Hi guys,
I think that you deserve a pat on the back for trying to make your EP happen. Doesnt happen most of the time for many bands. I've got a few tips for you after listening to three of your songs - Picking up the pieces, Running from you and Forget it.
I'll come with suggestions from two perspectives; #1 - a listener #2 - as a songwriter/arranger/producer. My stuff's at
www.nathanieltan.com - a lot of which was home-produced as well. I hope my input helps you improve your EP
#1 - as a listener: Listening fatigue catches up somewhere in the middle of the first song due to a few things:
1. Quality of the recording
2. Quality of the mix
3. Mistakes in the singing/guitar playing/instrumentation
4. Pronunciation of the words of the song by the vocalist
I've got a few suggestions for #1.
1. The quality of the recording affects the overall sound very much. You can try sounding 'GB-like' *Garage band like* with a very lo-fi sound but it still has to be done well to sound tight/compact. If you're serious about your music, get together some of your pocket money and get a basic Microphone with a USB input. This'll help you A LOT when it comes to audio quality.
2. Mixing the music is like cooking - gotta put enough ingredients and cook them for the right amount of time before mixing them all together to have a tasty meal. Vocals that are too loud can burn like a dish with way to much chilly. Unbalanced volumes is like having too much salt or any other spice in the food. Learn how to use a DAW (digital audio workstation). Audacity is a pretty good one that's absolutely free! Our big brother here in another post told you about it - go learn it and use it well, you won't regret it.
3. Capturing the listener is like having a gourmet meal where the first mouthful of food gives you that sensational rush of appetite to finish all the food on the plate and lick it clean. If there's a stone in the food, you're gonna dump it. Clean the vegetables well, have them well cooked and well chosen. In your music, make sure that you play it perfect before you record. There are ways to recording perfect tracks, ie. Punching in, but best is to simply practice and practice so you get it right - in the studio and live! Don't let the mistakes kill your song
4. The vocal track is the biggest thing in a song that's not an instrumental. So it would be wise to rehearse and also get some vocal training. If you're in school - the school choir would be perfect. You get basic vocal training there and if you're good, your voice will be trained well. Don't say... ahhh they don't sing the type of songs I do... go join (i was in the choir once! haha!) and go learn! you wouldn't regret it. Question is - how far are you gonna go to get your stuff done well *especially when you're on a budget*
Now on to the part where I come from the perspective of a songwriter/arranger/producer. I'm no expert in this field as yet - i've simply dabbled in it, but here are some thoughts out of the experiences that I have under my belt.
#2 - as a songwriter/arranger/producer: the songs start to get a little draggy after a while for a few reasons
1. The songs don't have a 'hook' that engages the listener
2. The arrangement of the songs don't vary from song to song
3. The overall audio quality is not ready for a 'release'
1. Catchy hooks replay in the minds of your listeners. If you think of some of the songs you know, there would be that one line whether instrumentation or lyric that replays in your mind - that's a 'hook'. Interesting chord progressions/combinations and notes in a line help to create that hook. Get ideas from your favorite bands and come up with one for your songs.
2. Roller coaster rides are memorable when there are the straights, twists, turns and of course, the 360's! A ride without all of these wouldn't be as enjoyable. It's the same with music - Not all the instruments have to be blaring all at once! Can you imagine going on a roller coaster ride that starts with a 360 that goes on and on for 5 minutes? After the first two, you'd be kinda used to it and you'd be like a bored Mr. Bean sitting on the roller coaster. There was some variation with the percussion section, but the guitar parts could be arranged so that it would take you on a roller coaster ride that you'd remember for life
3. The overall sound has to be RECORDED WELL, MIXED WELL then MASTERED WELL before you put it up. Believe me. When you put really RAW stuff out, most of the time, only the Super Stars can get away with it - just because they're stars. For noobs like us, we've gotta try to put out the best that we can, even when it's just a 'demo' or an 'idea'.
I hope these tips will help you guys! Keep rocking
- nate
