Mix Challenge

1) Strange
2) Mark Fey
3) Arelem
4) toadhjo
5) A Future in Noise

I am going to cover all participants in my feedback, however as I am not very immersed in electronic music or its production, some of my feedback for those genres may not really make sense to enthusiasts or creators that operate in that space.

Aralem "Fast Life"
I get nerd core rap / MC Chris vibes from this production. I really like it. Lyrical work is solid and you have a really good feel for using syllable accent patterns to push/pull and keep rhyme schemes sounding interesting. Personally, I could go for some variation in the vocal effects and I think the chorus could use something to stand out lyrically like a "hype man" backup or a vocal melody of some type, maybe?

Strange "Was wenn die Menscheit nicht merkt was sie macht"
This song would sound right at home from an opener on a Flogging Molly tour. I love the acoustic intro and then the sudden hit. My ear wants a counterpoint to the descending chorus melody motif; maybe some "oh oh ohs" or the same lyrics in an ascending melody line in background vocals? Lastly, I feel like there is a little swing to the intro that is lost when the full band comes in - my ear wants a little swing to this song to give the audience a little more bounce or sway to dance to. I would do this using the bass guitar - maybe even an oompah style VI / I line with a swing? This is certainly the choice of the writer/arranger so I hope I am not out of line saying this.

Mark Fey "Breathless"
I love the melody motif. This has a very "gearing up for the big cataclysm" feel to it and for me this is something I would expect to hear in a video game or movie. I almost expect "Refused" to start screaming over it ala Cyberpunk 2077. Motif variations moving through the song do a great job keeping it interesting and building anticipation. I think this is the sort of thing that Music Supervisors would love to see submitted for gritty action/drama type projects. Seriously cool composition.

Esteve Corbera "Homentage a TD"
I am a sucker for the time feel change when the percussion comes in. I love music with interesting rhythmic sensibilities. I like how the melody almost feels a bit rushed against the ethereal background. I do want a bit more variation in the melody motif as the song progresses.

JeroenZuiderwijk "ik voel me gehaast"
As I said earlier, I love the truncated measures (switch to 2/4 before chorus). Lyrics feel properly rushed, almost Busta Rhymes style. From a production perspective, I'd say the synth pads are a bit abrasive sounding, and I'd like to hear the vocal a little more upfront or present in the mix. Cool song, I like the combination of styles.

juhu "Time's Up!"
This is where I step well outside my experience so I may be speaking out of turn here. While the dissonant chord choices and syncopated placement drive a good degree of tension, there is no resolution or other development for too long. When I get to 1:30 my ears really want the chords to collapse into a more coherent progression and a melody to come in, like I've been waiting for a chorus or something. By the time the melody is finally introduced it feels almost jarring (instead of developed.) and the production doesn't play up the melody with stronger and more focused instrumentation. I really like the percussion work on this piece, and this may be a genre where my feedback doesn't make sense so I hope it is constructive.

toadhjo "Time (Flowing Over Me)"
This is a really vibey, cool song. From a composition standpoint, I'd say try to avoid simile where possible, as it really pulls a listener out of an otherwise beautiful landscape that you've created in their mind. I absolutely love the omission of the last word of the chorus (which is presumably "end" but we can't know!).
From a production standpoint, I think the vocals are buried but this is one of those "a half dB can make a huge difference" situations depending on your signal chain and such. At 1:38 I think you've done a great job of building this anticipation but instead of feeling "big" or "cathartic" the chorus feels "busy" or "crowded." I think your choice of harmonies are part of this but introduction of a big stereo synth pad (I mean, of course I would say big distorted guitars but I don't think that fits this piece LOL) would also help. Just mind the stereo sound stage or it will get even busier.
To follow up specifically on the bass guitar, I would say that in this song it feels too on/off or disjointed. I love the little accent runs and such but I think this song would be served by simply playing the root note more often to really play up the pulse (like you do around 50sec). You can then start playing with sidechain compression to get the kick and bass really pumping with each other and get an even stronger throbbing pulse feel. My mind goes to Big Audio Dynamite or other British dance pop from the 80s and 90s.

A Future in Noise "The Ivory Tower"
I love the breathing intro and the crazy authentic 80s pop vibe. The arrangement feels more authentic than a lot of the "alternative rock" type music produced here in the US today that is trying to do 80s throwback but just sounds cheap and derivative. This feels like an earnest homage. That said, to that end I think the lead guitar needs to be more present and "searing" and the synth brass could stand to be swapped for a saxophone. I would also love to hear the classic "bomb toms" in the drums around the 2min mark when you come out of the bridge. I wouldn't say no to a reverse gated reverb on the snare, either! Cool song and very well performed.

When I sit down to write a song, the easiest part is always the chord progressions, guitar riffs, and the overall format (A/B/A/C or whatever) and to write melody is usually simple as I just start humming or singing nonsense words over the song and it usually takes very little time to shape up. However, the lyrics are always my Achille's heel. This contest forced me to make lyrical decisions on a pace that is unusually fast for me, and I think it is something I need to take back and apply to my process every time.

Some of the entries were pretty far outside the types of music I listen to and honestly I think I need to branch out a bit more just to get a feel for what is out there. You never know when the synthesis of ideas can create something greater and I'm doing myself a disservice by not exploring more.

Like I wrote in my earlier post, it was very fun to write music with an for me unknown DAW. It can (if it isn't working to frustrating) be an inspiration for writing new music. i can recommend it to everybody to switch DAW's every now and then. I use lots of different DAW's already: Reaper, Renoise, Sunvox, FL Studio and now LMMS. I was pleasently surprised after I read a lot of negative comments about the DAW. But the truth is that if you invest some time in figuring things out it is a more then capable DAW for writing electronic music and I actualy found it more easy to just make music with LMMS then with FL Studio.

I like to add vocals to my tracks (although I don't Always do that). Often I write lyrics in English but I thought….why wouldn't I just write lyrics in Dutch.....this month mix challenge (thank you Strange!) reminded me that there is beauty in writing songs in your own language. It is also easy to hide behind a foreign language when singing…….writing a song in your own language feels more vunarable somehow. So I am proud that i wrote this song like this.

Arelem Beats: "Fast Life"
Fantastic song. The relaxed vibe doesn't really fits the theme in my opinion but the lyrics are great. on the other hand the contrast between the lyrics and the atmosphere of the song could also be seen as a statement. I guess. Productionwise, no comments, only compliments. Professional sound.

Strange!: Was wenn die Menscheit nicht merkt was sie macht
That is one catchy punk song. I like it a lot. The energetic drums, the cool melody in the chorus. Would get a crowd going in a live situation. The arrangement is good. It is punk...so it should be sparse I think. but the sound is solid. The guitars are overdriven but not to heavy distorted (that is a good thing) so we can still hear what you are playing. The raw not polished mix (was that what you where aiming for? ) is what this song needs and fits the style completely. Nice!

Rick Finsta: "Commute Hell"
Another cool punk song. What can I say, very cool, sounds like a punk track should sound like (the dry vocal reminded me a bit of Pennywise). Very short track....but hey, who cares? it is punk after all! :-) the backing vocals give this track another layer of fullness that blast from my speakers...I enjoyed listening to this one….so after 1 minute 14 seconds I just restarted the song...

Marc Fey: "Breathless"
Definitely one of my favorite songs. The choice of synth sounds is spot on for the atmosphere. The melody is hypnotising. Then the guitars come in....with that this song elevates into another dimension. The drumrythm is good but I would have liked to sound a bit more over the top (at least louder and fuller for that part). Great work!

EsteveCorbera: "Homentage a TD"
Although there is a lot happening in this track it does feel a bit like a repetition. That is not a bad thing because the sounds are relaxing to listen to and with that it gets more intens. Personaly I would have liked a little twist in the song, a wakeup so to say or bridge. But that is just personal taste. Also a personal taste: "I like the drums to be louder". But it is a very nice composition. You have a talent for synth tracks.

