Can a german dude write english songs?

[Zille]

Hello!

I am a German guy who writes English songs and I am always a bit concerned about the grammar and my pronunciation. My questions are:

a) Do I have what it takes to be a (at least decent) songwriter?
b) Do you think that there might be people out there who could like this kind of music?
...and...
c) What do YOU think about these tracks of mine?

I have uploaded some songs on soundclick and I would be happy if you could give them a listen:

4 of my little LoFi-Songs

Good bye!
Daniel

 

[Mish]

LMAO

Well that's abit like totally different to your pop-opera thing. I liked how you arranged vocals in Dust and Cheer Up, good songs overally. The other two song - I'm just not sure, especially the fucked up drum beat in Constant Rain.

Hope you would find your audience. One advice though - don't diss emos, and leave grammas alone

 

[drossfile]

mastering the waiting game: beatles meets beck, 2 major successes in the us. are you using a roland patch for the pizzicato strings? sounds like my rd700sx. nice mix.

constant rain: this might fit the beatles/beck description, but with some aphex twin thrown in rhythmically. generally i think it's pretty original. vocals need compression. the instrumental outro build-up is nice, but the abrupt ending is too....abrupt. if this was highly polished by a pro studio, i think it could be a big indie hit.

the dust: the most "beck-ish" yet. this one would probably yeild the most criticism from an american audience, because it would be regarded as a beck rip-off. perfectly enjoyable tune within that context though.

cheer-up song: this one moves more away from indie-pop and into indie. i would think that belle & sebastian fans would highly regard this one, not because it's a rip-off, but because it's well done within the genre.

overall: your songwriting and even production skills are quite good! it's not my cup of tea for the most part, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it from a musical perspective. the grammar i couldn't comment on, since i don't pay mcuh attention to lyrics for the most part and your music was no exception (sorry, that's not a slam--just how i listen to music). i didn't hear anything that sounded out of place though.

what you're doing is certainly viable to a niche market at least, and possibly to a larger-scale market as well.

nice work!

 

[DAS19]

the constant rain beat is annoying although it is a good song. you have some potentional and maybe with some professional production you might be able to find an audience. your voice isnt perfect though. Maybe with some slight autotune that might be fixed.

 

[Greg_L]

A) define "decent songwriter". Lots of people write total shit and become successful with it. Lots of people write good stuff and no one knows who they are.

B) Yes. There's a crowd for everything - especially with "indie" music. Indie people will like anything as long as it's considered "indie". You can maybe find a amall niche audience, but don't expect to make any money.

c) I think your arrangement ideas and production skills are very good. The songs suck though. Sorry.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

Can a German guy write English songs? Yes. I paused the Edguy song I was listening to in order to listen to your stuff! A better question would be, can a German guy write English songs that aren't epic metal or hard rock?

Here are my thoughts on your songs.
Mastering the waiting game - pretty nice. It is a very relaxing song. It sounded like you were really having trouble hitting some of the notes on the vocals. Of course, it's always nice to hear something that isn't in 4/4 time!

Constant rain - the beginning and that drum interlude thing sounded pretty bad, like you really couldn't find the beat, but once the song got going, it sounded pretty good. I like the effects creschendo at the end.

The Dust - This one was OK. The distortion was not all you hyped it up to be.

Cheer Up - This is is probably the best one of the lot. You sound like you're a lot more relaxed on the vocals, which really improves the sound. The female vocalist also really helps. My only complaint with this one is that the synth drums sound kind of out of place at times.

Overall, your songwriting is pretty good; you could definitely market this kind of music. But honestly, I'm not so impressed with your voice. You sound decent on the harmonies and background stuff, but I'd recommend getting someone else to sing lead. It's not quite smooth enough for pop, but not quite eccentric and raw enough for the modest mouse or white stripes type indie.

 

[Nightfire]

Mastering the waiting game is definitely a very cool song.
Do you have the chops to make it big? I dont know. Maybe you can find a niche in Europe for your music, more so than in North America/Canada.
Your music reminds me a little bit of Wilco circa Yankee Hotel, mixed with some Beatles pop elements, some Radiohead influence and like mentoined already borrowing similarities from Beck. All these references arent a bad thing.
Where are you at? Im sitting in Giessen right now.


Mike

 

[heatmiser]

I think you've got some really cool shit happening here...especially considering this is not your first language. I speak a little bit of german, but I'll be damned if I would ever try to sing in another language...so you get some extra credit right there.

