Wiley Koepp

Pretty intro. Love the build. About a minute in, I'm realizing this is an instrumental. :) I try not to read any user notes about a song before my initial listen. It's gorgeous. I can hear the "New Hampshire" in it. Now that I've read your notes, I really love how you layered the electronics atop the acoustics. Great blending of the two textures.

Certainly soundtrack-worthy. I'm not well-versed in soundtrack placement but that'd be something to look into. Thank you for sending this my way! 

Wiley Koepp

Love the name Trailerhome Hydroplane! :)

Cute song. Instrumentation is fun, lively and the chords keep a listener's interest. I like the space the vocal exists in the mix but in my opinion it could use just a smidge of something on it--it's such a raw tone. Sung well, I'd just add a touch of something--reverb? Just something to soften the tone of it compared to the other melodic instruments in the mix. 

Lyrics are great. Adding in something like "salmonell-ay" and "spirit airways" gives the song a little edge to differentiate it from the usual holiday sorts of songs. 

The message of the song is what really hits home, though. It *is* a challenge in adult life to find the joys and lasting memories of our youth. Makes me think of the Mackelmore/Kesha lyrics "Some day, these will be the good old days." As a child, you're not really choosing what to do. But 20-30 years later, those are your memories. As an adult, we consciously have to create the moments that we hope we can look back on in 20-30 years and think on fondly.

Thoughtful song. Really enjoyed it. Certainly worth targeting Spotify holiday playlists (watch for playlist scammers, though!).

Wiley Koepp

Sweet sounds! The production is SO full. Pretty melody & lyrics. No reason this couldn't be in rotation on pop radio. You can almost hear the "DJ KHALED!!!" being yelled during the intro. :) 

Any plans for a video or lyric video?

My recommendation is to pursue licensing & sync opportunities. This is absolutely the sort of song played during the reality shows on MTV--I mean that as compliment, btw. They tend to feature songs where a short snippet of a chorus captures a particular mood or moment. That's what you've done here.

I really enjoyed this one. Thank you for sharing it with me.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Serene. Art design reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are. Well done lyric video. Pleasing to the eye but not distracting from the music.

Your production is so crystal clear and broad-spectrumed, if that's a word. Great job! Structurally it's almost like a lullaby: simple, gentle, with the repetition of the melody reinforcing its purpose. Lyrically ominous. Heavy. I wanted the last line to say "I won't let you down" to provide some relief from the pressure of what's ahead, but the "I *can't* let you down" keeps that pressure applied through the fade-out.

It's a tough one. A beautiful song but not one to pick you up when you're feeling low. Perhaps more of an acknowledgement of the pressure we all feel looking forward through time.

Sync is not my wheelhouse. I'm sorry I do not have suggestions in that realm. For general promotion, it's a song that would fit on many peoples' playlists just by virtue of its soothing feel. Look into Spotify playlist promotions (but watch out for the useless moneygrabs; spend some time familiarizing yourself with them before you spend any money). 

Bravo for stepping outside of your comfort zone and sharing your music and lyrics with the world. That takes guts. You've done the right thing.

Wiley Koepp

Austin...my home for the past few decades.

The sound right off strikes me as a lost 80s experimental-pop album by Roy Orbison. And I mean that with the utmost respect for that man's amazing voice. Damn, that soaring vocal in the chorus is really wonderful. 

Song is great all around--production is full and ethereal. Performance is tight. For such a new wave-y sound, the drums come across ultra-acoustic. I kinda like it, actually. Adds a human element to such an otherwise electronic vibe.

This is the rock/shoegaze/alt/hip combo that has been big in Austin for a while, so I think performing locally would go over well. That my personal favorite method of promotion: just get out there. Meet venue bookers, owners, and more importantly other bands. Build line-ups together. Cultivate your own niche of the scene.

Promotionally, post frequently and compellingly. New home recording sessions, your instruments, the band at your favorite taco joint. Just be out there for people of all walks of life to stumble across and give them a reason to click & listen.

Thanks for sharing your song with me.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

A dramatic song capturing a dramatic period in our collective history. And I'm a sucker for a good vocal harmony and a stringed instrument playing over a 6/8 groove.

