longstoryshort
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FREE GAME : I get 20+ demos sent to me a week. Here's what separates the GOOD from the BAD.
🕑 Added 2025-11-09 00:00:13 +0000 UTChey all,
just walking the dog and had some deep thought about all of the feedback streams, demos, and stuff that gets sent to me — and the most common critiques I end up giving. I get sent over 20 demos a week minimum (not even counting my promo email), and I try my best to peep everything.
to be honest, a lot of it isn’t standing out. so here’s my perspective on why that might be, and what actually makes something cut through.
SONGWRITING
the most important one. i don't give a shit if your kick/bass is mixed perfectly if the song doesn't move me in some sort of way.
most of the time, the core idea just isn't there, and the majority of people sending music are more concerned with the mixdown than they are with the actual idea. truth is, putting some basslines over drums and slapping a vocal on it isn't the same as writing a song that will move people.
not to say a song can't be a splice vocal slapped on a splice bassline and be a hit record :)
we've seen that happen more than once in the last year...but there's a difference between those that "get it" and it works, versus those that just think "well this vocal WORKS, so it's done".
the key here is taste. knowing when something stands out, feels special, or “has it” is something only the artist can define. that’s part of the unspoken thing that separates those who make timeless records from those who get forgotten next week.
you have to build that internal compass. it comes from getting your reps in. no one can teach it. and
despite AI being able to generate just about anything the human element will always be the thing machines can’t fake - your new, exciting perspective on the genre.
MIXING - common mistakes
a great record will still be great with a bad mix. so why care about mixing, mastering, acoustics, or studio monitors?
because those things get you closer to the music in its purest form.
There is certainly a difference in a demo I haven't mixed and one that is perfectly mixed, and it does indeed "feel right" in this kind of music when the drums are slamming, the bass is hitting etc.
Here's some common things I notice in mixes coming from beginner producers, and all of these can be fixed pretty easily...
The kick / bass / sidechain stuff I've talked about endlessly on here is one.
Balance issues. Breakdown louder than the drop, vocals too quiet and behind the synths, and hihats/cymbals overbearing the vocals are usually the fastest ways for me to spot an amateur mix.
Section to section, the energy isn't transitioning right is also a super common one.
These are all discussed in past videos of course.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THEM ALL...
this one’s harder to describe, but it ties directly back to why some artists grow fast while others plateau.
every artist we admire is contributing to the scene, not taking from it. they’re willing to take artistic risks, spend years pushing and evolving their sound, and stand out even when it makes them question everything.
most “overnight successes” you see have been developing their brand and sound for 5–8 years before the world caught up. a lot of them are on their 3rd or 4th project.
it’s easy to get quick buzz copying what’s hot online, but moving the needle culturally is what matters. that’s why so many people chase trends on TikTok but can’t translate it into a real career.
give, don’t take. what are you actually contributing to the game?
my longstoryshort project started because I wanted to find a middle ground between the underground garage/bassline stuff I loved and the high-energy commercial bass music I grew up on. at the time, almost nobody was blending those worlds in a way I liked — I wanted to be the change. that gave me a unique angle that separated me from everyone copying what was working for someone else.
Skrillex wanted to be Noisia. he failed — but in failing, he created one of the most influential dance projects ever. it’s fine to start by emulating your influences, but the goal is to develop your own take on the genre.
your point of view is what’s missing..we already got whoever's hot at the moment's perspective on the genre... I need yours.
Hope this inspires you to make great art.
cheers
Comments
Jake's Vibe
🔥
Lena Brown
omg i love that last bit, LFG