The waltz is pleasant enough and on that one your accent is barely detectable.

Constant Rain - I know I've heard this one before...did you post it in the clinic previously? I like it. Your accent is a bit more pronounced on this though - not a bad thing, but it is there in case that is a concern of yours. I too liked the build just before the end.

The Dust - Maybe my least favorite. My daughter thought you sounded american, so again, no concerns with the language barrier.

Cheer Up Song - Cool song, but kind of uneven production-wise.

Overall interesting stuff...perhaps not the most marketable sound but with a bigger production maybe it could fly. I like it anyway for what it's worth.

 

[Supercreep]

Hello!

I am a German guy who writes English songs and I am always a bit concerned about the grammar and my pronunciation. My questions are:

a) Do I have what it takes to be a (at least decent) songwriter?
b) Do you think that there might be people out there who could like this kind of music?
...and...
c) What do YOU think about these tracks of mine?

I have uploaded some songs on soundclick and I would be happy if you could give them a listen:

4 of my little LoFi-Songs

Good bye!
Daniel

I'm not going to answer any of your questions, but I thought the songs were pretty cool and generally, yes - A German dude can write English songs.

Idiosyncrasies in the translations may even make for better lyrics.

 

[ido1957]

I listened to "Mastering the wating game" song

Hello!

I am a German guy who writes English songs and I am always a bit concerned about the grammar and my pronunciation. My questions are:

grammar and my pronunciation are fine

a) Do I have what it takes to be a (at least decent) songwriter?

Yes - good melodies, I like 'em

b) Do you think that there might be people out there who could like this kind of music?

I'm sure that like most music there will be those who like it and those who don't. Do you like country and western/death metal?

c) What do YOU think about these tracks of mine?

I like the writing and the recording sounds good.
"Mastering the wating game"

 

[TripleM]

I listened to Cheer Up Song because i thought it had the most interesting title.

The song was pretty interesting. Not something you hear everyday, which is good. It's not boring.

I'm hearing some distortion when the heavy drums come in.

I like the male and female vocals alternating between right and left during the vamp.

Some pitch problems here and there. The vocals weren't always in sync.

But mostly it was fun to listen to.

 

[Zille]

Hi and thanks for all your opinions! I´m sorry that I haven´t answered yet. I have been pretty busy lately because of all the exams I have to suffer through. Next weekend I will have time to read through all your comments.

See you later!
Daniel

 

[rayc]

Waiting game would suit They Might be Giants or XTC in wimsy mode.
Constant Rain has a sense of Mull Historical Society about it.
The Dust is a bit too derivative in it's Beckness.
Cheer Up - some good ideas but also reminds me ofthe intro to Wake Up Boo by the Boo Radleys though it's not as UP as that.

 

[Xeries]

I think you have all the elements to write good songs. Your production skills are also adequate; however, your percussion is terrible for the most part. Trust me, it takes one to know one.

Why don't you want to write in German. Small music interest there? I'll sing your lead vocals for you if you get in a pinch.

 

[Zille]

Okay...I don´t have any time at hand but f*ck it! I just have to answer! Thanks for the crazy amount of feedback!

Hi, Mish

Hope you would find your audience. One advice though - don't diss emos, and leave grammas alone

That´s how you spread rumors. Now I am a emo-hating, grandma-loving freak. Yeah, that´s how you get your audience to love you.

Hello, drossfile!

are you using a roland patch for the pizzicato strings? sounds like my rd700sx. nice mix.

You know what? I don´t have a clue. I just downloaded every freeware-synth you can imagine and use the VSTIs almost randomly. But I am pretty sure that it isn´t the rd700sx.

Hello, DAS19

the constant rain beat is annoying

I know...and that´s why I like the beat.

maybe with some professional production you might be able to find an audience.

Oh, I don´t want a professional production unless I am able to produce professional songs...I have to do everything by myself cause all my songs are just 0,5% skill and 99,5% production.

Maybe with some slight autotune that might be fixed.

Yep, I am not a good singer but I think autotune is the DEVIL!!!! I will never use a program to correct my shaky voice...NEVER!

Hi, Greg!!!

A) define "decent songwriter". Lots of people write total shit and become successful with it. Lots of people write good stuff and no one knows who they are.

I want to be in the latter category!

but don't expect to make any money.

Hell no, I don´t want to earn money with my music. Well, okay...I WANT to but I am not tricking myself into thinking that I COULD.

I think your arrangement ideas and production skills are very good.

