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Living in the Shadows This song doesn't have much in the way of hooks. It's a bit of a throw-away song. I wrote it a couple years ago, but never could get it right--I changed the keys and tried different instrumentation. The style I am using doesn't parallel with the tone of the lyrics, but using a picked acoustic seemed hackneyed for this. I don't know if the vocal level is quite right. The style is ICELAKE. I added a RT piano and harmonica, replaced the drums, and removed the pedal steel. Band: RealBass 1580 Bass, Electric RealGuitar 3704 Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm 90sAcRockCool RealStrings 1581 Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Folkie16ths RT1690 Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopPromise RT685 Harmonica, Background Pop Drums - We Sound Human: Acoustic Indie Pop Lyrics are posted on SC.
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I liked the singing on this and I am a big fan of your vocals in general
The lyrics raised a lot of questions, which is usually a good thing in songwriting (creating some mystery), but I found myself scratching my head and wanting to know more.
No hooks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing
The harmonica was distracting to me. It was stepping on your vocal. If it had been spliced and made to call and respond with the vocal, I think then I would have liked it. Others may disagree.
The progression reminded me somewhat of "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer, for what that's worth. A nice progression.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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I like it!  I could easily imagine this with a slower, darker arrangement. But I think this is a good setting. No issues with the vocal level. Like TuneMonger, I agree the lyrics raise more questions than they answer, and it's a good thing.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Hello Scott
Great song with a great sound
Your vocals are exceptionally good
Absolutely great job Scott
Das hast Du wirklich sehr sehr gut gemacht
Wünsche Dir alles Gute für 2022
und weiterhin so tolle Ideen ;-)
Thanks for sharing
Many greetings
Andi ;-)
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Hi Ezekiel.
You could try style "Save Me". Even 8 at around 85bpm.
I agree that the harmonica shouldn't be playing while you are singing.
Vic
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Scott, Honestly I think you got it "right" this time Sounds very good. Arrangement, vocals, performance. Everything fits very nicely and listens very well. Actually I think vocals are one of your best. Also, I believe this is your vocal EQ sweet spot. They sit very comfortably in the mix. Curios if somebody else can comment who have heard your other songs. Thank you for sharing and Happy new year! Misha. P.S. Interestingly, right after your tune there was J&B tune in playlist. I consider Bud of of the most skillful people here for mixing acoustic songs. Transition from yours to theirs was very smooth on ears, to me it says a lot
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Another song by Ezekiel Storm is enough to get me hooked, Scott. I really like the harmonica, and of course your vocal is always the best. At first I agreed with the distraction factor of the harmonica, but then felt like this was more of a campfire song where we can imagine someone just pulling it out of their pocket to play along because they were inspired.
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I'm getting a Neil Diamond vibe from your song, vocal recording/performance is very good...
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We like it as is. We agree with Marty re the campfire feel. Good musicians sitting around playing something they feel. We also felt Misha gave an insightful and positive review that we also much agree with. And not because he threw an appreciated shoutout to Bud All meaning we don't agree with your paragraph of negatives! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! A few of our videos are here on our website: https://www.janiceandbud.com/our-music.html
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Sounds good to me man!
Hey, I could hear many different versions of this, and I think you should experiment with many styles just for fun to see what happens. Ya never know.
It might be cool to hear a slightly slower piano up front version just for grins.
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I think the style is great...there's a bit of a tension between the style and the lyric content that I think is cool...your vocal is really great and the mix sounds fine to my ears...I love songs in this tempo range...and I do agree with others about the harmonica stepping into the vox's territory... enjoyed it very much...Dan
www.soundclick.com/firesongBiaB 2024, Steinberg Cubase Pro 13, Wavelab 11.2, SpetraLayers Pro 10, Audacity, Steinberg UR44 Interface, Yamaha Genos, Roland FP60 and FP10, Windows 10 You are who you are because you do what you do because of what you believe.
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Hi Scott,
I had the honour of listening to the song a couple of weeks ago. I said then that I don't really get the lyrics - I'm relieved to see that also native speakers are irritaed ;-))).
Well, the song has improved soundwise a lot since that first version. I find it very balanced now, and I LOVE the harmonica fills.
Said iz more than once: I do like your voice and your singing!
Should I say, 'Not bad for a throw-away' song? Nah, it's anything but that - it's good.
Happy New Year - all the best to Tiffany and you.
Stefan
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Hi Ezekiel,
A very nice song and a good melody line, and of course very good vocals (and lyrics)!
So many compliments and all meant of course.
