SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC070 June 2023 - Winners announced

[Arelem]

Hello All,

I don't know that I 'learned' to use Vital more, but I definitely learned that I should be using Vital more often. I had fun sound designing for this track with it. I don't usually bother to sound design because I don't always see much benefit to it, but sound design can be quite fun in it's own right.

Feedback:

► Show Spoiler

Kukobass - I like the drumming. Sounds really clean and has some good variation to it. The horns sound good too. Low/mid low gets a little muddy when everything's going, and the track gets a little cluttered at times.

Doc Jon - Good use of foley. Fun little upbeat track, it for sure could be the backing track to a how-to video. The main melody is also pretty catchy. The synth bits felt a little out of place to me because everything else felt so organic, but otherwise, well done.

lxm.labxmusic - Nice piano playing. Groovy drums. I like the subtle variations you added throughout, but to me they were a little too subtle. I found myself getting a little bored maybe halfway through. I also hate vinyl noise (I know that's a personal thing so I won't hold it against you).

VCA-089 - I like the drums and bass but they persist through the whole song mostly unchanged. The guitar was mixed a little quiet in the track. Overall though, I really liked it. It kind of reminded me of old jam sessions I used to have with my friends back in high school playing a simple rhythm and some guitar noodling on top.

JeroenZuiderwijk - I don't know how I feel about this one. It's certainly interesting but it's very eclectic. It seems to be mixed well, and there's space for all the instruments so it has that going for it.

Esteve Corbera - Great atmosphere here with some nice sound staging. I'd say the 'lead' piano is the weakest part here and unfortunately, it kind of lets the rest of the track down. There was not much of a recognizable melody to it and the notes did not have a whole lot of variation. It wasn't exactly steady quarter notes but it still felt a bit stilted. I might try and add some flourishes here and there to help add interest.

FallenAngel - It's a little thing, but I really like the short bit of quiet in between loops. For some reason, it really drew my interest. The synth that comes in early on was a little piercing for me. I can be a bit sensitive to higher frequencies so maybe I'm alone there. Your sound selection made the track feel kind of cheesy to me, but it could still be suited for an arts and crafts video as was the challenge.

MellowBrowne - You really set the groove right from the jump and the drums come in to sell it even more. With the song's progression up to @ 1:37, I was expecting some awesome guitar solo to kick in. I think it would fit there perfectly. I think this track works for the challenge as asked, but as a stand-alone track, it could benefit from a bit more variation. It does get a little bit repetitive. Otherwise, everything that is here is done really well, nice job!

FixInTheMix - Beautiful piano playing and nice strummed guitar. I liked the little electric guitar bit as well. When the organ came in, it lost me a little, but that went into a nice little guitar part. Then the organ came back; organs have a way of making things sound cheesy to me, IDK. Good mixing, and good variation in the song structure. All in all, a very solid track.

Canese - Nice big orchestral section. Song is a little loud in the high end though. The levels are a little inconsistent throughout the track too. I had to turn it down and up depending on which part of the track was playing. There is also a lack of low end in my opinion. That might flesh itself out with some changes in the previous areas I mentioned.

Vote:

► Show Spoiler

1st MellowBrowne
2nd FixInTheMix
3rd VCA-089
4th lxm.labxmusic
5th Esteve Corbera

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

When I make music on my own and not in a band I mostly just start experimenting not being bothered by chordstructure, musictheory, buidup etc. This often results in what other people experience as total unorchanized chaos. I then try to sculpe some elements in it to glue the parts together. I like the contasting elements and unexpected twists in a song. When I started this month with writing music for the challenge I created the main synthpart you hear in the song. It is background music suitable for an arts and crafts video…..bur after listening to it for a while I started to get bored with it and added different parts to make it more interesting for me. That is where the chaos began…..and the fun part for me. I still wasn’t happy with it so I added guitarriffs for some ‘glue’ in the song. I didn’t want any conventional sounds (obviously) so I just dialed the gain to 145% followed by a delay and extreme reverb setting...and adjusted the way I played to make it sound the way I had in mind. Sometimes I feel like a modern art painter adding sounds like a painter would be throwing paint on empty canvas.
Anyway. What I have learned this month is that I would like to pay more attention to the way the samples sound. Most of the time I just select a random sample for drums or whatever and am fine with it. But I feel that next time I would like to make my music to sound a bit more professional. That way the chaotic parts will sound more like they where meant to sound that way.
Cheers, Jeroen


