Month: March 2021

Broadjam Artist: Bhaskar_The_Maximalist
Song: DarkEpicTheatrical

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Robert Dellaposta (Writer, A&R, Publisher)

Pro General Comments: There are some really interesting lines moving throughout this piece of music. I like the way it eventually builds but the introduction section doesn't have any nuance to it at all...I'd like to hear the sound of the advancing storm or army in the distance slowly building to the impending doom that is about to strike. Start slowly and do a gradual build with more dynamics. A gradual crescendo using more instruments being added on and a faint percussive track in the distance that grows as the tension builds. The Violins adding rhythmic tension above the cannon explosions of sound and Just when you think it can't get any stronger...an abrupt stop and then boom full scale tonal assault. Like any war or storm there is a gradual ebbing and diminishing that slowly fades but that is totally up to you. 03:24 is a good length for a music supervisor. I really like the percussive rhythms that give the piece an underlying feel of action. The bass line needs a lot of work in my opinion.

Quote From Pro: Bhaskar possesses all the musical skills necessary to be successful in creating cinematic orchestral scores that will paint tonal soundscapes to compliment any movie trailer or action scene.

Broadjam Artist: Charles Edmund Carter
Song: Comin Home to You

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tirk Wilder (Songwriter, Performer)

Pro General Comments: There is much I like about this song, but there is also a lot I would suggest you might want to look at. First, I would like to say that your lead singer is excellent. Very high-powered pop voice with just enough country twang to turn it all into a blues.Secondly, I would like to say that your production is pretty strong. Thirdly, your song DOES have something to say. There is a coherent story, after the second listening.I have to wonder about prosody. The instrumental mix has a dark, foreboding, bluesy sound that doesn't fit the lyrics that well. It doesn't seem to be the groove that would lift this lyrical idea to where it wants to be, in my humble opinion.I mean, think about it. The hero in the song has made the right decision, is not going to mess up his current relationship for a fling with an old flame. This is GOOD news. It needs to have musical underpinnings that reflect that.There is a convention I utilize in my reviews. It's called "TCL", and it goes like this.Our Moms & Dads, sisters, brothers, what have you, all love the songs we write. But they are not the ones whose opinions mean the most.That honor falls upon a person who I call The Casual Listener (TCL). TCL doesn't know us. He/she has never heard of us. The only thing he/she has to go by is our SONG.I will refer to TCL in this review, so it's necessary I explain all that. Back to the song.Okay, now were going line by lyric line."A lover from my distant past from Dallas beckoned me."How about "...Dallas CALLED me"? Nobody says, "She BECKONED me". Make it more conversational, wherever you can. Just to nitpick, the preposition before "Dallas" should be "in", not "from"."Got into my pickup and drove reluctantly"Really? I'm not so sure about the "reluctantly" thing.When this chick first calls you, you're in anticipation of a hot weekend. It's not until your further on down the road that the reluctance comes in.(Continued in "Artist's Submitted Question" section)

Quote From Pro: Charles Edmund Carter is on the verge of becoming a top writer.

Broadjam Artist: Charles Edmund Carter
Song: Comin Home to You

Broadjam Pro Reviewer:
Tirk Wilder (Songwriter, Performer)

Pro General Comments: There is much I like about this song, but there is also a lot I would suggest you might want to look at. First, I would like to say that your lead singer is excellent. Very high-powered pop voice with just enough country twang to turn it all into a blues.Secondly, I would like to say that your production is pretty strong. Thirdly, your song DOES have something to say. There is a coherent story, after the second listening.I have to wonder about prosody. The instrumental mix has a dark, foreboding, bluesy sound that doesn't fit the lyrics that well. It doesn't seem to be the groove that would lift this lyrical idea to where it wants to be, in my humble opinion.I mean, think about it. The hero in the song has made the right decision, is not going to mess up his current relationship for a fling with an old flame. This is GOOD news. It needs to have musical underpinnings that reflect that.There is a convention I utilize in my reviews. It's called "TCL", and it goes like this.Our Moms & Dads, sisters, brothers, what have you, all love the songs we write. But they are not the ones whose opinions mean the most.That honor falls upon a person who I call The Casual Listener (TCL). TCL doesn't know us. He/she has never heard of us. The only thing he/she has to go by is our SONG.I will refer to TCL in this review, so it's necessary I explain all that. Back to the song.Okay, now were going line by lyric line."A lover from my distant past from Dallas beckoned me."How about "...Dallas CALLED me"? Nobody says, "She BECKONED me". Make it more conversational, wherever you can. Just to nitpick, the preposition before "Dallas" should be "in", not "from"."Got into my pickup and drove reluctantly"Really? I'm not so sure about the "reluctantly" thing.When this chick first calls you, you're in anticipation of a hot weekend. It's not until your further on down the road that the reluctance comes in.(Continued in "Artist's Submitted Question" section)

Quote From Pro: Charles Edmund Carter is on the verge of becoming a top writer.