"Aliens" makes me think about why we write music. What I mean is that I'm not feeling this tune as a song you'd hear on the radio/streaming platform as a hit. Hit songs are their own beast. But "Aliens" is more of an expression of why humans write music. We have emotions that we need to get out, that we need to share. And when others here our songs, perhaps they make an emotional connection to that song and smile, or get pumped up, or cry, or just...think. "Aliens" is that.

It's well played, well arranged, and was written out of passion, with an intensity. That's why we write music. Nice job. I'd be really proud of this song if I'd written it.

Wiley Koepp

Wow! In 7 years this may be the first time on Fluence that an artist has re-submitted a song for *additional* feedback after making changes. And you did it within 24 hours! So kudos to you for being willing and able to hear constructive criticism and then incorporate it into your work...and then do that again. As a musician myself, I appreciate that that can be a difficult thing to do.

Without the first mix to do an A-B comparison, I'm kinda flying by the seat of my pants here. So if I'm hearing a change that wasn't changed, it's because it's in a new context and *sounds* changed.

So mix-wise, I'm LOVING that the guitar is more prominent in the mix. It really meets the energy of the raucous drum track. And what you did with the bass part is huge! You've still kept a lot of movement in it, which is great. But the movement is now more complimentary of the other parts. I'm glad you didn't take my input too far and just do straight 8th notes throughout or something that...unexciting?  I woulda felt like I killed the fun you have in creating your songs. Hopefully this bass line is a meeting of the minds: with enough variation and flavor to be fun and express your creativity, but restrained and controlled a bit more so it supports the traditional rock structure of the song's arrangement.

Great work! I've enjoyed hearing your songs.

- Wiley

Wiley Koepp

It's helpful to hear a few of your songs back-to-back. You've got a great sounding drum machine but it's really high in the mix. I'd love it to be further back a bit...or maybe just bring the lead guitar up higher in the mix so it can come through more clearly.

Lyrically, I enjoy the simplicity--you write how you'd talk, or how many of us talk. That makes your choruses SO relatable to many people. That's really the key, right? I think we write songs that it'd be cool if lots of people can related to. I also like the vocal melody of both this song and "College." You've got a knack for putting together pretty little ditties. 

What I'd love in this one is to develop the lead guitar. Come up with a couple/few lead bits to round out the phrases:

"I'm comin' home" [lead guitar nugget]
"So keep the light on, I'm comin' home" [lead guitar nugget]
etc. etc.

You do this a bit in the intro and I hear it in places like just after "did you miss me at all?" That's great. Just make those parts more consistent and more prominent--little licks that people can sing along with. Repetition is your friend with these little mini-leads. Think "ear worms" :) -- little melodies that a listener hears in the first verse and then discover in the 2nd verse that they can sing along with it. Boom: listener engagement.

Thanks for sharing your music. I hope my feedback is helpful. I'd love to hear re-tweaked versions of this and "College" if you decide to re-work any parts or the mixes.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

What a beautiful song and accompanying lyric video. Their moods are well-suited to one another. The crystal clear guitar tone and harmonies hearken to the strains of James Taylor. I'd be happy to feature this video on coyotemusic.com in the coming days. I'll be sure to tag you across our socials! Very well done--songwriting, performance, and recording. Bravo!

Wiley Koepp

Andrew, what a sweet video! I love the nostalgic simplicity of the songs, melodically. Reminds me of the Everly Brothers. Your harmonies are beautiful and the song is lyrically touching.

Assuming the video is true-to-form, it's impressive that you perform all the instrumentation. Looking to promote, just share, share, share. This song and video have a viral-like quality to them with their beauty and sincerity. 

Look into licensing opportunities--this song is not only genuine and sugar-sweet, but would also serve as a nice backdrop for most any company looking to move some units of cars, phone contracts, and the like. We all need to pay the bills, right?

Thank you for sharing this with me. What a delightful song during such a trying time.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Andrew, thanks for sending this one along. You've got a sweet songwriting style. My first thought was 60s pop, but this is also 70s pop. Certainly a market for it. As I've mentioned, just share, share, share it. Look into licensing opportunities.