Here is my top 5:

► Show Spoiler

1. Canese
2. Doc Jon
3. LXM
4. Esteve Corbera
5. KukoBass

And the feedback on all the songs:

► Show Spoiler

Arelem
Very suitable for an arts and crafts video. Just watching totaly relaxed how someone else is speed building a house. There are many layers that work good together. I can listen tot his multiple times and discovering more sounds and layers. It is nog a very exciting track to listen to….but to be fair…considering the theme this month that is no surprise. Nice track.

Kuko bass (5)
Very nice track. I enjoyed listening to this one. The drum is very cool. I think that would have cost you some work to programm. Mixwise, it all sounds a bit hold back…don’t know what it is…probably it could use some more mid-range excitement….also the trompet should be more in your face….it is a solo intrument after all.

Doc Jon (2)
The guitar gives it an uplift, I know it is not the leading part of the song…but it definetly drives it. This is a very happy and danceble tune! The instrumentation is cool! I think this is one of my favorites this month. I hear a tune at 1.50 minutes that very much reminds me of a tune in a Dutch themepark the Efteling. I think at the ‘Indische Waterlelies’ (don’t know who it is originally from). Wich made me like it even more

LXM (3)
The lo-fi sound makes this one really stand out. Good move! The bass is there but I personaly think this music needs lots of heavy bass…..a bit more sub then it has now. The guitarsound is really well chosen. It plays exactly what this song needs. My top 3 is going to be crowded

VCA-089
What I like about this song is the strong drum. It is very much in the spotlight and I think that is a good thing. It drives the song forward. Lots of guitars this month in the songs. This one is also very nice. The delay makes it sit nice in the mix. The build up at 2.10 minutes could use a bigger climax in my opinion.

EsteveCorbera (4)
Dreamy vibe….bit like soundscape-music. This is very relaxing to listen to. You should consider making an album with relax music…..amazing. There is not much variation is something I could say….but I am not sure if this tune needs variation. And also not sure if that would make the song better. It is good as it is I guess.

FallenAngel
Intro starts interesting…..’80s sound drum. The bass sounds a bit like a cheap casio keyboard. Doesn’t have to be a bad thing….but it could have given the music some more energy if it had some more dirt or deep sub…or both. I like how sounds come and go……different parts are telling a story I feel. Personaly I would have liked the drum to come loose a bit more at the end.

MellowBrowne
The chordprogression is cool in combination with the drum. I was waiting for a change of chords during the song….to make it a bit more interesting to the end of the track. The mix sounds good.

Fix in the Mix
This could work perfectly for an arts and crafts video. Background music, nothing to distracting, mellow vibe. This indeed is a warm blanket. The guitar sounds great!

Canese (1)
This is one of the most interesting to listen to this month. I Like how all the different layers intertwine. This is powerfull music! My compliments!

[Doc Jon]

Things I have learned during this month’s competition:
This month I have learned that even cheesy music requires careful planning and arrangement for the full cheesetastic effect! Also it is not always necessary to swamp each track in FX to achieve the result you are after, sometimes it just sounds ok without anything added
My votes this month were on the basis of how well suited I thought each track would be to use as background music. There were some very skilled tracks which impressed me greatly but which just did not tick that box for background music and therefore did not make my final top 5

Feedback

► Show Spoiler

Arelem: Midnight Mirage
Very nice laid back track with great use of the whole frequency spectrum from that low sub bass up to the high pitched chimes. I very much liked your choice of sounds throughout the track and I can definitely see this being used as a background music for an art video. The only change I would suggest would be to layer another bass sound on top of that sub to bring it through a little bit more in the mix