Juhu: "Time's up"
In all its weirdness I did enjoy listening to this song. The different elements unfolding into something sometimes chaotic sometimes back to more a structurelike arrangement. oh....and I am going to say it again....I like the drums to be louder :-) that is what could drive the song. The choir at around 2.45 minutes is a great extra layer to make it more interesting at a moment I lost my attention a bit.

Toadhjo: "time flowing over me"
The chord progression makes this feel like a happy song. The sounds of the instruments also help with that. You made a full song for this month competition. All the different layers, melodys, lyrics. Sound like a lot of work and effort. The arrangement is good with something like a climax at the end of the song. Nice.

A Future in Noise: "The Ivory Tower"
What a great song. Your songwriting skills do shine in this song. By now I recognise your style a bit. The vocals are really good by the way. Nice move to let Rodney sing this song. The combination of guitar, brass reminds me a bit of a song from the '60's...that is a compliment btw.

1. Marc Fey
2. Rick Finsta
3. Strange
4. A Future in Noise
5. Arelem Beats

- Arelem - "Fast Life" :
great track. It's not the genre I listen to but the saxo parts immediatly spoke to me (great chorus). Professional sound, the drums are well mixed, the rest too! The track arrangement is very cool but seems in contradiction with the theme, so I guess the lyrics are in keeping with it, since I don't understand them all. If so, great contrast between music and lyrics!

- Strange - "Was wenn die Menscheit nicht merkt was sie macht" (What if mankind does not realize what it is doing) :
again a beautiful track from you! Nice short intro with the acoustic guitar before a more angry feeling like a true punk rock song, it gives off a real energy! The mix is really great, I listen all the instruments very clearly, the different guitars are well panned, the drums are punchy. The stereo image is wide, I like it. I love the break at 1:55 with different chords. Maybe I might have shortened the track, putting the end at 2:50 to keep the punk spirit. Many thanks for providing the lyrics (in 2 languages!) and the chords, really appreciated!

- Rick Finsta - "Commute Hell" :
an other punk song but far too short this time. Such a shame because this song is great! I find the voice a bit muffled (but I'm not a singer), the mix is good. Perhaps the drums are a bit machin gun at the end (maybe a nod to your military reference?).
Thanks also for providing the lyrics, very important for me!

- EsteveCorbera - "Homentage a TD" :
I think I never listened to Tangerine Dream but perhaps you made me want to do it. Cool track with many synths layers, the mix seems good even if I guess a bit lack of bass medium. Four times the same motif, I'd hoped a bit more variations but perhaps it's what you'd expect when you like TD. Anyway nice effort, it's never easy to do a tribute!

- JeroenZuiderwijk - "ik voel me gehaast" (I feel like I am in a hurry) :
first congratulations to sing into your native language! I'd only hope you provide the lyrics in English because I didn't understand them.
Anyway great track, with a nice touch of 90's songs which we could find in the charts, and a touch of retro video games (the choice of the sounds). I'd hope the drum a bit louder but great job!

- juhu - "Time's Up!" :
I like the initial idea with these syncopated rhythms (I usually love the mellotron). The drums are welcome but I'd expected the instrumentation could have been bigger and bigger to a grand finale. Also, the main Mellotron is a bit louder to my ears. The background sounds are nice and bring more sophistication. It's really cool of you to have posted it, even if you didn't have the time you wanted. Sharing is essential.

- toadhjo - "Time (Flowing Over Me)" :
nice track with a great choice of sounds (the epiano!). I find your voice a bit undermixed but it works well, I love the background vocals! The mix is clear, each instrument is well positioned in the stereo image. The end is a bit abrupt and I'd have liked to read the lyrics, but very well done.

- A Future in Noise - "The Ivory Tower (feat. Rodney Steve)" :
Beautiful track! I like the bass intro, the instrumentation is wonderful (fabulous brass) with many small details for even more variations and originality! Nothing to complaint about the voice singer, excellent! Nothing else to say, just bravo! And thanks for the lyrics.

1. A Future in Noise
2. Strange
3. toadhjo
4. Arelem
5. Rick Finsta

Very interesting theme this month, interpreted very differently by the participants!
My aim was to create an atmosphere with no downtime and to tell a real story, which is not easy without lyrics.
(As I was posting this track, I thought of adding this ending as a nod to the last Dream Theater...)
But the aim was also to let everyone's imagination run free as they listened to my track. I think the most important thing was that each listener makes this track their own in their own way, but always with that sense of time running out in this case.

