
Hugh McIntyre
- Title
- Words on music for Forbes, and also Huffington Post, Myspace, and BlackBook Magazine. Previously: Billboard, MTV, Mic, etc. Also editor of Pop! Bang! Boom!
- Bio
Words on music for Forbes, and also Huffington Post, Myspace, and BlackBook Magazine. Previously: Billboard, MTV, Mic, etc. Also editor of Pop! Bang! Boom!
- Website
- popbangboomblog.com
- Expertise
- music industry, music tech, music writing, music writing / blogging, music journalism
- Interests
- indie pop, music, pop
- Location
- NYC (by way of Boston)
Recent Feedback

Matthew Gentile submitted media.

Running on Empty (Official Video) by VILIVANT

Matthew Gentile submitted media.

Drown (Official Video) by VILIVANT

This is really great. I hear something really special in this. You have a solid sound, look, and package. It's very clear who you are, what you're doing, and who this is for, and I think there's absolutely an audience for your music. You have a star quality and an amazing voice. Really, really good job. I'm not sure if you have a team around you to manage/promote you, but it seems like you're ready for it.

Happiness by Sumaroo

Very cool. I loved the video, and it's a fantastic example of how anyone can make a great visual that doesn't necessarily require a lot of money or setup. I also love the message, and I think it's wonderfully directed and edited. The song itself is also good, though I must say I enjoyed the video a bit more than the music itself. It's all there, but maybe there's a little something you can do to turn it up and make it feel even more premium--ready for the masses. Perhaps it's something in the mixing/mastering/engineering, or the recording quality. I'm not sure, but I can tell you understand structure and melody, so the talent is certainly there.

Matt Smith submitted media.

Puerto Aisen by INTERCONTINEN7AL

I enjoyed this song. The music was very cool, and it had a great vibe. The only thing that took me out of the experience a little is your voice. I think it's pretty, but perhaps the recording wasn't ideal. Not sure if that's actually a recording thing, or perhaps the mixing/mastering/engineering? Anyway, it felt slightly disjointed, and I think a more premium experience would have worked better. Hope this helps!

Dorant Wells submitted media.

The Spider's Web by Ezra Yves - Topic

Liked this! I loved the easygoing sound and mood. Well done!

No One Likes The Kid by Sumaroo

This is a cute song, for sure. I liked it (despite what the song was saying), and I think you did a great job. I feel like I know who you are as an artist after just one track, which is impressive. I'd suggest you keep going and record more, then work with a PR team or label, as I think you have a solid sound that might be able to find an audience.

Makena Shlens submitted media.

Naked by Makena Tate

Really loved this. It's a great composition. I'd love to hear more!

Ryan Christopher Lee submitted media.

Slither (Official Music Video) by RYPHER

I love when I experience a piece of music from an artist I don't know and it's clear they know who they are. You have a sound and a style that is yours. Of course, there are ways to liken what you do to others, but you seem confident in what you're putting out. I liked the song, the production, and especially the video. My one comment for improvement would be vocal production/mixing/mastering. There are a few moments in the song when it's really difficult to hear what you're saying, so I think if that could be altered, this would be even more impressive. In terms of classification, you're a Billie Eilish-style dark alt-pop type, I'd say. I think that will help people understand who you are and what your music sounds like.

Mia Camillah submitted media.

Fluid by Miss.Mia

I liked this song much more than your other track. The beat is very cool, and I think it works much better with your sound, voice, and style. The horns at the end really impressed me--great production, as are the vocal effects. This is much stronger, and while I might work a bit on your vocal delivery at times, I think it all comes together much smoother.

Wilson Getchell submitted media.

Jenny (Official Music Video) by Thirsty Curses

The video was really fun. It was not at all what I was expecting, and I think it's really well done for a video that I'm betting didn't cost a ton. The song itself was cute, but it didn't grab me in the same way the video did, and to be honest, I'm not sure if it would have resonated as much without the video. Obviously visuals help, but it's always good to see if there's a way to make sure the music stands on its own as well.

Kenny Sharp submitted media.

The Breeze by Kenny Sharp

So great. So soulful. So confidently made. This is a great track, and though I'm not sure the audience for music like this is huge at the moment, I think you're incredibly talented, and I hope you get a team together to help push your music to the world.

What Can I Do? by Ten Minute Detour

Wow. Really blown away by this. It's excellent. Love the throwback style, but it doesn't some too old-school. The harmonies are really great, and I can easily see this finding an audience. Not sure what you have going for you team-wise, but you should thinking about finding a manager and PR people to push this.

a perverse sense of self by dark passenger_

After the first minute or so, I thought I wasn't going to care for this, but by the end, I was really loving it. I wish I could say more about who I think the audience is for this and how to get it to them, because I think it's actually a bit niche. Having said that, it's very cool, I love how dark it is, and I enjoyed that you spent time pairing your music with interesting visuals.

Danielle Santilli submitted media.

Don't Try by Danielle Santilli

There were moments when I felt like this was really something special, while in other instances, I was worried it was a little too generic. Ultimately, I think you're a good songwriter, and you know how to use your voice, which is really important. I'm not sure this would stand out enough to grab you a large fan base, but you are certainly talented, and I bet you have more music coming that's really special.

Mark MacDonald submitted media.

Hollow River (Official Lyric Video) by The Way I Want To

Wow, I love this so much. Everything about this struck the right chords with me. It's very well written, you all clearly know your stuff when it comes to this genre. The key change at the end was incredible. Well done! Can't wait to hear more!

Stellan Perrick submitted media.

Golden Baby by Stellan Perrick

Very cool! Love that it has a throwback vibe, as that, ironically, makes it very "current." The breakdown is awesome. I was very into this. Your vocal delivery and songwriting are excellent. I have two suggestions, if you're interested: 1. Find a way to mix, master, engineer or...something...it a bit differently, in order to make it sound slightly less like it was made at home. If it was a tiny bit more "produced," I think it would be huge to labels. 2. Your vocals remind me quite a bit of The Weeknd. In some ways that's a good thing, but you also want to make sure you aren't copying anyone. Think about how you sing and if there's a way to make sure you're not too like him.

Hadee Dosani submitted media.

4AM by HADEE.

A very cute song! You clearly have a knack for songwriting and you understand a hook. I think you would do well with better production, and probably a more high-end, high-quality studio. The recording sounds a little amateurish, and it feels like your talent is bigger and better than this. This reminds me of early Neon Trees, and I think there's a place for you. If you can, try looking for ways to make it sound better, and maybe you can attract some real attention.

Lisa Sahatciu submitted media.

anything (Official Video) by Sahati

I liked this, though I'm not sure it's 100% ready for mainstream consumption. I think you did a great job creating a video on what I assume was a small budget! Also, I like the Billie Eilish thing you have going on with your voice (sorry if you don't like the comparison, but I can see it popping up a lot). What took me out of it a bit was the music. I think it needed better recording quality, or perhaps better mixing and mastering. Something about it was just a little amateurish, which may have detracted from the overall listening experience. I hope this helps at all?!

Nathan Colberg submitted media.

Gold by Nathan Colberg

Wow. Really loved this. I wish I had advice regarding how to make it pop and get out to the masses, but at the moment, I don't...other than to say you should find a manager and/or PR team and work to push this out. It's great.

Craymo submitted media.

I liked this, but I do feel it's missing a little something to make it ready for primetime. Maybe sometime with the vocals, or maybe how it was recorded or mixed. I'd look for more outside advice regarding how to tweak it to make the tune sound a bit more premium, as right now it sounds like a great demo for something that will be special.

Henry Alexander submitted media.

That's What I Like by Henry Alexander

Really enjoyed this song, it was very cool. I actually feel like this might be a good fit for TV or film. If you have someone on your team (or can work with a company), maybe you can get a good sync.

Dave Paulson submitted media.

On My Way by Water Street - Topic

I really enjoyed what you have here. The songwriting, the music...I think it's really good, and you're talented. My suggestion is to find a way to make it sound a little more premium. At the moment, it sounds a bit amateurish, and I think that's to do with the production/recording/mixing/etc. If you could make this sound less homemade and more elevated, it would be superb.