KukoBass: Balearic Background
Nice intro and you immediately get that Balearic vibe. Excellent drum track and percussion. I like the way the track develops at 1:50 and then returns to the main theme, percussion break after 2:30 is really very good! My only change would be to substitute a different guitar VST - AAS Strum is not my favourite as I think it sounds too artificial and is quite easy to spot in a mix, sometimes swamping it with FX can help it sound a bit more convincing. The ending is a bit sudden

lxm.labxmusic: Serenity
Immediately drawn in to the track with that excellent intro. Lovely lo-fi vibes and sound of vinyl crackling. Good mix throughout. Clever ending with that mechanical sound. This track would work very well with a rap or vocals over the top, but as an instrumental can I hear this as background music to a crafting video? – absolutely, yes

VCA-089: My Garage
Cool intro, I love the crunchy beat, Real LPC sounding very convincing and Ample Sound bass sounding good to me too! The background noises were well chosen and fit the track perfectly. Some nostalgic sounds from the Fury-800 reminding me of my love/hate relationship with my old Korg Poly 800 which I got rid of because I couldn’t live with that limitation of the single filter shared across all the voices! The ending fades nicely with the LP filter effect but then, my only complaint - it stops a bit too suddenly. Overall great track

JeroenZuiderwijk: Multiverse
Frantic beats with elements of chiptune and synthwave all fit together to make a very convincing retro style track. There are a lot of different elements going on here! Those little tempo glitches worked well and the scattered mechanical style noises were very effective, particularly right at the end. Overall a very good track – however my only concern is that I’m not sure this would work well as background music because it demands too much of your attention, definitely more ‘foreground’ than ‘background’!

EsteveCorbera: Manualitats Amb Tranquilitat
Nice ambient piece which I think would work well as unobtrusive background music for an arts/crafts video. Good showcase for that physical modelling synth with some great choices of sounds, for some reason it reminded me very much of an old Roland D-50. The track doesn’t really go anywhere or develop much but I don’t see that as a problem when using something for background music. I like it, only just missed out on top 5

FallenAngel: String Disco
Nice arrangement and a good choice of sounds. Suitable retro patches and melody. I can see this being used as background music for a timelapse Lego video or similar. I did find the drum track claps became a little repetitive with time and would have liked some more variation now and then to mix up the basic rhythm. The toms are very effective when they do come in.

Mellow Browne: Do It Yourself
Great intro and good strong beat with an incredible kick drum sound. I think your drum playing is very good. I think this track would work extremely well as a song - I kept expecting some vocals vocal to come in! In musical terms I would have liked a little more variation throughout the track as far as melody is concerned, but as a piece of background music I do not see this as a problem at all. Very well done

FixInTheMix: Warm Blanket
Lovely warm lo-fi feel perfect for background music, I liked the simplicity of the whole thing. Loved the tape stop and scratching effects. Effective use of guitar. Definitely good background music for video

Canese: Seeding Me
Some epic sounding retro strings and lovely abstract percussion. It creates a great sense of space and the track builds well – I would suggest the addition of some stronger lower register strings in the final section to really add power to the climax of the track. I do like it and it is certainly great soundtrack style music but perhaps more suited to the epic closing scenes of a film rather than an arts/crafts video

Voting

► Show Spoiler

1) VCA-089
2) FixInTheMix
3) Mellow Browne
4) lxm.labxmusic
5) Arelem

[EsteveCorbera]

Good night,

I liked the challenge this month because I got to experiment with reason's new synthesizer. An amazing instrument that starts from a very different approach.

This month's challenge was good. Personally, I am a fan of film soundtracks, and having the opportunity to create a soundtrack, I have to take advantage of it.
It's interesting to see how each one does something very different despite starting from the same initial premises.
As always very good level. Good job everyone.


I will give you some brief comments.


Arelem__Midnight Mirage
good atmosphere Good start, which makes you want to listen to the song.
Very powerful low frequencies (now I listen to it with headphones), but I hadn't heard it before I listened to it with a desktop speaker (non-professional).
Without accompanying images, the melody becomes a bit repetitive, but it certainly works well as a complement to a video. The music has no shrillness and stays on a steady plane, which is also fine as a soundtrack.
good mix

KukoBass__Balearic_Background
I like the festive atmosphere that your song evokes.
The initial guitar sound feels a little artificial.
As for the rhythm, I miss a more worked drum. You stay halfway.
I find the trumpet parts quite interesting, but when it's not playing it's missing.
Does it end very abruptly??

Doc Jon__Putting It All Together
Good job with the stereo pan of the song.
Very original metal percussion.
I like the melody of the second part of the song, very festive and happy.
Maybe you miss the ending, it drags on and doesn't end in anything.
The rest, very good work.

LXM.labxmusic – Serenity
Lo-fi sound that goes well with some images. The music flows without too much going on, but that's fine considering the premise of this month's challenge.
I like the voice that accompanies the song despite not having variations.

VCA-089__MyGarage
I like the rhythm of the bass and good work with the guitar. Very correct spatial placement of the guitar.
Your risky proposal this month. Ending the song with effects that eat the music is not something very common. But kudos to you for trying.
I like the ribbon effects and filters that add variation and life to your subject.

JeroenZuiderwijk__Multiverse
Maybe as music that accompanies a video it is a bit aggressive.
I must confess that it was difficult for me to listen to your song. I'm not used to this kind of music with such a different rhythm.
I have to tell you that I like the synthesizer you put in, despite wanting to do something cheesy, it reminds me of Tangerine Dream.

FallenAngel_StringDisco
I like the reverberant sounds that the synth part contains. The music would look good in a video. Don't say too much, but that might be the idea.
The mix sounds good to me.

MellowBrowne__DoItYourself
Your topic is off to an interesting start. The piano rhythm is repeated when the bass comes in, I like it. But in the end it drags on, I'm waiting for a significant variation but it never comes.
Yes, good mix.

FixInTheMix__WarmBlanket
Another theme in the Lo-FI style suitable for the challenge of the month.
I like the piano melody, it gets me hooked. It has a melancholic touch that I like.
I also like the middle-end part with the electric piano.
It would be a good accompaniment for a video.
I would have liked the finale to end with the opening piano melody. It would have been a great ending.

canese__seeding me
I really like this month's theme.
For my taste, I would have liked you not to abuse the filters so much. It all sounds too muted, but that's a matter of taste.
I love the powerful bit (0:38-1:10 and 2:11-2:40). It reminds me of great soundtracks.
You have to go through the levels.

(translated with google)

► Show Spoiler

01 FixInTheMix
02 canese
03 Doc Jon
04 KukoBass
05 VCA-089

[FixInTheMix]

I always try to use this challenge as an excuse to try doing new things, in this case, it was a genre I'm not really familiar with so I spent a lot of time trying to research the most common tropes, chord progression, sounds, etc.
I can´t say I`m completely satisfied with the end result but at least I'm happy that I made something, that´s what is all about at the end of the day

Feedback

► Show Spoiler

Arelem - "Midnight Mirage"

took me a couple of listens to get how this track could fit in a DIY video but after a while, I think its atmospheric nature could go well with the outdoors or nature-related projects.
I didn´t hear anything weird with bass regarding harmony but I do think one from the short repeated melody is way too spicy for my taste.
There´s a D that should (if staying on the key) be a C#. I'm guessing it´s intentional as it´s very obvious but at least as a listener I think it brings a lot of tension

KukoBass - "Balearic Background"

I think the main issue is that it lacks enough repetition to ground itself, the melody has a distinctive improvisational vibe and the fast chord changes demand way more attention from the listener than it should. I think with some changes to the arrangement and structure making the changes a little bit slower it would be better.

