|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,063
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,063 |
Hi, everyone: I’ve been doing a fair bit of listening of late . . . man, folks are knocking things out of the park. Some really great music I’ve been treated to. Thanks so much for that. I feel like I’ve been busy enough on the songwriting front this year (for me at least), but when I look back on what I’ve posted I’m on my usual song a month pace. Thing is, though, I’ve had some irons in the fire and a few tunes are coming together at the same time. So, with one song still active on the board, I’m going to test your patience in the coming weeks or so and release a few in fairly rapid succession. This is the first, a solo effort—a rock ballad. I began writing this song a year or so ago maybe, but it never quite came together for me lyrically—so I set it aside. I usually try to record snippets of song ideas so I remember them, but I never did with this . . . and it almost fell into the land of forgotten songs until I stumbled back upon it a month or so ago. As with most songs I post, I'm never sure it's quite ready to go, but it's as far as I can take if for now. Here's the the end result. As always, appreciate the listen and the feedback. Kindest regards to you all, Deej Here's the song:LIGHT IT UP Here are the lyrics:
I was wandering in the dark You were there, you were the spark And from the spark the fire grew And if I burn I’ll burn for you Girl, I’m yearning to Baby, I’m in love with you Light it up This city feels like frozen stone A heart should never call it home But you’re the warmth I never knew So melt it down and make it new Bake it bright and blue Baby, I’m in love with you So light it up These days are hard The world’s gone nuts It will run you through Still here you are You fill me up It’s just what you do That’s why baby, I’m in love with you Baby, I’m in love with you. I’m in love with you I don’t know what’ll happen next It’s never quite what you expect But if the whole world breaks in two I’ll be fine because I’m with you I’m always going to Baby, I’m in love with you So light it up. And here's the band: (Note: It looks a bit busier than it seems. The drums switch off, and the second Piano is only used for fill in certain spots). RealTracks 2474: Bass, Acoustic, Held RealTracks 2504: Piano, Acoustic, HeldChords RealTracks 1007: Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment, PopFlowing RealTracks 1596: Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Pop16ths RealTracks 879: Guitar, Electric, Rhythm NorthernRockGrittyQuarters RealTracks 1530: Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopPower Ev 120 RealTracks 2370: Strings, Rhythm PopCountry Sw 120 RealTracks 1543: Synth Pad, Pop Believe RealDrums: ModernPopBallad16ths^01 RealDrums: ModernPopBallad16ths^02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,319
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,319 |
Deej,
cool song.
The main rhythm guitar seems to be pushing the beat - pushing for a change in tempo or emphasis which is achieved when the drums come in but I think you could co-ordinate those two better a chord change that goes along with the drum intro perhaps.
Strong vocal,the room seems to have been eliminated, & melody.
Well done.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,251
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,251 |
Deej,
We must be on the same wavelength this week - I was just about to post my new song "Light It Up" when I saw yours... I'll hold mine for now. LOL!
Your song is excellent. Love the vocal and production. I really enjoyed everything about this one.
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,103
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,103 |
Excellent! Man, that vocal ... one of your best I think, lots of passion. Good song, just what I needed for my first listen of the day 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,222
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,222 |
Love it, Deej. Hey, release the bottleneck of songs, man. You never fail to please. What a great song!! Light It Up. An emotional and strong vocal. Dang what a range. Chilling how you flawlessly and effortlessly swing into the falsetto.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 13,028
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 13,028 |
Deej,
An excellent BAND. Good use of a range of BIAB tracks.
A top-notch vocal...the vocal itself AND the recording AND how it sits in the mix. Truly Excellent.
The solo guitar is nice. Fits the song well. (that last note cuts off too abruptly)
An excellent production. And a good mix.
fj
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,669
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,669 |
Strong love song with effective title phrase, giving the listener enough room to imagine in which way she is the spark.
Great band, I like the use of strings and synth pad to create the lush sound. This time I think the solo guitarist is an excellent choice, fits perfectly with the heavier sound.
The chord progression has familiar start of descending bass, but you break that impression nicely with those chords per beat.
Vocals with passion support the lyrics very well, I really admire how convincingly you manage to sing those higher notes.
Thanks also for the backstory, always nice to read some history about the songs.
Janne
Last edited by jannesan; 04/15/21 07:44 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,735
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,735 |
Hi Deej.
Emotionally strong and I like the falsetto.
Good one.
Vic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,446
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,446 |
Another great one from you, I think of your vocals as Cat Stevens but with the dynamics of Meatloaf. Those falsettos were terrific, always hope to hear some of that in your contributions. You're also good at writing bridges, this is another example. Fantastic work, Deej!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,075
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,075 |
It's a "yes" from me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,749 |
Your journey on this one took us all to a great destination.
So true how you need to capture the snippets when they come.
Well done!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,419
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,419 |
Some of the best songs are slow cooked :-). Loved this tune. Excellent vocal and loved the lyric. Well done
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,338
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,338 |
Cat Stevens was mentioned ... never thought about that re your vocals but yeah we hear it!
Your passionate vocal well delivers the hopeful write. Excellent phrasing.
We thought the build was very effective and the entire mix is strong -- great soundstage.
Well done!
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,679
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,679 |
You're hitting new heights even for you. Loved that descending bass, it had the effect of getting my attention from the first couple of notes - and the rest of the song kept it thereafter.