Broadjam Artist: Stanford
Song: Promised Land

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

Pro General Comments: Hi Stanford -Greetings from Nashville. Hope you are doing well. Thanks for letting me know about you and what you're doing, as well as your tune. Yes, I would agree that "Promised Land" is Low-Fi/Indie/Alternative Rock. I think that's an accurate description. Some bands and artists have a hard time describing their type of music/genre, so I think it's great that you have.I would call "Promised Land" *unique* (versus "different" - which it is that too). I sort of like the low-fi recording technique and overall sound it has. However, in the world of sync for TV, film, commercials, games, etc., the quality or sound of the recording itself is very important as most of the time it is not recut or re-recorded, so the original recording is used. What you have here is unique-sounding by itself and could lend itself to a particular type of sync placement that not everybody would be capable of pulling off. I think you do so in a very original type of way. I think with further development and work, your song and you as an artist/producer show a lot of promise and talent, so keep up the good work.On the low-fi aspect, I am not clear if that is purposeful (having a unique sound is what you're going for) or if that is more of an outcome of the way you work, your gear, and your experience/know-how. Either way, it does have a certain charm to it. Admittedly, from a sync and music supervisor standpoint, it is original-sounding, however the projects I could pitch it for would be few and far between based on the quality of the recording, primarily.Ideally for sync or pro applications, you would use low-fi as an effect versus a main/overall sound that you don't deviate from. Does that make sense?If you want to stay low-fi, you're there. If you want to bump up your game a bit and are working on getting to the point where crystal-clear, pro-sounding recordings are what you are after, you still have some work to do of course, but that doesn't mean it will take forever to get there. Practice will certainly give you more ideas and make you better at doing whatever you are trying to do (that goes for anything in life).I like the vocal performance and instrumental performances overall. Are there small things to fix? Yes, but it certainly is manageable. Same for the recording itself.To me, I listen first with an ear for what I call the production value - the technical aspects of the recording, mix, and master. I do this because, for the projects I work on as a music supervisor, we're using your original recording, so it has to be stellar, sound professional, and top-notch. None of my clients have the time or budget to take a really great song with a horrible recording and re-record/mix/master it - so therefore, it has to sound great out of the box. If it doesn't, I typically pass on it because I know my clients will as well.In the case of "Promised Land", I can hear the potential of the song. I like the melody/hook you have come up with and I do like your performances - the vocals and instrumentation. I do think there are things you can fix and make better, but in general, you are definitely heading in the right direction.Hopefully that helps. I'll address your other comments below.Sincerely,Doug

Quote From Pro: "Promised Land" by Stanford shows promise indeed. His low-fi recording technique is very interesting - and when combined with good songwriting and melodies, it makes for a nice combination of originality and uniqueness that I haven't really heard before.

Broadjam Artist: Stanford
Song: Promised Land

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

Pro General Comments: Hi Stanford -Greetings from Nashville. Hope you are doing well. Thanks for letting me know about you and what you're doing, as well as your tune. Yes, I would agree that "Promised Land" is Low-Fi/Indie/Alternative Rock. I think that's an accurate description. Some bands and artists have a hard time describing their type of music/genre, so I think it's great that you have.I would call "Promised Land" *unique* (versus "different" - which it is that too). I sort of like the low-fi recording technique and overall sound it has. However, in the world of sync for TV, film, commercials, games, etc., the quality or sound of the recording itself is very important as most of the time it is not recut or re-recorded, so the original recording is used. What you have here is unique-sounding by itself and could lend itself to a particular type of sync placement that not everybody would be capable of pulling off. I think you do so in a very original type of way. I think with further development and work, your song and you as an artist/producer show a lot of promise and talent, so keep up the good work.On the low-fi aspect, I am not clear if that is purposeful (having a unique sound is what you're going for) or if that is more of an outcome of the way you work, your gear, and your experience/know-how. Either way, it does have a certain charm to it. Admittedly, from a sync and music supervisor standpoint, it is original-sounding, however the projects I could pitch it for would be few and far between based on the quality of the recording, primarily.Ideally for sync or pro applications, you would use low-fi as an effect versus a main/overall sound that you don't deviate from. Does that make sense?If you want to stay low-fi, you're there. If you want to bump up your game a bit and are working on getting to the point where crystal-clear, pro-sounding recordings are what you are after, you still have some work to do of course, but that doesn't mean it will take forever to get there. Practice will certainly give you more ideas and make you better at doing whatever you are trying to do (that goes for anything in life).I like the vocal performance and instrumental performances overall. Are there small things to fix? Yes, but it certainly is manageable. Same for the recording itself.To me, I listen first with an ear for what I call the production value - the technical aspects of the recording, mix, and master. I do this because, for the projects I work on as a music supervisor, we're using your original recording, so it has to be stellar, sound professional, and top-notch. None of my clients have the time or budget to take a really great song with a horrible recording and re-record/mix/master it - so therefore, it has to sound great out of the box. If it doesn't, I typically pass on it because I know my clients will as well.In the case of "Promised Land", I can hear the potential of the song. I like the melody/hook you have come up with and I do like your performances - the vocals and instrumentation. I do think there are things you can fix and make better, but in general, you are definitely heading in the right direction.Hopefully that helps. I'll address your other comments below.Sincerely,Doug

Quote From Pro: "Promised Land" by Stanford shows promise indeed. His low-fi recording technique is very interesting - and when combined with good songwriting and melodies, it makes for a nice combination of originality and uniqueness that I haven't really heard before.