Femke Weidema submitted media.

Helpless by Femke

Really loved this! I don't know that I have any notes. Not sure what you're doing career-wise, but perhaps if you had a PR team or management, they could push this further. I think it's really good, and you have a voice I can hear people being excited about. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you!

Kota Wade submitted media.

Moon, unfinished demo, looking for feedback by Future Moons

I enjoyed this, but I don't think I can say it stood out enough for me to really love it or endorse it. It's clear that you two have something interesting going on, but it still needs a little...oomf, if that makes sense? Perhaps it's a production values thing, or maybe the music itself. I think the base is there, but how can you build on it to make you stand out? Definitely could see you working in the film/TV world, but maybe with some more practice and new tunes.

The Mars McClanes submitted media.

Riddle by The Mars McClanes

This song was cute! I enjoyed it, but I did feel it was missing a little something that might have pushed it over the edge and made it really fantastic. Perhaps a production element, or maybe it was also the recording quality. It's good, for sure, but perhaps not quite great yet. Also, what can you do to stand out a bit more? The track felt like something I'd heard before.

Forgein Babble submitted media.

Not Exactly by Future Babel

This was so unexpected and a delightful surprise. I wasn't sure at first, but about halfway through I was completely sold. This song is so weird and out there and I loved it. I think making music like this is a bit difficult, as the audience for this type of art isn't as large as it would be for something a bit more mainstream, but if you had the right PR and people around you, I could see critics and blogs loving it.

tiphanie Doucet submitted media.

Joe le Taxi by Tiphanie Doucet

Amazing. So much fun. The beat to your songwriting, I was hooked quickly and was interested through the entire track. I didn't know what you were saying, but I still loved the song. Really great job.

Matt Dorgan submitted media.

Kalifornia by GRANDO

I like this, but more importantly, I understand what this is, who you are as a band and who you're trying to reach. I don't know this area of the rock world well enough to say how well this specific song could do, but it seems like you have a good sound and that someone in that field, such as a label, might be interested in your sound. I'd suggest simply creating more music, and also make sure you're always looking out for the highest-quality production values.

Confident (feat. @CoopChardonnay)- Akeylah Simone by Akeylah Simone

Wow. This song is very, very cool. It's so well done. Interesting, laid-back but not too much so, and very well written. If this isn't a hit for you, I think it should be the kind of track that helps you catch the ear of someone at a label, management company or something else. Really well done.

Johnny Griffin submitted media.

BLACK MAN ON THE MOON by GLAD PHANTOM

I think there are a lot of really amazing ideas in this song, but I'm not sure they all worked for me. I still think this tune is really interesting and cool, but perhaps a bit of editing could be helpful in the future. Just my two cents! Really good job with this though! Love the rock beat and the hip-hop vibe, as well as what you're saying.

Blake Wisner submitted media.

MOODLIGHTING FINAL V1 (prod HUBSTCY) by Blake Wisner, Hubstcy

This track is very, very cool. I love weird, glitchy eletronic tunes, and I think the vocals paired excellently. The entire production is handled expertly. I'm not sure how large the audience is for this type of music, but I think some electronic blogs could catch on to this, as well as others from the same artist, if they're of the same caliber. Well done!

Rageen Rajendram submitted media.

bliss (ft. Eliza Pope) (Official Lyric Video) | Soulful Hiphop | Indie RnB by RageMD x SaDiCi

I loved this. It's really well made all around. I personally especially loved the chorus, with the piano standing out the most. I think it's clear that the artists involved have an ear for pop/hip-hop that appeals to a wide audience. I feel there is just a tiny something missing that could make this a proper hit, but I believe the musicians have what it takes to craft another song like this. Perhaps its in the production/recording quality or mixing/mastering, but there is a tiny amateurish quality to it, which may be the only note I have. Otherwise, very, very well done.

Carli Brill submitted media.