The production is so good! Full-bodied, well-balanced. Great job with that. Reminiscent of The Wonders' hit in "That Thing You Do" (I mean that as a supreme compliment). 

Yes, I think there's huge potential for sync opportunities. I'll keep this under wraps until October, but I'd love to post the releases to my website in October. Please reach out via coyotemusic.com and keep me updated. I've got some upcoming articles dealing with sync and such. I don't have contacts that will make you a millionaire, but I do know folks with whom you should visit and share notes.

This one's really great. Thanks again for including me in the group you've shared it with pre-release!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Very deep mood throughout the introduction. Stark drum tone (LOVE that thick snare). As the vocal enters, reminiscent of early Neil Young. 

I see that the musicians are Tucson-based, which actually comes through in the slide guitar and keys. There's an unmistakable Southwestern-desert vibe happening. Through the song I see mountains, sunsets, and feel the heat of the late afternoon sun.

The song's gorgeous. Arrangement-wise, it'd be great to have a bit of a change-up somewhere along the way. Nothing shocking, but something to give the song a bit more shape. As-is, it's plaintive, strong, introspective. Nothin' wrong with that. Just spitballin' here. 

When I get coyotemusic.com cranking out content again, I'd love to post a review of either this song or album. Sometime this year, for sure. You've got great ingredients here--the lyrics, musicianship, arrangement--all good. This song makes me want to hear more. Drop a line if you ever head to Austin.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Wonderful voice and soundscape surrounding it. And the vocal harmonies layer gorgeously, as well. Surprise male vocal pretty late in the song. If I were arranging, I'd bring it in earlier to make the dynamic a bit more compelling in the first half of the song. Similar to the theremin at the tail-end. Both great aspects of the song but I'd personally like to hear them sooner, and then develop/integrate them both at bit more as the song progresses. Nitpicky aspects, though. The song is wonderful. 

I'm happy to share this through our @coyotemusic socials to help bring a few more eyes to Gal Musette's music.

Wiley Koepp

Great to see a Memoryfield song come across the wire! So epic. Grandiose. The production is crystal clear and the video production is spot-on (love all the backlighting!). And Robyn's voice fits perfectly into the sonic landscape.

The instrumentation is so well thought-out and appropriately portioned to enhance the moodiness and sheer power of the track. I'll dive in a bit deeper for a post about it on coyotemusic.com, but I'm so delighted to see this video and hear the song. 

Wiley Koepp

Struck by a gorgeous voice, stylistically reminiscent of Sarah Jaffe but falling in a nice spot between AC radio and Altnation. Certainly imposter syndrome is a popular topic over recent years, and some surprisingly successful people have admitted to struggling with it. It's very real. But this song is no fake.  True sentiment, vocal talent, strong musicianship. Sing this one with all the confidence in the world!

Wiley Koepp

I grew up listening to Johnny PayCheck on my parents' AM car radio. So when I first saw John PayCheck I thought, "Whoa, this guy had *better* realize there's already been one o' them." Imagine my relief when I figured out they are father/son.

I'm really enjoying this song and would love to promote it on my music blog, coyotemusic.com. Great production, the fiddle is spot-on, and John's got enough of his dad's vocal inflection to be noticeable. But it's great to read his story of leaving music but coming back to it a little later in life. That's how you know you really want to do it.

"Lone Stars" is a homerun, as well. "Lone stars and crowded bars, Sing another song..." It's an anthem of the nightlife that we're all longing to return to. I appreciate you sending this song my way. I'll start putting together some JP promotional pieces on my site this month, in time for the 2/19 release.

Wiley Koepp

Love the slide intro. Solid groove. And your voice is strong. Reminds me a bit of Nathaniel Rateliff or Cold War Kids. Then into the beat--fun drum/synth programming!

I've said this to a few artists recently, but this song would fall in nicely on Sirius XM's Alt Nation's playlist. I really love the variation of the song's arrangement. It's consistent throughout the song, but also keeps the listener engaged with changes across the vocal & melody lines (pauses, the percussion/handclaps, electronic drums, lead guitar licks, etc.). These things work well with a nice, clear vocal and catchy hook.