There is one thing that made me a bit restless; the beat on the guitar.
The lyrics and singing will have more support from it when the guitar is simpler in that. Maybe softer, maybe some fingerpicking, I don't know. But I read I am the only one with that issue, so don't bother at all.
A good 2022,
Hans
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I think it's a cool song. Your vocals are outstanding The instrumentation works fine for me. The lyrics are interesting. I think it's a fine recording. Good one.
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A very balance sound.
Great job with the acoustic choices - and with their processing...they sound "just right".
And the drums are a GREAT compliment to the acoustics (is that an EZDrummer track??)
Very nice vocals - and beautifully mixed - they sit perfectly.
Nice.
fj
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I liked the singing on this and I am a big fan of your vocals in general
The lyrics raised a lot of questions, which is usually a good thing in songwriting (creating some mystery), but I found myself scratching my head and wanting to know more.
No hooks, but that's not necessarily a bad thing
The harmonica was distracting to me. It was stepping on your vocal. If it had been spliced and made to call and respond with the vocal, I think then I would have liked it. Others may disagree.
The progression reminded me somewhat of "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer, for what that's worth. A nice progression. I like it! I could easily imagine this with a slower, darker arrangement. But I think this is a good setting. No issues with the vocal level. Like TuneMonger, I agree the lyrics raise more questions than they answer, and it's a good thing. Tunemonger and David: Thanks for the listen. I forgot to mention in my original post that the lyrics were a bit of an odd creative writing exercise on my part where the POV is that of a child who is no longer living. I hope that clears things up a bit.
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Hello Scott
Great song with a great sound
Your vocals are exceptionally good
Absolutely great job Scott
Das hast Du wirklich sehr sehr gut gemacht
Wünsche Dir alles Gute für 2022
und weiterhin so tolle Ideen ;-)
Thanks for sharing
Many greetings
Andi ;-) Andi: Happy New to You too and vielen dank for the kind words.
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the lyrics were a bit of an odd creative writing exercise on my part where the POV is that of a child who is no longer living. I hope that clears things up a bit.
OHHHHH! That does throw a whole new light on the subject. I appreciate the clarity. What's great about online forums is we can actually ask the writer questions. In the old days of reading lyrics off of album covers, things remained a mystery. Later, when the Internet came along, we sometimes got answers, and they were often disappointing. I remember finally reading what Neil Young's Cowgirl in the Sand meant. It was just a girl he saw at the beach - nothing more than that.
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Hi Ezekiel.
You could try style "Save Me". Even 8 at around 85bpm.
I agree that the harmonica shouldn't be playing while you are singing.
Vic Thanks, Vic. I will check out that style. I tried and recorded many different ones. Scott, Honestly I think you got it "right" this time Sounds very good. Arrangement, vocals, performance. Everything fits very nicely and listens very well. Actually I think vocals are one of your best. Also, I believe this is your vocal EQ sweet spot. They sit very comfortably in the mix. Curios if somebody else can comment who have heard your other songs. Thank you for sharing and Happy new year! Misha. P.S. Interestingly, right after your tune there was J&B tune in playlist. I consider Bud of of the most skillful people here for mixing acoustic songs. Transition from yours to theirs was very smooth on ears, to me it says a lot Misha, even though my ears can't hear what a lot of what you and others hear in the mixes, I am trying to improve in that department. Thanks! Another song by Ezekiel Storm is enough to get me hooked, Scott. I really like the harmonica, and of course your vocal is always the best. At first I agreed with the distraction factor of the harmonica, but then felt like this was more of a campfire song where we can imagine someone just pulling it out of their pocket to play along because they were inspired. Thanks, Marty. I appreciate your feedback, especially about the vocals---those I am always unsure of.
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Boy glad you didn't shelve this song. Awesome vocal. Backtrack was very cool. Loved when the harp kicked in. Well done
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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XPro Styles PAK 11 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 (and higher) is here with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 31 RealTracks/RealDrums!
Guess who’s back again? That’s right! It’s our XPro Styles PAK’s triumphant return with the 11th edition in this series! 100 new styles are coming your way spread across the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres. And this edition's wildcard genre explores the immense and far-reaching catalogue of electronic music! The included 31 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1-11 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2026 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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In this PAK you can find: dulcet folk ballads, funky gospel country, Brazilian jazz fusion, upbeat 1980s pop, classic Americana, a plethora of breezy bossa novas, indie singer-songwriter, scintillating synthwave, exuberant electronica, and many, many more!
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