Hey Little Girl by Carli Brill

Really well done! I liked this song a lot, and I think it's a very good example of super-cool, laid-back indie rock. I know there are a lot of people succeeding in that world with this kind of sound, and I see no reason why you shouldn't be one of them. It's catchy and quite easy to like. My suggestion is to make sure you have more ready and then do everything you can to get it out there. Sign with a label or management, and get a good PR firm who can service this to blogs and magazines who write about music like this. I see this doing well!

Frida Chehlaoui submitted media.

فريدا | دورران (official video) by Frida | Dawararan

This video is STUNNING. Beautifully shot and very well edited. It's also a perfect example of how to make a music video with what I assume is a limited budget, but still make it work well. The song felt very spiritual and soulful, and though I don't know the lyrics, I was interested from start to finish--and that's not easy to do! Congrats on a great track and video.

Brian Walker submitted media.

RR MusicVideo 12 21 21 (not color graded yet) by Brian Walker

It's a cute song, but not one that I feel the need to return to. Can't say exactly what didn't fully grab me, but it wasn't 100% there for me. I still think it's a job well done, but it just needed a little something extra to really pop. I know that's vague, but I hope it's even a little helpful.

Hergeir Staksberg submitted media.

Love Me Tinder by Emma Di Lemma

I liked this, but it didn't do quite enough for me to really stand out. I think it needs a little something more to really pop. I am not a producer, so I can't say specifically what that would be, but I encourage you to continue playing with it. However, this is just my opinion--I'm sure your current fans would say it's perfect, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt!

David Fauvre submitted media.

Bali Sunset by David Fauvre

It's well-made, but I'm not sure what the audience is for this type of music. I've only heard one song from the album, and it's good, but my understanding is that there is a limited market for this kind of art, so I can't speak to how to make it more successful.

Ciaran Gribbin submitted media.

We Are Awakening by JAC Music

This was an interesting listen, but didn't quite feel finished. Can't say quite what it needs, but there was one detail or a special touch missing, something that would have pushed it over the edge from fun and unique to truly spectacular. But the pieces there are great and you have a voice as an artist.

Isaac Nightingale submitted media.

Running away by Isaac Nightingale

One of the better songs I've been sent here. It was very well done, and I appreciated everything from the production to the expert-level spacing on the songwriting to your vocals, which I found really interesting. Excellent job here.

Mx Puja Singh submitted media.

Community (Official Audio) by Mx Puja Singh

Nice song! It was a little slow for me, but still well-done, and I think I understood the vibe you were going for here.

I'm Alright by LEADR

Really good! Loved how low-key it was. Your vocals worked really well with the music. Excellent job.

Josh Rathbun submitted media.

Steps Never Taken by Crash Cadet

I have to admit, at first I wasn't really a fan, but the song grabbed me about halfway through. It's a cool indie rock vibe, and I get where there's an audience for this. The video was a neat idea, though at times I wished there was a little more to it...though I understand that may not have been your intention. I'm not positive what the market for this sound is at the moment, but I think you clearly have talent and understand this genre. Well done.

Christen Morrell submitted media.

Love To Love You by Christen Morrell

One of the best things I've been sent on this platform. Really loved this. I encourage you to hire a publicist or spend money to market this somehow, because I could see this helping you develop a fan base and becoming a working musician!

Sahana Naresh submitted media.

Milky hands by Sahana Naresh

I love everything about this. It's incredibly sweet, and your voice and your performance perfectly match the tone of the track, the music itself and the video. I love your voice and the simple playing. I'm not sure where this would go in today's music ecosystem, but I wish more people could hear this. Will definitely be sharing!

Within You (feat. Gisun & Anh Phung) by Stephen James Orr

This was such a great vibe. I really love how laid back the tune is and I can imagine listening to this at a lounge somewhere. Great job--I don't think I have any notes regarding this song!

Roy Freeman submitted media.

Oliver by Gal Musette

Good song! I loved that it became a duet. Really interesting throughout.

Roy Freeman submitted media.

Gal Musette- Summertime (Official Music Video) by Gal Musette

Loved this! Very cute, very sweet, very well done. I don't think I have any real notes. Keep making more!
Hugh McIntyre