AND you've got a breakdown for a crowd to get into at a live show? Daaaamn. I vote for this being the single off the album. :) Just push, push, push this tune. Don't simply release it and hope for it to catch fire. I suggest creating Instagram ads with the song playing in the background--it sells itself.

Wiley Koepp

You guys are accomplished, having been around the block more than once. I think it's refreshing that you've tapped into this medium for feedback and advice. Not many seasoned musicians seek out new resources. So kudos, just for that.

"Vacant Winds" needs to be on SiriusXM's Alt Nation. It fits right in with a Sir Sly vibe. Not saying you sound like them, just that being played before or after would be a natural feel on a radio playlist.

Musically, I don't really see room for 'improvement' or critique. Vocal harmonies are spot-on. Production is full and robust. You're professional and it shows.

Advice? Rally your fans, demand airplay. Dare Alt Nation to play you...because it might just work. There's really some sludge on that channel and it needs a fresh kick in the keister. "Vacant Winds" could be just what they need. Bravo on this tune. Really dig it.

Wiley Koepp

Sweet song, lovely voice, compelling chord progression and a simply stunning video. Wow. Great job. 

This is how it's done..."it" meaning that these days you've got to create something unique. You want something catchy and provocative, but you also want something with more substance that simply going viral for 15 minutes. I think this song & video accomplishes just that. It's beautiful. It's 'gimmicky' enough to Share or Forward to a friend and say "check out this video!" But it's also a substantive pop song, both lyrically and musically, so it's much more than just a catchy visual.

Well done!

I'm re-launching coyotemusic.com in January and would love to include "Sweet Dreamland" among the new content.

All the best to you,

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Great looking lyric video! Lyrics grab the listener from the get-go, with subtle anticipation in the arrangement as the chorus approaches. I personally could've used a bit more 'punch' when the chorus hit, but that's my more rock-oriented background talking. :) Great vocal performance. Love the harmonies in the pre-chorus. 

The lyrics are relatable to just about everyone. Sometimes ya just gotta let go... The production quality sounds radio-ready. Hopefully you're already looking into both terrestrial and satellite/streaming airplay. You could drop "Let Go" right in the middle of any AAA radio playlist and it'd fit in seamlessly.

If you'd like to visit about our promoting Tara or "Let Go" on our site, please reach out via https://www.coyotemusic.com/contact. 

Thanks,

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

So many facets to this song! It's modern, it's retro. I hear Bruno Mars, Chicago, bits of 80s RnB/Pop, and modern alt rock. Then the ultra poppy chorus kicks in. I'm wondering what the songwriting/arranging team looks like, as far as influences go. Widely varied, if nothing else.

Great voice. Nice pacing with the arrangement. Trying to envision this among a pop playlist...or maybe alt? Now the outro kicks in and it's super late 70s, like a montage in Saturday Night Fever or something. :) 

I'm not sure if the variety within this song makes it easier or harder to market to more traditional avenues. But the appeal would certainly stretch across generations within a household...

Wiley Koepp

Love the gritty guitar lead after the chorus. Great all-round production once again. This song is indeed a bit of a shift...makes me think of Matthew Sweet mixed with some Ryan Adams. A bit of a country feel to an otherwise 90s-esque indie rock vibe. The lyrics make you wanna check in on that special someone to see if something [shady] is in fact going on. Really dig this. Thank you for sharing it!

Wiley Koepp

Wow, this is really great. Indeed channeling a Paul Simon influence but with a deeper blues influence, at least in this particular song. I don't have much advice to offer here--the sound, production, songwriting, performance...all very solid. I'd be happy to include a review or write-up on coyotemusic.com. That's *something* but what I think this song and others need is wider exposure to a larger potential fan base. Seek out placement in TV and film. Perhaps commercial placement, though that is conveyed as 'selling out' to many. Great job on this one. Really enjoyed having it come across my radar.

Wiley Koepp

Dig the track and some of the lyrics grab me. Love any reference to Barry Sanders. Your flow is really interesting. It's got a laid back delivery at times like Drake, but attacks some times like Ice Cube. Then I'm feelin' Eminem at times??? Crazy, right? Then sing-song-y, holding out notes RnB style. I guess if you're using this song to show and prove yourself, it's got all sorts of skills wrapped up in one song. 

If I had any feedback or advice...and I just wrote this on another song in a completely different genre...it's about listeners' attention spans. I like this song. But now that it's over...I have the melody in my head, but I wasn't punched in the face with a particular lyric or hook. This song I'll play for some friends and we'll nod our heads and say "this is good!" But that's different than a million people spreading it around, shouting about it on the subways, and stuff like that. And I'm not talking about trying to write "Old Town Road" or some shit. :) But keep going so that Seddymac's sound in undeniable and unmistakable. Lots of talent, even just in this one song, that you're working with. Nice job!

Wiley Koepp

Love your voice--unique and sweet yet strong. The production is well thought out, with appropriate and creative ups and downs. The contradiction of the song's tone and title also starts things off with some intrigue. "Make a Monster" would fit in well with the rest of the 1995 album "The Garden" by Merril Bainbridge (I mean that as a compliment). 

We're in a weird time, this Spring of 2020, so promotion of a new album is all over the place. Foremost, I think any sort of live/solo presentation on a daily or at least very regular basis is where it's at. People have more time right now. People want to be helpful and do good things, including helping up-and-coming artists forge ahead. 

So perhaps for you that would mean solo performances. Or, if you're not in a position to pull that off sound/equipment-wise, you could do a 4-night event where you play a song from the EP and talk about it: lyrical inspiration, the recording...maybe bring in one of the musicians or engineer as a 'guest' to talk about particular moments of interest from the recording/mixing/producing processes. You really have an opportunity to present more than just 4 recorded songs to the world. You have a chance to (re-)introduce yourself, your songwriting process, and bring viewers inside the 'process' of your EP, from original genesis to final mastering.

If you'd like to brainstorm more and talk through other promotional concepts, feel free to reach out to me via coyotemusic.com.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Singer's got a great, soaring rock voice--love those long, strong held-out notes. The bridge/transition section is odd, in a good way. At first I was trying to picture hearing this on Alt Nation on SiriusXM, but then chordally (is that even a word?) it almost goes into a Steely Dan-ish progression. So what you've got is different, for sure. And that's a good thing.

If I had any suggestions for this song in particular, or as you write future ones, is that listeners' attention spans are short. Real short. This song has more of a 70s pace to it, structurally. Not a bad thing...just not the sort of thing that is likely to break into the Alt radio circles.

I'm a big believer in "do what you do" - and you all do it well. Love the bassist's groove, too. :)

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Catchy beat and lead guitar in the intro. Love the crisp rhythm guitars. The vocal is sharp, surprising, but new and interesting. I want the vocal to be more 'broad' in the 'B' section around 1:00. Maybe production making it a little thicker. Still a nice sound, but give me something new and compelling as the song progresses, like you do around 1:45 with those harmonies. Yeah, those harmonies. Maybe I want those in the first occurrence of the B section. I loves me some harmonies. :) 

It's a really cute song. The vocal harmonies are very The Outfield. Real high, real piercing in a good way. So when the C section starts around 3:00 I'm very sold. The chords are...making me want to hear what's next. 

This a cute song that isn't *just* cute. It's got some musical substance and songwriting decisions that challenge instead of just following a script. 

You got my attention. I want to take a deeper dive into more songs and see if this is typical or just a black sheep in a sea of white. Good job!

Wiley Koepp

Random thoughts: I get a blend of Santana in the intro and toward the ends of the verse phrases. Maybe some Petty, with a little Stevie vibe in the harmony vocal. Well done. The production is crisp and full.  Ooh, there's a little Clapton energy in the solo. You've definitely got a wide array of influences...

The song is great. Promoting it? That depends a bit on whether or not you're touring to support it. With touring, target each city through social media ads, try to work your way into local radio (even college radio, don't count it out), etc. If you're not touring (and I guess if if you are) budget plays a big roll. Work toward getting fans to comment on iTunes when they buy. Maybe place IG/FB ads . . . you could record snippets of yourself playing the songs on acoustic guitar and pitch it as "if you liked that, go buy . . . "

Then there's always the licensing route. If you're not already working with your ASCAP/BMI/other rep, do that. :)

Great tune. Thanks for sharing!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Another powerful one. Love the melodic development and production leading into and throughout the chorus...and also that it doesn't swell up so much that it's overdone. The keys/strings bring the song to a melodic peak, but there aren't symphonic cymbals crashing and a Michael Kamen knock-off vibe. Somehow the added instrumentation retains the subtle, understate feel of the much more sparse verses.

And the tension created by the static-y feedback sounds. Just a perfect production add-in that doesn't take focus away from the music. Just a little glance, twitch...a "what...what was that?"

Had an interesting take on your voice from a musician friend of mine who's skilled and pretty worldly as far as tastes go. "Cowboy Song" was playing and when they walked into the room they asked, "Is this Geoff Tate?" Stylistically, I wouldn't have ever associated the two of you. Neither would I ever have associated Tate with Tom Waits, which I may start using when describing aspects of your sound. But your low register doesn't *not* sound like some moments of Queenryche's "Silent Lucidity." Not a knock, either. Tate's got one helluva set of pipes.

Wiley Koepp

Such a powerful story. Stark, longing, love and lack thereof. Nice take on this classic. As with others of your songs, I can hear this recording as a backdrop for TV or film. So much potential for so many different visual scenarios. If I were you I would look into avenues for licensing and work toward actively shopping your music to TV and film directors and music producers.

Wiley Koepp

Epic & Huge. Aspects of a tonally morose, longing Leonard Cohen opus. Lyrically dark, brooding. Artistically, this song thrives on its own merit, growing from melodically somber to almost rejuvenating, despite the continued lyrical darkness. But commercially, from a promotional standpoint, "Laredo" should be in the next season of Fargo, or The Walking Dead, or in the next iteration of Red Dead Redemption. Huge commercial potential in that vein: setting the tone for a Tarantino-esque bloodbath. Love it!

Wiley Koepp

First, I love the tabla-sounding percussion in the sample!

You've got a solid flow. I'm wishing the vocal was higher in the mix...something about the balance of the vocal track...it's pretty bass-heavy. It makes it a bit hard to decipher the lyrics. Your annunciation is fine, it's really a matter of making the vocal a bit brighter in the mix.

Love the vibe, the message and the song itself is strong. Your message is one that is needed in the scene. Unity in a divided world. Money's money, whether it's a dollar, euro, rupee, shakel...we all need it to get by.

I'd like to hear more of what you've got on the album, and I'd be happy to help with promotion beyond Fluence, at coyotemusic.com.

Wiley Koepp

Stark, traditional song. Makes you feel good about the state of things. And sad. And hopeful. Longing, yearning, honesty...very Dylan-meets-the-blues.

Really enjoying your sound. Even signed up on your email list. In Austin, you'd do great at Cactus Cafe. True-to-form songwriters putting their craft on display every night.

As for advice, we do some affordable online promotion at coyotemusic.com, if you're interested in that sort of thing. Otherwise, just play out. Keep posting videos and develop your online presence to increase exposure. Instagram's great for what you're doing--use lots of relevant hashtags, not only relevant to your style, location, etc., but include some touching on your lyrical content for some new/different cross-pollination. 

Wiley Koepp

Good riff, solid production. The sound is pretty straightforward rock but with slightly different production treatment I could see this song making some noise amongst today's country music fans--both the vibe and lyrics are better than 'new country', but also embody sentiment of a lot of the songs in the genre. The subject matter is certainly relatable to many.

While I get the anger and disappointment that inspired the song, with today's climate of workplace violence it may be too soon for lyrics like "It’s revenge that’s on my mind . . . make them pay . . . I take no prisoners . . . I’m coming back." Depending on the circumstances, I could see some companies pursuing avenues of terroristic threat charges. But then again, Dixie Chicks had "Goodbye Earl" and that did pretty well for them despite causing a ruckus over making light of homicide (however justifiable it was). Anyhow, I'd recommend positioning this song in country realms and seeing how it's received.

