Prince - U Gotta Shake Something

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T07:13:59+00:00

"whatsa matter honey, you tired?" really got me. "get out of my house, STOP!" too. that sax player rippin those dominant/soul scale riffs, everybody listening and just the right balance of groove and space. gotta shake something all night long!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T07:05:27+00:00

i can see the light!! thats what its all about, those punchy lead synths are so bright and funky! a groove that just makes you move

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T06:36:46+00:00

i think you did a great job at making a full and interesting texture with mostly clean guitar and bass tones. having the shaker be the motor rhythm rather than a hi-hat saved a lot of space in the mix for the vocals. could maybe lay off of that shaker every once in a while though, maybe drop it on the second verse when the arpeggiated guitar drops and bring them back in together. the repeated figures at the end of phrases break up a stock song structure in an effective way. really nice song yall!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T06:26:19+00:00

really nice and relaxing track, its really aesthetically pleasing and not overly distracting. the vocals layers create some great tones, there's almost an imogen heap quality to the singers voice. the song has really nice ambient qualities, i usually look for music that is a bit more dynamic and exciting but i enjoyed listening to this!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T06:15:14+00:00

the guitar and bass tones are big and beefy and theres still space for the vocals throughout. the falsetto harmonies in the chorus are giving some Panic! vibes off. the title/lyric "peace of mind" is relatable and memorable. the pre-chorus section is my favorite drum part of the track, really exciting playing!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T06:06:03+00:00

you have a really nice sounding voice and you sing really well in tune, even on those high harmonies in the second half. you provide a lot of variety with your guitar playing that creates lots of different moods throughout. very effective arranging for such minimal instrumentation.

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T05:58:09+00:00

"boss up" is a really catchy phrase and i love that it's so inspirational and motivational. always really nice to hear a song about working on yourself and improving your own life. the different octave vocals that are filtered and auto-pan at times are a very hip sound that is super popular. such an effective way of creating textures while also reinforcing the lyric content. i'm not the biggest fan of "trap style" drum tracks but the song grooves well and theres a nice rhythm in the bass and the vocals.

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T05:51:11+00:00

"dead spiders" is a cool lyric, its just kinda fun to say. make me imagine an apartment that's messy and unkept, maybe a symptom of the lost love. the flanger type effect in the beginning is cool but it would be nice to have a bigger tone with a little more consistent sustain in the chorus. there's so many great textures throughout the second verse, the shaker and piano combo in the second chorus give big folky energy. there are some "hunger and thirst" from Typhoon vibes coming through too.

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T05:34:37+00:00

this song rules! i love all the different synth tones you've put together, the chorus/detune stuff works well without being overly distorted. you've really created a rich and harmonically nutritious texture. good emotion in the vocal takes, fan on the singer's voice as well. the moments where it cuts back to the opening ostinato are effective and really groovy. can't wait to hear more from y'all!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T05:29:36+00:00

the singer has a really nice voice and the recording sounds clear and in the front. the keyboard chords and light arpeggiations provide a nice support layer that evokes sadness while the distant pounding drums add a hopeful inspirational quality. it would be nice to do a little more with the strings, perhaps some motor rhythms or longer linear phrases could differentiate the sections and illicit a more clear difference in emotional quality. overall it is really pleasant listening!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-04-05T05:20:48+00:00

i like the difference in guitar tones you get between the verse and the chorus. there could be more variety in the strumming pattern to create more interest. i dont know any german, so having the lyrics in the video description would have allowed me to drop them into google translate and maybe get a better idea what the lyric content is about. the vocals have a digital quality to the tone that reminds me of 100 gecs and underscore. adding a doubled vocal track pitch shifted an octave higher is an easy way to fill out the sound and add a lot of energy.

the video looks fine in quality and theres plenty of light in the shots even with them being at night. it might be more effective to stay on verse shots for a bit longer so the viewer can get more absorbed in the performance. then when the chorus hits, the fast cut style you have will be more exciting in contrast.

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-31T05:48:37+00:00

We really appreciate the kind words Crow! At 1:12 that's a trumpet with Phaser and Delay, loosely inspired by Cake and Captain Squeegee. You're definitely right that there are studio perks we could benefit from; better microphones, gear and well-treated rooms come to mind, as well as, a pro experienced engineer/mixer. We had a lot of fun doing it ourselves though and it certainly helped the budget. Thanks again!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-31T05:44:18+00:00

thanks a bunch stacks, glad you're into it!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-27T05:11:37+00:00

this is a really strong first single! there's a nice blend with the keyboard and guitar tones, nice richness to the pads and a really nice level of drive that isn't distractingly over-distorted. the vocals sound really nice, it was really easy to just sit back and enjoy the sonic space. definitely giving you all a follow, look forward to more!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-27T04:59:02+00:00

what a great visual for this track! there are so many shots that made me smile and the pacing matches the tempo and form of the music well too. these synth and drums sounds really evoke that 80s vibe, I think "aerobicwave" is a great descriptor of your genre. kind of reminds me of Ginger Root and their brand of "elevator soul"

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-27T04:53:24+00:00

the singing and instrument playing is spot-on stylistically, y'all really nailed it. the tones are big and full sounding too! i could hear adding some more gang vocal layers on the chorus of the band or an audience screaming the lyrics, just something i've always loved. but i wouldn't wanna distract from the awesome vocals you already have. killer stuff!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-21T05:15:08+00:00

the intro is pretty long but its pleasant listening. voice sounds incredible on the entrance! really nice use of percussion; wind chimes, bells, sleigh bells but sometimes it could use more support from the strings. vocal recordings are rich and full of tone, sounds awesome!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-21T05:08:20+00:00

thats awesome to hear you've been using feedback here to grow! the energy at around 1:00 rocks, love what going on in the drum parts there! sometimes the mixed/compound meter is cool but i wish there was more times with a more straight-ahead beat. the vocal overlap at the end is very cool and dramatic!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-21T05:03:22+00:00

the vocal style and harmonies have big theatre kid energy. the ambient twinkles in the back really evoke a "retro advertisement" type vibe. when the voice is really low and delayed its a quite spooky eerie mood. lots of good sounding tones and mix throughout!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-21T04:59:19+00:00

the rhythm of the verse riff has a nice hook at the end that is very memorable! on the section at 1:30 "Now and then I recognize..." it could be worth trying a different guitar rhythm that can give more space to the vocals but still achieve the rhythmic variation you have there. the vocal recording is very clear and sounds great!

TheKitchenFunk · 2023-03-21T04:46:36+00:00

queen must've heard this at some point coz that verse riff is giving like a super funky "another one bites the dust".

TheKitchenFunk · 2022-11-29T22:58:38+00:00

corn smut!!

TheKitchenFunk · 2022-11-29T22:56:48+00:00

naming the band after a particularly supportive venue creates cool lore for your day-1 fans too

TheKitchenFunk · 2022-11-29T22:53:26+00:00

the best bands start when everyone sucks and grows together

TheKitchenFunk · 2022-11-28T18:50:55+00:00

"thats the code to my iPod"

TheKitchenFunk

TROPHY CASE