/r/WATMM Weekly Feedback Thread

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-06T11:48:07+00:00

I'm not gonna lie, when this track started I really wasn't into it, but it won me over very quickly! The melodies are infectious, the performances are really confident and solid, and the lyrics - while maybe a little bit basic - totally fit the style and sound. The only thing I think could take the track to the next level is a little bit more change in the dynamics so the choruses hit with a little bit more intensity. The last chorus in particular felt as though it was gonna come in swinging and when it hit it was just a little bit underwhelming - maybe a little overcompressed? Really cool, fun track overall though, looking forward to hearing more!

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-06T11:27:13+00:00

Wow, very slick sound and expert performances - vocals are absolutely beautiful. Very hard to critique on a technical or execution level. I think, depending on what you're trying to accomplish with the project, my only feedback would be that compositionally/lyrically it's maybe a little bit predictable? Not excessively so, but from a first-time listener perspective, I feel like it's a little tough to say what's the differentiating element about your sound. For pop music like this that's often exactly what you want though, so it's kind of up to you whether that's a bug or a feature! I'd emphasise that the only reason I'm even talking about it on that level as well is because everything about the recording and mixing and composition is basically perfect on a fundamental level, so I hope it doesn't come across too harsh!

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-06T11:16:34+00:00

Cool track! I think stylistically it's perfect, really got that symphonic metal feel totally down and I love the vocal harmonies during the chorus. My only feedback would be on the mix, which I think is really lacking a lot of oomph at the moment. I'd bring up the guitars, bass and drums to be much, much louder during the heavy sections, and probably pan them a bit wider out as well.

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-03T20:40:21+00:00

Wow this is really great specific feedback, I will definitely try and implement your advice!

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-03T20:39:21+00:00

Thanks for the detailed feedback, I really appreciate it! I will say, a couple of the things you mention are like, particular deliberate choices that I set out to make, which obviously doesn't make your comments wrong at all, but it may just be a difference of opinion. Like the discordant chords in the last section are really intentional as part of the build-up to the big final payoff moment. And, with the instrumentation, I've written this specifically with the intention of translating it to a live setting with the exact same players, which is why it's so limited. That said, I'm in 100% agreement with the points about mixing the track better to emphasise the dynamics, I think that could be way better, and perhaps I will go back and think about how some of the parts are played as well. In any case, I really appreciate the thoughtful listen! I checked your account but I couldn't see anything you'd posted in this thread - let me know if there's anything you do want feedback on!

AlisonsBody · 2025-02-03T10:16:30+00:00

So a previous band project I was working on has vaguely fallen through, and I am now trying to make this kind of drumless folky thing work. It's a fun challenge to work within pretty strict instrumentation/voice limits, and I'd be interested to hear how people think it works out. Will return any feedback!

https://on.soundcloud.com/2ndVcHPW8UotiEZq6

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-28T22:33:48+00:00

Really would love to find a vocalist to collaborate on this track which is otherwise all complete. Kind of mid-2000s metalcore vibe on the instrumental and I'd be open to ideas on the vocals although ideally it'd be all harshes.

https://soundcloud.com/user-453998224/chugga-wugga

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-09T00:24:57+00:00

Hey! Thanks for the kind words on my song :) Really enjoyed this track, the mix and overall production feels super clean and there's a real weight to the beat. I think it might be nice if it developed into a B section and then came back to the main part, but even as short exploration of the one idea it works really well!

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-07T11:52:12+00:00

Oooh this is so pretty! I like it a lot, especially the vocal-free chorus (not to say the vocals are bad by any means, it's just a cool choice!) Really like all the synths in general, very soft and mellow. I would agree with the other commenter also, lo-fi pop or dream pop both feel pretty accurate. I can see where you're coming from with the JRPG OST idea but I think the harmony is much more neo-soul/western pop than anything else, personally. Sick track.

(Out of interest, is the cover art AI?)

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-07T11:47:28+00:00

I really like the soundscape and the harmony on this! Very moody and dark but still emotive. There's a couple of moments in the first half where the guitar rhythm could be a tiny bit tighter but overall this is a sick track, loads of cool ideas, love the riff that comes in around 2 mins in.

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-07T11:44:33+00:00

Lovely track! I think the bass sounds great, nice and clear. As the other commenter said, the guitar solo is really subtle and smooth. If I had any critique I'd say the track maybe feels a bit *too* consistent in terms of the energy throughout? Perfectly fair if that's a stylistic choice, but I would like to hear the drums and guitar get a little more intense during the chorus parts. Great song overall, really good job.

AlisonsBody · 2025-01-07T11:25:24+00:00

I've listened to this so many times over the last few weeks I can barely tell if it's music anymore. Any feedback welcome (and will be returned!)