Wiley Koepp

Similar to other Mr. Dreem songs, this could fall seamlessly into Alt Nation's playlist. Diggin' it. Somber lyrics relatable to everyone, set to a beat we can all bob our heads to. Yeah, definitely diggin'! Matt Drenik meets Sir Sly. 

Wiley Koepp

Thought homage to Bowie, channeling the vibe appropriately. Strong vocal performance here, passionate and emotional. Strings and piano round out a simultaneously full yet still sparse production style.

In promoting such a tribute I think you need to proceed carefully. While the most interested audience might be those who are already fans of Bowie, part of what makes him who he was is the originality and creativity he brought to each project. So there may be an element of his fan base who may really not dig what they may see as a knock-off...while others might really dig this track for being so obviously forthcoming with its "tribute" intention, rather than being a "copycat." For this reason, I would be sure to include some mention(as you did here) of that when posted around social media or on fan Slack channels, message boards, etc.--but those are among the channels I would definitely recommend tapping into for the sake of promotion.

Wiley Koepp

Interesting. First thing that strikes me is how Andy Summers the guitar tone is. Very Police-y riff. The time signature makes it different and more musically compelling but I'm not really feeling it stylistically. I do appreciate the blend of genres here, technically speaking, but I'm kinda wondering, "Is this prog, is this blues, is this rock?" I suppose it's a blend of the three.

Solid vocal performance. Musicianship all around is clean and tight. As far as promotion, I'm not really sure which direction to point you in...search out some podcasts with fans who appreciate the musicality of the band (who are looking for more than the same ol' same ol'). We also do some social media / web promotion at coyotemusic.com if you take a look around that site and think it's for you. Feel free to contact via coyotemusic.com/contact.

Best of luck!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Raygun's a helluva name.

Song's real nice. Sounds like sitting on a porch or near a fireplace with friends. Bridge almost has a Beatles vibe to it. And a trombone?? Definitely the friends hangin' out vibe. Dig it. I can see the performers in my mind--not in a stuffy, dolled-up studio, but rather around my living room right now.

I'd me more than happy to give this song some pub through our website: coyotemusic.com. There's a little charge, but not much. We put you on our site and post you around to our social media. You can reach me through any of the ways listed at coyotemusic.com/contact

This song's pretty universal. Could sit right alongside Tom Petty or Bob Dylan on radio. And the melody's catchy enough to keep swirling around in your head hours later. Nicely done!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

I'm hearing Sir Sly once the vocals come in, which is a good thing in my book. Once again, this could be dropped seamlessly in Alt Nation's programming schedule. 

At first, the acoustic guitar at 0:25 struck me as too lo-fi to blend with the rest of the song. But after a few listens, I think I'm enjoying the contrast.

Despite my Alt Nation mentions, that's not really my wheelhouse stylistically, but I'm still really enjoying the last two songs you've sent to me. I could play this record in my office or in my car or rehearsal studio and I can see my co-workers, kids & wife, and bandmates diggin' it.

No suggestions for change on this one. Similar to the guitar lick early in the song, the "bestest" initially caught me as too lo-fi. But upon additional listens I think that's the beauty of both sounds--they jump out and catch the listeners attention.

I'd buy your record on vinyl...so please keep me posted on your progress and if you decide to go that route.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

I like this one better than the first song you sent my way. Seems a bit more...'mainstream'? But not in a lame, commercial sort of way. But certainly something that could be popped in Alt Nation's playlist on SiriusXM. Maybe try to submit their way via the Advanced Placement show.

Something about this reminds me of INXS, the hopeful, soaring, melodic chorus, I think. Nothing jumps out that I would change, really, as far as arrangement or instrumentation. My personal tastes want there to be some more 'bass' sound to it. Not necessarily bass guitar, and maybe using the lower frequencies that are already there. But making it a bit more 'full' would appeal to me. It'd make it a song you'd play loudly in your car with the windows down on a beautiful day.

Thanks for sending this my way. Really enjoyed it. Vocals sound great, both performance and production-wise. Song's got great melodies. Not too repetitive, but repetitive enough to hum along to.