Doc Jon - "Putting It All Together"

Great use of those metal hits for percussion.
I think of this track as a more sophisticated and interesting version of the classic "overly happy" music, you know the one with ukelele, whistling, and or glockenspiel.
Works perfectly and I like how you incorporated all of the previous musical elements for the ending, does justice to its name.

lxm.labxmusic - "Serenity"

I think I'm biased in favor of this track since we both chose the same genre and after hearing your submission I decided to change some of my drum sounds before posting to better fit the aesthetic. There's a reason why this genre is so overused for background music, that's what its made for basically. Great vibe and ambiance.


VCA-089 - "My Garage"

The synth wave vibe really shows, I think you managed to get a track that reflects your goal.
I'm surprised on how good those guitar melodies sound, I was about to say great guitar playing but I think it would be more accurate to say great MIDI sequencing.

JeroenZuiderwijk - "Multiverse"

Honestly, I think this track would be a good choice for an indie retro video game soundtrack, it's way too energetic and fast tempo.
It´s still a great track tho, but not something I think could be used as a background.


Esteve Corbera - "Manualitats Amb Tranquilitat"

This is similar in nature to Arelem´s track but at least for me this one goes for a more organic, relaxed style.
It´s a really pleasant experience, I would definitely enjoy watching the DIY project with this song in the background.

Fallen Angel - "String Disco"

Kudos for making it loopable, that´s clever.
I think melody and harmony wise it works, I'm not so sure about the electronic orchestration though


Mellow Browne - "Do It Yourself"

Something about that chord progression gives a sort of "epic" vibe, almost like a song that is used for a training montage.
That being said I can still imagine it being used for a more mundane tutorial or timelapse.

Canese - "Seeding Me"

Okay, this is even more epic sounding, maybe a bit too much for my taste.
I get that is probably intentional but I don´t think the filtered highs and saturation do any favors to the track, quite the contrary.

Voting

► Show Spoiler

1- lxm.labxmusic
2- Doc Jon
3- VCA-089
4- Mellow Browne
5- Esteve Corbera

[FallenAngel]

Feedback:
Arelem: This piece has a really nice relaxing but viby feel. The parts of the song change at just the right time before they get too repetitive. For me, it sounds more like an outro than an arts and crafts video though. Overall great mix.

KukoBass: I like how it starts energetically; it really gets me in the mood for an arts and crafts video. It reminds me of Flamenco, and I like it. I feel the ending is a bit too abrupt. The saxophones are great touch to this piece. Love it.

Doc Jon: The start sounds like an arts and crafts video, the tin instruments work great with the piece. I feel the oboe doesn’t fully mix with the piece and gets a bit repetitive. Great song.

VCA-089: Love that bass at the start, you know something is building. Then the guitar comes in and *chefs kiss*. I feel halfway through though there are a couple of bars where it gets a bit too repetitive. Great mix, great song.

Lxm.labxmusic: I think it is a good song, hover I don’t think the vibe fully matches an arts and crafts video. I feel an arts and crafts video should be a bit more upbeat. The mix, on the other hand, is great, and it is a great lofi beat.

JeroenZuiderwijk: The first thing that comes to mind listening to this song is Bring Me The Horizon because of the pad, guitar, and off-beat drums, which is great for me. Think it is a cool vibe for an arts and crafts video though. Personally, I feel the guitar should do a bit more throughout the song though. It’s a great mix.

EsteveCobera: I like the relaxed feel, the instruments are mixed well and complement each other beautifully. I feel it is a bit too slow for an arts and crafts video though. Great song anyways, can imagine a peaceful waterfall in a jungle when listening to it.

Mellow Browne: It’s a nice mix but I feel it is very repetitive. Personally, I feel the synth should do something else. I just feel something else should happen in the song maybe have another riff from the synth or something. Good mix overall.

FixInTheMix: I love the vibe of this mix and it just sounds sull and very satisfying to hear. I don’t know what you did to the guitar, but the solo sounded beautiful. However, I feel the synth halfway through would have been nicer if it was played on guitar, but I like when it comes in a second time. I didn’t think you could really have a lo-fi piece for arts and crafts, but this would really work.

canese: I feel the start of the song has a hit of sadness occasionally not so sure why. Like the instruments though they work together. Feel it’s not the right vibe for an arts and crafts video though. Good mix altogether can feel it telling a story.