Thank you!


Hello, drossfile!

are you using a roland patch for the pizzicato strings? sounds like my rd700sx. nice mix.

You know what? I don´t have a clue. I just downloaded every freeware-synth you can imagine and use the VSTIs almost randomly. But I am pretty sure that it isn´t the rd700sx.

Hello, DAS19

the constant rain beat is annoying

I know...and that´s why I like the beat.

maybe with some professional production you might be able to find an audience.

Oh, I don´t want a professional production unless I am able to produce professional songs...I have to do everything by myself cause all my songs are just 0,5% skill and 99,5% production.

Maybe with some slight autotune that might be fixed.

Yep, I am not a good singer but I think autotune is the DEVIL!!!! I will never use a program to correct my shaky voice...NEVER!

Hi, Greg!!!

A) define "decent songwriter". Lots of people write total shit and become successful with it. Lots of people write good stuff and no one knows who they are.

I want to be in the latter category!

but don't expect to make any money.

Hell no, I don´t want to earn money with my music. Well, okay...I WANT to but I am not tricking myself into thinking that I COULD.

The songs suck though.

I love you, too!

Hi, Vomit!

A better question would be, can a German guy write English songs that aren't epic metal or hard rock?

Guess not, cause I tend to rock kinda hard...

I'd recommend getting someone else to sing lead. It's not quite smooth enough for pop, but not quite eccentric and raw enough for the modest mouse or white stripes type indie.

That would not work...at least it would not work for me. My songs are very personal and I don´t want anybody else to sing them. Another problem of mine is, that I have the knack to do everything myself. Noone can keep me from writing and singing songs the way I do...but I want to improve my english- and productionskills.

Phew...that´s enough for now. I have to learn for my next exam before I go on. Oh, one more thing: I think all the comparisons to Beck are really funny because I stopped listening to his music after Midnight Vulture, so my songs certainly are not influenced by him. Beck has always been a musician I wanted to like...but I never really did. I admire him for his weirdness and the ability to change his style with each record but I do not like him all that much.

Good bye!
Daniel

 

[toobalicious]

this pic says it all, and also describes the way i felt after sampling all of your tracks. (no disrespect intended)
in the early 2000's, i was in an "indie" clique pretty heavily around here. even dated a girl with librarian glasses and (often) braided pigtails! in hindsight, i realize that is exactly what it was--- a clique. same as hip-hoppers or phish/dead/moe-type heads. the music is just part of it.... yes, i *did* have western shirts with pearloid buttons!

but, in that vein, you did a nice job. agreed that there are some aspects that i do not love (like the drum machine parts in several places--- to me, this style of music begs for acoustic drums). but by the same token, your songs are at least as good as a medium-sized pile of some other indie-cred sort of bands i have seen or heard. it is all in what you are going for, and it seems like you have pretty effectively gotten to where you were going.

 

[Zille]

in the early 2000's, i was in an "indie" clique pretty heavily around here. even dated a girl with librarian glasses and (often) braided pigtails! in hindsight, i realize that is exactly what it was--- a clique.

Urgh...how I hate those Indie-cliques. There is way too much good music out there and it would be very narrow-minded only to concentrate on Indie-music (whatever this may be). Thank god I have never been part of such a clique.

it is all in what you are going for, and it seems like you have pretty effectively gotten to where you were going.

Thanks...but I never wanted to go anywhere. You almost make it sound as if I am aiming for the narrow-minded Indie-audience I couldn´t care less about. Maybe that´s egoistic but I only make the music I like. My songs are not made to appeal anybody...but if they do I would be very happy about it. On second thought: The "b" question I asked when I opened this thread is not relevant to me. It made me sound as if I wanted to have success with all that crap I produce...guess I will edit that out. But I will NOT change my profile-photo!!!

EDIT: Darn it! I can´t edit my first post anymore!!!

 

[Greg_L]

Your music does have a forced "indie" kind of sound to it. I'm not a fan of this type of music so I could be way off base, but that's how it sounds to me. Like you're trying to sound that way. That's fine though, because you pull it off. When I said your songs sucked, I meant for me. I personally can't get into indie-emo stuff. It doesn't rock.

 

[Mish]

EMO IS NOT INDIE!!!

Okay now *I* am off my base here

 

[heatmiser]

I'd never even heard of emo before I first visited this site a few years ago. I still don't know what it is...some musical genre obviously...but what? Is it short for something?...an acronym?

There are too many damn genres these days...can someone explain?