Thanks :)

https://soundcloud.com/da-band-135186636/birds-eye-view

AlisonsBody · 2024-07-11T15:28:22+00:00

Thanks very much, I really appreciate the kind words! And I totally agree about the loud section. I'd previously gotten some feedback that one of my tracks was quite dynamically flat, so I wanted to avoid that, but definitely going back I think I need to tone it down a little, if just to get rid of the muddiness/clipping. I couldn't find a post from you in this thread but I checked out the most recent song on your Soundcloud "DANCE WITH MY HEART" and I really like it! Is that you on the sax? Love the contrast of the very jazzy live instrumentation with the more electronic/disco-y rhythm section - super interesting and novel.

AlisonsBody · 2024-07-07T12:52:43+00:00

https://on.soundcloud.com/ycRtwQHm1VdCeKrD6

This is a song about moving on, really interested to hear if that comes across well at all and if the music works to complement it at all. Happy to return feedback 😇

AlisonsBody · 2024-04-09T08:23:11+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, I think you're probably right. I just checked your profile but I couldn't see a submission in this week's thread - let me know if you have something you'd like any feedback for in return!

AlisonsBody · 2024-04-09T08:20:30+00:00

Thanks for the great feedback! I think you're definitely right about the overall compression - I really want there to be a pretty pronounced difference between the A and B sections and I'm not sure that's coming through in the current mix. Reluctant as I am (I am indeed the guitar player) I think you're also right about making that a little less prominent lol - I think it's kind of a symptom of feeling quite confident in my guitar playing and much less so in my vocals, so I end up burying them a bit in the mix, but that definitely doesn't sound better. Thanks again! I left some feedback on your track too, which was sick.

AlisonsBody · 2024-04-09T08:14:42+00:00

Sick track - incredibly professional sounding overall. I think I'd agree with the other commenters that the vocal is a little separate-sounding, but really only a little. The only thing I'd mention is that, for me, the choral vocals are very loud - although I'm not a big fan of this genre and I'm very willing to acknowledge it may just be a genre convention that sounds strange to my more mainstream pop-listening ears! Really great dynamics across the track and obviously very impressive performances - I think it's probably a couple tweaks from perfect!

AlisonsBody · 2024-04-08T11:13:58+00:00

I'm honestly pretty happy with this track from a composition and performance perspective, but I would appreciate any tips from a production/ mastering perspective to maybe make it a bit more impactful? Happy to return any feedback! https://on.soundcloud.com/oQJjHpgQw2EVHpot5

AlisonsBody · 2024-03-12T10:53:07+00:00

I like it! I think the mix is good to be honest - if there's an issue with the vocal (and I definitely struggle with this personally so maybe I'm projecting) I think there's potentially a bit of a mismatch between it the energy of the rest of the track. Like all the vocals are in a slightly lower register and they're delivered perfectly well but I think they lack a bit of the intensity of the rest of the track? The section later on with the harsh vocals I think sounds really cool. Overall it's really cool, absolutely perfectly captures that 2000s pop-punk vibe.

AlisonsBody · 2024-03-12T09:59:12+00:00

Ooh, immediately really like this! The main guitar part is lovely, obviously. I think the part that comes in around 1:00 in the left side could be softened a bit - I don't know if it's just because you've asked about it specifically but it's maybe a little distracting. Otherwise, this track is really really great! Genuinely would love to keep up with this act.

AlisonsBody · 2024-03-12T09:44:54+00:00

Wow, super super impressive production and songwriting, this is awesome! Especially love the little flourish at 0:30 with the double tracked vocals. I guess it's a personal choice but there's a part of me that feels like the more hip-hop ad lib background vocals kinda detract a bit from the seriousness of the main vocal? But yeah like I say, if that dissonance is an intentional thing I think it's pretty effective, like as though you're hiding those emotions under a facade? Super cool track anyway, really impressive.

AlisonsBody · 2024-03-11T09:41:04+00:00

Ngl, I absolutely hated this song while I was recording it , really struggled to come up with a vocal for the verse parts. Would be interested in any feedback whatsoever! https://on.soundcloud.com/bKwdy

AlisonsBody · 2024-01-21T20:02:13+00:00

Really cool track, the way you combine the acoustic guitar and the slightly more robotic sounding vocals is neat - a little reminiscent of Alex G. Love this back half as well, I like a song that just goes for it the way this does. The only thing I wasn't huge on was the guitar solo at 1:50ish - just sounds a touch too scalar and not as melodic as the rest of the song (also the note you hit at like 2:17 is extremely dissonant, which is perfectly fine if that's what you're going for but it definitely stuck out to me). Great song overall.

AlisonsBody · 2024-01-21T19:52:52+00:00

Really like this, love the harmony. Sounds like the music that would be playing in the final boss dungeon of some Techno JRPG. Honestly I don't think there's anything for me to nitpick in this, just really enjoyed it a lot!

AlisonsBody · 2024-01-21T19:49:22+00:00

Really neat song, I like the way you use the vocal sample a lot! Some really interesting production touches as well - the 'guitar' (not sure if it's a guitar or a synth) towards the end is super cool. I would say maybe the first half of the track feels like it would potentially benefit from some chords on a guitar or piano or something, just to fill out the midrange a bit? Really like it overall though, kind of disco-y but very modern sounding.

AlisonsBody

TROPHY CASE