JeroenZuiderwijk - Really solid track! You were concerned about the mix but I think it sounds quite good -- a bit retro but still plenty of energy. The throbbing bass lines and kick give it a lot of power. Your vocal delivery sounds good to my ears. I don't understand the lyrics but I did run them through Google Translate. They match the theme well -- my suggestion would be to add a chorus somewhere. Then again, you're in a rush so maybe you don't want to repeat yourself?

juhu - Many interesting bits of ear candy in here. The drums coming in on the beat I didn't expect was a fun surprise. I like the pitch drifting around the two minute mark -- it generates an air of mystery. I do feel that the harmonic elements take too long too develop. Around 2:30 it starts to get more interesting but then the end arrives so soon afterward.

Marc Fey - Excellent atomsphere from the get-go, with sirens wailing far in the distance. I like the transitions between different instruments. It goes from sounding like 90s tracker music (think Deus Ex OST) to guitar-driven cinematic alternative seamlessly. And then there are lush pads tucked in the background here and there -- really delicious all around! If I had to nitpick, I'd say the drums sound a bit lifeless? Maybe they need to be a bit bigger, or maybe they just need a bit more variation? Overall, though, no complaints!

RickFinsta - Great old-school pop-punk tune! I think my favorite part is when the background vocals come in. The drums in the first half don't quite vibe with me, but maybe I'm just not hip enough to grok it. Props on fitting a lot of hooks into such a short run time.

Arelem - Very mysterious from the get go -- claustrophobic (in a good way)! I like the little horn that comes in during the chorus. It definitely sounds like someone is running on fumes and taking pills just to keep going ... body and mind are still moving but everything is kind of hazy. I think it loses a bit of steam towards the end -- the final chorus could use another element or effect to shake things up -- but overall it's a fun interpretation of the theme and executed well!

A Future in Noise - Killer metal vocals! The whole track definitely feels like it could be one of the slower cuts on a prog/power metal album. No major complaints from me -- the lyrics didn't particularly grab me, and the some of the backing instruments sound a bit cheesy to my ear (the sounds, not the notes). But overall very cool -- the only reason it didn't make my top five is because I think a couple of the other tracks better encapsulate the feeling of "rush".

EsteveCorbera - Oooh, I like how off-kilter this one feels. There's a well-defined beat but it's like everything is swirling around the center, shifting forward and backward in time in microsteps. Plus the unexpected timing on some of the entrances -- the whole thing just sounds organic and lush. Nicely done!

Strange - Nice punky song with a full mix. Good transition from acoustic to full arrangement. I think my favorite part is the little guitar interlude after every "Gute Nacht!" It's simple but it tickles my ear just right. If I had to make a suggestion, it would be to think of a different line for the chorus, so instead of AAAB it becomes ABAC. I know you make a point of repetition but a little variety can go a long way

1. Arelem
2. EsteveCorbera
3. Marc Fey
4. Strange
5. JeroenZuiderwijk

I definitely have mixed feelings this month. This year I've been releasing new music every week -- 18 tracks and counting. This has been fun and I've made a lot of music I'm proud of.

But my entry to this contest has me rethinking everything. I was planning to drop it on streaming as my weekly track but it's just not quite there yet. I think it's good but it could be better. The vocals are a major issue -- not just the performance, but the fact that it has vocals at all. My other tracks this year have been instrumental. If an instrumental track is a bit off, well, that's one thing -- I'll make a better one next week, right? But if I'm trying to release a poppy song with vocals, I really want to do my best to nail it. I don't want to feel like I'm half-assing it just so I can meet a deadline. If I want to be a serious artist, I need to respect for my own art.

Long story short, I was planning to release 52 tracks this year, but after giving it a lot of thought I'm going to stop halfway through, at 26. I'll keep hashing out instrumental stuff through the end of June, and then I'm gonna slow down and try to figure out what's next. And maybe work on my voice while I"m at it haha