Month: July 2016

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: 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: 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

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: COSTA / Costa Ioannides
Song: Looking at Me

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

Pro General Comments: Costa,You've really locked in on this track. Looking At Me is a really great commercial dance song.. super catchy... classic! This is also.. by far my favorite song style from you thus far. I really like the opening line "Guess who's been bleeding blue now they've lost it?" It made me wonder where the song would go. The lyrical melody flows nicely and is very easy to sing along with... and I think if it wasn't for the love of music, we'd all love our minds! So many people can relate to that. The song concept is pretty universal and I really like the vocal performance. Good idea to create the video as well. Using the disgruntled employee concept was brilliant. The video really supports the concept of the song and really fun to watch. (For those that haven't seen it, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irXulC5I6iA)Solid music and vocal arrangement! I like the breaks and the background and ad-lib vocal parts flying in and out. The production quality is pretty tight overall as well. One again, I really appreciate your drum programming and on this one, the bass sound you chose is really edgy and fat. The base line itself is also really good and it's cutting right though the track.. really cool!The song has a lot of energy and movement just with the bass and drums. That's the foundation you need with this kind of dance track. You definitely nailed that. The mix on this song is really clear and tight and with so much going and all the instrument parts, that can be a difficult task!Very good low-end and pretty crisp high-end. You are a very talented songwriter and producer! Keep up the good work.. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your music!

Quote From Pro: Looking At Me is a really great commercial dance song.. super catchy... classic!

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: Black Roses
Song: I Could Get Used To This

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

Pro General Comments: I really like this song. I think it has a good feel to it. The hook is catchy and memorable. I like the subject matter. I think you did a great job writing this song. I also think the production is solid. It kind of reminds me of Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You." I thought the verses were also well written. You have a beautiful voice. You did a great job vocally. I have nothing bad to say about this song. I don't think it's a big radio hit, but it has great licensing potential. I would suggest that your management pitch this record to as many music supervisors as possible. It has Film/TV licensing potential. I would pitch it to multiple reality shows and upcoming movies. That's a great way to get discovered. When people hear it, they'll Shazam it and purchase it.This song makes me want to hear more form you. I would love to hear what the rest of your project sounds like.

Quote From Pro: 'I Could Get Use to This" is a great record. It makes me want to hear more from Black Roses. She has a special tone and voice. I'm a fan.

Broadjam Artist: COSTA / Costa Ioannides
Song: Don't be Cruel ( Aphrodite & I )

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

Pro General Comments: Costa,I can appreciate the diversity in your songwriting and composition. Don't be Cruel is a really cool mixture of electronic/pop production with a flair of Spanish flamenco style guitars creating a very exotic sound. Although the overall production sound is more modern, the only other popular pop song that comes to mind is Madonna's "La Isla Bonita". Super popular globally!Constructively There's a lot going on... in a good way. I listened on my studio monitors as well as with headphones. I really like your drum and percussion programming along with the bass guitar parts. They compliment each other and fill up the bottom well. The acoustic piano is layered with the synth pads nicely. The other delayed synth parts are very tastefully done as well. Those aren't too overbearing and they don't overtake the acoustic "island" feel of the song that the rhythm and lead guitars are creating.The overall mix of the instrumentation is done well. The verse vocals at a good level and the reverb and delay effects are good. In the chorus, I'd like to hear a fuller vocal sound and the backgrounds / ad-libs could come up in the mix slightly.Your guitar parts and arrangement could be spread out a little more to better define the different tones you're using... even consider some auto-panning techniques just for fun. Mind you, these comments are just creative mix and engineering ideas to try... hopefully to inspire future compositions. Don't be afraid to experiment with your post-production. You really do have a good ear and great feel for unitizing acoustic and electronic instruments in your music.. very cool man!

Quote From Pro: Don't be Cruel is a really cool mixture of electronic/pop production with a flair of Spanish flamenco style guitars creating a very exotic sound.

Broadjam Artist: Flava Hype
Song: I'm Lethal

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

Pro General Comments: I think this is a good hip hop record. The hip hop purists appreciate songs like this. We're in a time now where rappers aren't rapping about anything with substance. Songs like this have a fan base because there are thousands of fans out there that feel like what you're rapping about. I like your raps on this song. I appreciated your word play. I also enjoyed the female rapper. She killed it. I would shoot a video to this song making fun of the rappers promoting the flashy/baller lifestyle and promote it to multiple hip hop blogs like Allhiphop, Hiphopdx, 2dopeboyz, etc... Just make sure that your vid is quality. Videos don't cost as much as they used to, but they still cost. You can get a decent video shot for $2500-5000 using a good camera nowadays. I think you have potential and a lane. Judging front the songs that I've heard from you is that you have a message. You're anti-gimmicks. That's a good thing, but it's a long road. The gimmicky guys come and go, but they catch fast. The route you're taking takes a while longer, but if you break you're fans will be loyal like J. Cole/Kendrick's fan base. Stick to your guns. Keep creating music with a message and promote your music as much as you can. Also put together a good team around you. You can't do it all by yourself.

Quote From Pro: Flava Hype has something to say and I think hip hop fans out there want to hear the message that he preaches in his music.

Broadjam Artist: Nonviolenze
Song: Girl in Rags

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

Pro General Comments: Quite a unique sounding vocal and arrangement. Hard to categorize this piece, but if I had to, I would say it lends itself to more of a song from a staged musical. Obviously the music, chord structure and vocal quality conveys a state of heartbreak, either from the melodic lines and from the haunting, plaintive lead vocal and background flute/synth counter melodies. Acoustic guitar accompaniment is well played and and conceptually works for this genre. If this was part of a staged musical production, it would make sense that this kind of lyrical content would be able to convey to the audience the loneliness that this woman in rags is suffering from. Beyond that however, as a piece of contemporary pop music, I don't really see how it fits in. The vocals are solidly performed, on pitch and the overall arrangement is rich and full sounding. I guess you could call it progressive rock as you say in your bio, but to me, it does not connote that type of sound.Lyrically, beyond some of the visual connotations that it evokes, I'm not seeing a consistent through line of what its about. To me, its a bit vague, but definitely sad sounding in all areas.

Quote From Pro: A haunting vocal melodyballad and solidly played acoustic guitar, make this a very entertaining piece that I could hear being performed in a staged musical production.