Since this is in progress, I won't share it on social media. But feel free to let me know when it's ready and I'll share it. You can always reach me via any of the methods at coyotemusic.com/contact.

Wiley Koepp

Sound reminds me of MGMT, as well as Ghostland Observatory's early club gigs in Austin before they hit--when people thought, "what the hell is that?" But it hit, and it hit big. And certainly with conspiracy theorists (and those who aren't into them), Joe Rogan and Alex Jones, there's an audience out there for lyrics of this nature.

The production here is solid--the vocals in the intro had me worried for a bit. Thought I was in for 5 minutes of roughness, but then when the full sound kicked it it all made sense.

Promotion-wise, there's always the work we do at Coyote Music. We're happy to work with you on some online promotion. It's not free but it's just a few 'tens' of dollars. But it also seems that you've got nearly unlimited options dropping this onto any number of conspiracy websites. Even approach topical podcasters for mentions or to use your song as intro/outro music. If you can get something like that, then you have however many listeners hearing you on every podcast episode in perpetuity. 

Best of luck!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Great sound and impressive/inspiring bio. As you mentioned a Norah comparison, it reminds me of the first time I heard her at a BMI showcase in 2000. And your recording seems to capture your vibe perfectly--pure and refreshing, sparse yet still full-sounding production.

Sonically, you've done your homework and are capturing your sound just as it should, representing your life's experience. I love the idea of recording French versions of your songs, offering renditions in both English and French. And as continue to perform regularly, doing all you physically can to keep your music floating in the air, I think you're right on with the approach of seeking sync opportunities.

If you're interested in seeing if we might be a productive team to make this happen, feel free to reach out: coyotemusic.com/contact

In any case, best of luck as you continue with your musical career. You have all of the pieces of the musical-success puzzle before you, and many of them already assembled. Just keep at it.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

Man, there's something here that people will either really love...or really hate. Sometimes, that's exactly when things go viral and every kid in the world knows the hook. In an obvious way, "Screens" is [literally] in your face and pretty damn annoying. But at the same time it evokes some pretty fun songs I've enjoyed over the years. With a P-Funk type groove, that's a plus. And there's a silly, pop culture commentary reminiscent of Living Colour's "Glamour Boy." I feel like this is a vibe the Long Island band Scatterbrain was going for in the 80s and, more recently, Kiddoo and the Dude out of Austin.

If you want to talk through some promotion ideas feel free to reach out via https://www.coyotemusic.com/contact.

Wiley Koepp

Beautiful song. Love the 'unexpected' chord in the verses. Keeps the listener on their toes. Lyrics are vivid and sweet, evoking emotion and clear visions of the natural world. Your finger-picking is strong and consistent, seemingly effortless, allowing the listener to focus on your lyrics instead of concentrating on the guitar--a flowing, colorful background that puts each word on a pedestal.

Coincidentally, I spent 5 years in NYC without understanding who I was, after living in Austin for 10 years. Have since returned to Austin. Be sure to reach out when you get here. I think you'll find comfortable musical homes at Cactus Cafe and Saxon Pub for more 'official' shows. But there are rooms all around town to develop songs as they continue to come together.

Promotion-wise, Austin's strength of having a thriving scene is also your biggest obstacle. There are countless shows similar to yours every single night. My advice: network with other songwriters. Pool resources. Spend $5 on Facebook to promote your Events. Use Motorblade Postering to get your posters all over town. Investing tens of dollars in a show will help to raise you a bit above the fray.

Best of luck!

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music

Wiley Koepp

"A Night Like This" embodies stellar production value. A recording of this sort is at once its own pro & con -- it's got a full-bodied Nashville-country sound. For that reason, it's got potential to break into country radio and spread into fans' playlists. The potential downside to that is that the 'safe' arrangement and standard melodic and instrumental arrangement won't stand out against the existing popular songs. Melissa's got a crystalline voice and support that could take her to the top, possessing as much talent as anyone already there.

We'll certainly share this song on our social media. Reach out via info@coyotemusic.com if you would like to explore additional promotional avenues.

Wiley Koepp, Owner/Editor
Coyote Music