Not Following the Brief

The briefs we send you, (the written requests from us describing the music we're looking for, along with reference tracks), are based on specific requests we've received from our advertising clients or current trends in the film and TV space. So, closely adhering to the brief is crucial to our mutual success. You may be a brilliant Ambient composer/producer but sending us an Ambient track doesn't work if we're asking for Authentic 60s Surf Music. Overlooking the given guidelines can result in a submission that fails to meet the brief requirements and may cause an otherwise good track to be rejected. So please be sure to thoroughly read and understand the brief. Pay attention to details such as genre, mood, and tempo. Refer back to the reference music often throughout your creative process to ensure you have captured the essence of the request.

Respecting Copyright Boundaries

Just as important as following the brief is ensuring that your work does not infringe on existing copyrights. While it's essential to capture the essence of the style or mood requested, there is a fine line between inspiration and infringement. Your submissions should be original compositions, not copies or close imitations of reference tracks or any other music. It's important to understand that even unintentional similarities to copyrighted material can lead to legal complications.

Have a Good Idea

The best songs, (and most successful sync tracks) are often comprised of surprisingly simple ideas. A great groove, an infectious guitar riff or a simple melody usually works better than songs that are needlessly complex and aimless or are underdeveloped loops. Great songs usually have a musical hook which attracts attention and is memorable. Focus on crafting a well-structured song. Each part, whether it's the intro, verse, or chorus, should add interest and build excitement. If the genre is more repetitive in nature, aim to keep things interesting by introducing variations or new elements every few bars. 

Lacking Chorus or Lead Melody

To the above point, tracks without a strong chorus or distinct melody can be forgettable. Strive to create a memorable chorus and a lead melody that captures attention and becomes the essence of your track.

Production Not True to Era

If the brief specifies an era, your production needs to reflect that. We often ask for authentic period music and to us, this means you are authentically capturing the same compositional style, production approach, and the same SOUNDS from the era in question. To do this, use appropriate instruments and remember to carefully consider and analyze the reference tracks. What guitar/ drum/ piano sounds were they using? What around reverbs, panning and room sounds? Lower technology recording technologies and techniques and limited recording environments impacted how these recordings SOUND so please try to carefully consider how to closely resemble the same sounds on your period tracks.

Drums Don't Sound Convincing

Drums are pivotal in music production and can greatly impact a composition's overall quality. Many submissions, while strong compositionally, falter due to inadequate drum tracks. A frequent issue is the use of samples that do not fit with the genre specified in the brief. Additionally, drums often sound thin or artificial. To combat this, layer multiple sounds to enrich the depth and texture of your drum kit. Also utilizing compression and tape saturation can help ensure the drums sound thicker and blend seamlessly into the mix. Additional tips include varying dynamics and velocity, incorporating ghost notes and accents in MIDI programming, and studying how professional drummers navigate rhythm transitions. High-quality samples or virtual instruments are vital for achieving a genuine drum sound. At Howling, some of our go-to sources are Looploft, Circle Drums, and Yurt Rock.

Don't forget: we are in this together. Your success is our success so we hope these tips will help you (and us) succeed doing something we genuinely love which is making music!