► Show Spoiler

Voting:
1.Doc Jon
2.KukoBass
3.FixInTheMix
4.JeroenZuiderwijk
5.Arlem

[KukoBass]

My experience this month:
This month, I had a hard time to get started. I lacked motivation and had no idea how to begin the song. I tried out different synths until I found the chord scheme while playing around with AAS Strum 2. Then I tried to vary the scheme and write a B-Part with different chords. I added the trumpet late in the process (WIP 2), as I felt the song was lacking something like vocals, but I didn't want vocals because I thought they would be too distracting for background music. Maybe I'll add some vocals in the future to develop the song further.

Feedback:

Arelem - Midnight Mirage
Relaxed song without elements that put themselves too much in the foreground, so it makes a good background track. It introduces new elements just in time, so it doesn't get boring.
The melody motifs don't always fit the chords, yet somehow it works. The bassline on the other hand sounds off key.
Your mix is great on big speakers and headphones, but lacks bass on smaller speakers.


canese - Seeding Me
Good drums, they sound like underwater. The chord progression sounds a little strange to me until it reaches the main part. I like the hollow sound of the guitar.
The second part sounds a little too bombastic, so the song might be better suited for a film trailer or film credits than for background music of a DIY-Video - unless it is used when someone builds something epic.


Doc John - Putting it all together
This song should be the opening music for a children show for repairing or building things. I like the happy vibe, and all the bells and "whistles".
I'm a little disappointed with the fadeout at the ending; you could have ended with a bang (on a bell). The rhythm is original and there are memorable motifs in the melody. I like the call of the Sax and the answer of the strings.
The only issue with the mix is that some reverb of some bell samples seems to be cut off too early. Otherwise, I would not know what to improve.


Esteve Corbera - Manualitats amb tranquilitat
I like the atmosphere of the song, the sound of dripping water, very relaxed. I imagine the song being used for a timeshift video of flowers starting to bloom. It would also make a good background music for a documentation film.
The B-part reminds me of Jean-Michel Jarre. I like the slow evolving of the song and the stereo effects going from left to right and back again.


Fallen Angel - String Disco
It is a quite lively piece of music, but in my opinion the used sounds sound too "chiptuney" and catch too much attention for the use as background music.
I like the bass melody, but the string melody sometimes doesn't seem to match. I like the stereo effect before the B part; it reminded me of a belt sander used on a plank from right to left and back again.
Sometimes, e.g. at 0:53, there is a second bass sound that clashes a little with the first.


FixInTheMix - Warm Blanket
I like the Lo-Fi-feeling through the warm noise at the beginning, like a soft rain outside and a burning fireplace inside. The little string noises give the song a closeness, an intimacy. I like the guitar sound and the piano sound. I think the snare rhythm starting around 1:34 is a bit too much; maybe it should be used more as an effect for one or two bars than a part of the song.
The mix sounds well-balanced to me.


JeroenZuiderwijk - Multiverse
This could be used for a time-lapse montage of something printed by typewriters, or maybe a video game soundtrack. My main issue with the song is that it is pretty fast (not only the drums) and therefore has a rushed atmosphere.
The drums sound much better now. I also like the addition of the guitars and the stereo effects.


lxm.labxmusic - Serenity
A very well crafted Lo-Fi-track, reminded me of the Chillhop playlists. The muted Trumpet sounds a little like someone is singing, which made it a little irritating for me. There is nothing wrong with the track or the mix, it's just not what I'd use in the background for an "Arts and Craft"-Video, and I can't put my finger on why that is the case. Maybe it is the little rythm break (e. g. at 0:10 in the song) that grabs a little too much of the listeners attention.


Mellow Browne - Do It Yourself
The beginning of the song reminded me of Billy Joel or Supertramp. I like your choice of sounds, especially drums and bass. But I feel that the piano playing triplets on the same chords over and over gets boring soon. Maybe the introduction of a B-Part with different rhythms and/or different chords could bring the song to the next level.
The fuzzy distortion sound in the background (e.g. starting around 1:04) sounds irritating to me and takes away the focus off the guitar (or is it a synth?) riff. All in all, a good song that just lacks a little variation.


VCA-089 aka Infravolt - My Garage
I like the sound of the bass and the rhythmic patterns evolving through the delays and bandpass filters. Are the little background noises in the middle part wielding noises?
The melody guitar could be more in the foreground for my taste. And the ending sounds a little cut-off. Otherwise, I would not know what could be improved.


Voting:
Deciding on my TOP 5 was difficult, because the songs all were good in their own way. My main criteria was how well I could see the song used in an "Arts and Craft"-Video.

► Show Spoiler

My TOP 5:
1. Esteve Corbera - Manualitats amb tranquilitat
2. FixInTheMix - Warm Blanket
3. Doc John - Putting it all together
4. VCA-089 aka Infravolt - My Garage
5. canese - Seeding me

[lxm.labxmusic]

Here's my feedback and votes for this contest.
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for the feedbacks on my track, Serenity.
It's my first time here and I feel very warmly welcomed by all of you.
Anyways, let's get into it.

FEEDBACKS

01. ARELEM - Midnight Mirage
Very very captivating ambient pads in the background. The drums are simple but still very groovy. Will fit in perfectly with 'slow-mo' style footages, imo. The mix is solid. The only setback I felt was that the bell sounds sounded a bit off-key/off-scale. Overall, a very vibey track!

02. KUKOBASS - Balearic Background/DIY WIP2
Great arrangement with different variations. The percussions and drums are really nice. The trumpet really stands out too. I can picture doing some DIY work on, like a beach, with this track. Definitely a unique one among the entries!

03. DOC JON - Putting It All Together
Feels like fixing the roof on a warm summer day. Very upbeat. A lot of variations there too. The strings and the flutes are my favourite instruments in this track, for sure. Might be a preference thing but that synth lead at 02:00 sounds a little out of place, in my humble opinion. Anyway, a really good song. I love it!

04. VCA-089 - My Garage
I instantly imagined those 'gear-up garage montages' from those late 80s action movies, with a touch of sci-fi feels. I really like the mix on the drums, very punchy and powerful. Great track!

05.Jeroen Zuiderwijk - Multiverse
Very unique. DnB mixed with Synthwave. Lots of variations. Would fit in better with some techy-crafts, imo. Definitely an interesting one.

06. Esteve Corbera - Manualitats Amb Tranquilitat
Super mellow and deep. Love the ambience elements. The piano in the later part sounds very nice too. Definitely on the 'Arts' side in 'Arts and Craft' theme.

07. Fallen Angel - String Disco
Another very interesting one. Vintage Analog style synths with a 90s video game style drum groove. Definitely a niche one for the theme. I think I hear can hear some resonance-ish frequencies in the low end though.

08. Mellow Browne - Do It Yourself
Brilliant instrumentation, I love the variations throughout the song. Nothing felt out of place, at all. Solid Mix. Would definitely use it in a craft video, making something super cool. Love it!

09. FixInTheMix - Warm Blanket
Coincidentally, it's been raining for days here in the tropical parts of Southeast Asia. Imagine how good this one felt, haha. I love all the instrumentations in the song, Piano, EP, Guitars etc. Really smooth notes too. Feels like staying in during a rainy evening and painting a picture.

10. Canese - Seeding Me
Very very strong and kinda epic. I'm not sure if it's an artistic choice but it sounded like an old school track without much high frequencies in the mix.
I'm not sure in what kinda 'Arts and Craft' video I'd use this one though. Would fit better in like a movie scene, imo.

Lots of amazing tracks with very different takes on the theme.
Here's my top 5 votes.

► Show Spoiler

1st - FixInTheMix
2nd - Doc Jon
3rd - Mellow Browne
4th - VCA089
5th - Arelem

[canese]

Hello, everyone! First of all, I want to express my gratitude to all those who have already provided feedback. This month's competition has been fantastic, with each track displaying incredible creativity and a sense of purpose. In terms of my own submission, I must admit that it veered slightly off the theme, becoming more epic than I initially intended for a background track. However, I personally enjoyed the way it turned out, so I decided to upload it without excessive processing or overthinking. Initially, I had envisioned creating a lo-fi track similar to the ones from LXM or FixInTheMix. However, as I delved into the composition, the chord progression led me in a more melodic direction. The complexity of the chords compelled me to match a fitting melody to them.

Feedback:

► Show Spoiler

Arelem "Midnight Mirage":
Nice warm and calm vibes! I’m nodding my head. This indicates a good groove. I really like the drums, and the hi-hat pattern is fresh. The bass is incredibly well-crafted; it's perfect. The piano is decent, but at times, I find it a bit unclear in its purpose. It feels a bit sloppy like it wasn't played intentionally. As for the bells, when they come in, they disrupt the organic vibe. The melody is fine, but the timbre of the bells distracts me. It's too dry, almost childish, and robotic. Lastly, I really love how the different parts of the music carry the energy throughout the entire piece.

KukoBass "Balearic Background":
Great job! The rhythm patterns are awesome. They're quite extreme in a way, but still very satisfying. However, I find the drums and piano a bit robotic. Adding more dynamics could help. The mix is generally fine, but the low end feels overpowering. At times, there are too many elements playing simultaneously. It might be worth considering resting certain instruments, like the piano or bass, for a few measures. While the composition fits the theme, the odd rhythms might be slightly distracting and not ideal for a background groove.

Doc Jon “Putting It All Together”:
I love it! You are a very talented songwriter. It takes me to a farm video game, like Harvest Moon. The harmonies are incredible, and the melody suits the genre perfectly. The synth at the end is also a nice touch. I have almost nothing to suggest; it's perfect as it is.

LXM “Serenity”:
Excellent lo-fi track. It's perfect for a radio channel. It's simple but in the best way, like an outstanding wine. I wouldn't change a thing. Cheers to your music!

VCA-089 "My Garage":
Not bad at all. I like the bad-boy vibe it gives off. As the song title suggests, it makes me envision building a car. It reminds me of tuning it in Need for Speed. The melodies, however, could be more impactful. Both the bass and guitars would benefit from a switch in the melodic patterns. Perhaps the guitars could play a more repetitive riff, while the bass introduces a distinct melody now and then. The mix has a bit too many high-mids (around 3.5 kHz). I also notice some subtle distortion in the hi-hats, guitar, and snare.

JeroenZuiderwijk "Multiverse":
Awesome, dude! It feels like Aphex Twin. While it may not be the most suitable track for this month's theme, it's still an excellent composition. The only suggestion I have is that it feels overly compressed. It lacks dynamics and emotion, but I understand that it may be the result of having too many elements doing everything all at once, as demanded by this song. Overall, I think it's excellent and truly unique!

EsteveCorbera "Manualitats Amb Tranquilitat":
A nice ambient track. I really enjoy it, especially for activities like meditating or gardening. It gives off a trance-like and calming vibe. I particularly like the droplets and arpeggios. The only remark I have is that it lacks a low-end element, such as a drone or deep bass.

FallenAngel "String Disco":
Broo, this is sick! I'd love to hear this while I'm programming or doing something else. You have a great and unique taste, almost cringy but not quite. I was vibing the whole time. The only thing I would suggest is adding more variability

VOTES:

► Show Spoiler

1-Doc Jon “Putting It All Together”
2-LXM “ Serenity”
3-FallenAngel "String Disco"
4-Arelem "Midnight Mirage"
5-FixInTheMix "Warm Blanket"

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your feedback and cast your vote.


Please check post #027 regarding the feedback and voting mechanic. Please don't let yourself be put at a disadvantage by not participating (fully). The Songwriting Competition lives from the given feedback towards each other.

Outside feedback is welcome, of course.