I hate to gush, but - every time I hear your songs, I'm reminded of what an honour it is to share a forum with you. In a fairer life, you'd be a superstar on worldwide radio by now. Regardless, it's a joy to listen to this. You write great songs all the time, but I couldn't help thinking that, if this one was written with anyone special in mind, I can't see how she would do any other thing but melt emotionally when listening to this. I don't know what brings that effect - maybe it's the sincerity in your voice, maybe it's your skill in writing, most probably everything contributes to it ... in any case, it's a great ballad, one of your best songs, so there you go. Don't worry - I can be a mean critic, too, if I feel a song deserves criticism, haha (I used to write music reviews for a local paper, back in a "previous life" of mine, i.e. a few years ago, haha ... how on Earth I got THAT gig, goodness only knows, but that's another discussion altogether, haha ...) ... but, if I like a song, I'll say so, too.
In short: be proud of your musical achievements. Bravo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,242
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,242 |
Deej,
What a passionate vocal!
The singing method that gradually gets excited on the repeated chord progression is wonderful.
The combination of electric guitars is very good.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,344
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,344 |
Love your vocals, and the falsetto is super-effective. Good song, good write, good production. The song does everything a rock ballad should do. My only nit is that the vibrato on the guitar solo makes it sound a bit like it was a faster RealTrack that was brought down in tempo, but maybe that's just my imagination. Also, there's a small glitch at 3:04 on one of the guitar strums. As others have already said, the passion that you bring to this song makes it a treat to listen to. 
-- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,081 |
One word describes this production: Fantastic!
Everything is outstanding. The use of the band, the mix, the lyrics, and, especially the vocals. I love you voice. It sounds like a classic rock vocal that I've heard my whole life. I can't put my finger on it but I know it works every time for me.
Oh, by the way, this is gold:
"This city feels like frozen stone
"A heart should never call it home"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,063
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,063 |
rayc, Bob, Dave, Marty, Floyd, Janne, Vic, TuneMonger, Ghostgum, Cap’n, Scott, J&B, musician 17, Shigeki, David and jpt3:
Thank you all for giving this one a listen and for the feedback and comments. It’s very much appreciated. A few comments below on individual feedback.
rayc: I’ll definitely give that section another listen and see what I can do with regard to your suggestion. I think I get where you’re going with it and worth considering. Thanks for that.
Bob: Had I only known you had another “Light It Up” tune, I would have held this back (given I had a few more coming). But glad you liked the tune, and looking forward to hearing your version.
Marty: Well, the benefit of recording and mixing is that you get a couple of chances to make that falsetto seem flawless and effortless, LOL!. I’d like to say its alway such, but sadly not. The tough battle here was deciding on the key for this song. I wrote it in C and ended up recording it two steps down in A. The key of C doesn’t allow me to get on top of the lead vocal during the bridge, but going down to A made that falsetto a bit more of a challenge, in a way. It’s always a bit of a trade-off.
Floyd: Easy enough for me to extend that last note a bit. Will definitely do so when I revisit.
Scott: So true . . . seems though I have a lot more half-cooked tunes than one would want . . . but so it goes!
David: Interesting comment on the lead guitar . . . I’ll have to give that some thought. You’re right, though . . . it’s a faster RT tempo than what I recorded this at. But also the best of the bunch that I “auditioned” for this song. Not sure what I can do about that, but will revisit. Oddly enough, this same RT was a contender for a collaboration with TuneMonger. Ultimately we went with another RT solo for that tune because that vibrato type sound to that solo didn’t quite fit the tune. Not sure I’m hearing the glitch at 3:04—at least not on the laptop . . . will have to don the headphones as see, but will try to address if so.
Thanks again all for the comments. Stay safe, stay well--
Deej
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052 |
Deej,
An excellent BAND. Good use of a range of BIAB tracks.
A top-notch vocal...the vocal itself AND the recording AND how it sits in the mix. Truly Excellent.
The solo guitar is nice. Fits the song well. (that last note cuts off too abruptly)
An excellent production. And a good mix.
fj I agree with all that!! Just such an easy song to listen to!! EVERYTHING sounds great!!! Take care. Greg
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User Showcase
|
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,357 |
Deej,
A strong write which your awesome vocal ( no surprise!) takes to another level.
The best falsettos ever heard here... and the band sounds darn good too.
Robert
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
XPro Styles PAK 11 for Windows & Mac 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
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!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 11 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 11 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 22 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2026 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2026 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
It’s time to celebrate! Xtra Styles PAK 22 for Band-in-a-Box® is here, and we've got 200 brand-new styles coming your way!
No Xtra Styles PAK is complete without the classic rock & pop, jazz, and country volumes you know and love, and we’ve got plenty to share, with 150 styles spread across too many genres to list! Of course, it also wouldn’t be complete with our special wildcard volume to add a little spice and pizzazz to the mix. This year, because we loved it so much the first time, we’ve decided to make the second iteration of our SynthMaster volume, full of new sounds, interesting genres, and 50 engaging styles, all making use of the diverse SynthMaster plugin! Here you can find genres such as airy yacht rock, sultry electrotango, and even some synth soca funk. Don’t wait, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 22 today!
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!
Special offers available until August 31st, 2026!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1-22 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 22 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 22.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 22 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 22 requires the 2026 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Peter Gannon Talks Band-in-a-Box with zplane
zplane recently interviewed Peter Gannon, the founder and creator of Band-in-a-Box, about the software's early days, what sets it apart from AI, how zplane's audio algorithms are used in Band-in-a-Box, and more!
Special thanks to the team at zplane for their continued support.
Check out the full interview here: https://products.zplane.de/blog/peter-gannon-interview-pg-music
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,630
Posts807,708
Members40,178
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean