arrangement. I'm not suggesting that you do that because the "less is more" factor is working in your favor already. Indeed this a good soundtrack song and lots of people can relate to the theme. It has a lot of film and tv licensing potential. Overall, the songwriting, performance and mix of this song was very well done!

Quote From Pro: This is a really great story and a really nice pop/rock ballad.. It's timeless!

Broadjam Artist: matt taylor
Song: It Doesn't Matter Now Kmix3

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tirk Wilder (Songwriter, Performer)

Pro General Comments: Okay, Matt,Just to be right up front, I really like your stuff. The music is great, I love the feel. Shows unlimited potential. REALLY.Also, to be a up front, I have written a song called "As If It Matters", which my co-writer and I have been considering changing to "It Doesn't Matter". This is to give you a heads up on the title. I didn't steal it from you, I stole it from someone else many years ago. (Joke!)The bad news is that the better I like your stuff, the harder I have to be on you. Because you are cruising around the rim of writing an unforgettable, I'm going to have to give you some SEROUS criticism to get you there. Note: CL=Casual Listener. This is someone who doesn't know you, someone who's never HEARD of you, who is hearing your song for the first time. It is his/her perception that is most important to you, the songwriter. Your lyrics show flashes of brilliance. There is an almost poetic feel to your conversation. But you are still making rookie mistakes.You are saying pretty much the same thing in all your verses, just with a different set of words. It's all to express the ennui. Yet you don't have a set of circumstances you have shown the CL to cause the CL to care, especially after you've told him/her your feelings in the first verse.You should REALLY consider giving the CL some specific information about why you feel the way this song says you do. If not in the first verse (I would strive to get it in there somehow, maybe a few IMAGES?) then at least have the second verse dedicated to it.So you have to make the CL listen and become involved in your CHORUS. Let's take a look.but it doesn't matter now [I like the sound and the feel of the way you did the hook here]with all the time that's past [but I'm none too crazy about THIS lyric. It's a serious clich, right where you can't have a clich (in the chorus). The CL doesn't know what happened to cause this ennui, so can't possibly identify the amount of time that's PASSED (note spelling), or what that MEANS---hence, the CL is not getting involved emotionally.]It doesn't matter now [Still like the hook here. Kinda sorta background]those dreams were never meant to last [WHAT? How 80's. You can do better than THIS, Matt.]It doesn't matter now [I'll still believe the hook here, but you MIGHT be able to come up with something just to change up the flow the third time around ("Lives are scattered now", for example)]It's all working out for the best with all that life has put me thru it's put me to the test [This is garbage. You're using "it's working out", which is an utterly meaningless clich, in about three different places in this song. And EVERYBODY's life has put them to the test. Cliches. Poisonous].Continued in Artist's Question section

Quote From Pro: This guy has universal potential. Like, NO doubt.

Broadjam Artist: sharon gosler
Song: This is life

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

Pro General Comments: As a music supervisor and music library owner/creator, I like to say I'm always on the lookout for material that gets what I call 'the holy trinity' (no religion required -): song, singer, and record. All three are needed for successful, professional, broadcast/release-ready work. There is so much to love about Sharon Gosler's "This is life" and almost nothing that comes up short. She's captured the holy trinity. "This is life" is a beautifully crafted, thoughtful song, with some really unexpected but effective turns of phrase lyrically and developments harmonically. Sharon's vocal is pitch perfect: not just technically, but in the way she weaves and sells the emotion of a somewhat philosophical topic she feels it, so as listeners we do too. The recording is world-class: absolutely undeniable performances and sonic textures from all players and programming beautifully arranged and developed as the record builds a perfect mix, setting, and approach for the pop/AC genre of the song and Sharon's vocal.As I say, the musical 'holy trinity' doesn't require any religion. But in "This is life," Sharon makes me a believer--and she'll make you one too.

Quote From Pro: As a music supervisor and music library owner/creator, I like to say I'm always on the lookout for material that gets what I call 'the holy trinity' (no religion required -): song, singer, and record. All three are needed for successful, professional, broadcast/release-ready work. There is so much to love about Sharon Gosler's "This is life" and almost nothing that comes up short. She's captured the holy trinity. And even though there's no religion required, in "This is life," Sharon makes me a believer--and she'll make you one too.