46bliss Remix Contest
Notes from 46bliss
We were blown away with the quality and variety remixes that came out of our song! It was an amazing experience for us to listen through them all, and a very tough job to pick a winner.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING YOUR TIME AND CREATIVITY INTO THIS!
Because of all the immense craft and creativity of the remixers, we first narrowed it down to 60 finalists, then we had to get pretty strict about some things in order to narrow further. Things like vocals that were not in sync with the music were pretty much a deal breaker. Can't stress enough how important the vocal placement is, even if the mix is slammin’.
Some people got really creative with their mixes and some stayed more "in the lines." Super creative remixes got a lot of credit, especially ones that practically created new songs or harmonized things differently yet still were technically "correct."
Just so you know, 46bliss is a self contained, independent unit. There are three of us. We are the writers, the performers, the producers, and the record company. And we were the judges for this contest. Contrary to what some contestants believe, we listened to every one of the 237 remix entries. We definitely didn’t rate a remix highly just because it might be more “commercial” than another – we basically went by creativity of ideas, depth and interesting aspects of the arrangement, and technical quality.
In the end, the three of us hard a really hard time agreeing on one remix to be the winner. We each had our favorites and they weren't the same, much to the credit of the diversity and talent of the finalists. We listened and listened again, and finally we came to an agreement. And the winner is...
THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING YOUR TIME AND CREATIVITY INTO THIS!
Because of all the immense craft and creativity of the remixers, we first narrowed it down to 60 finalists, then we had to get pretty strict about some things in order to narrow further. Things like vocals that were not in sync with the music were pretty much a deal breaker. Can't stress enough how important the vocal placement is, even if the mix is slammin’.
Some people got really creative with their mixes and some stayed more "in the lines." Super creative remixes got a lot of credit, especially ones that practically created new songs or harmonized things differently yet still were technically "correct."
Just so you know, 46bliss is a self contained, independent unit. There are three of us. We are the writers, the performers, the producers, and the record company. And we were the judges for this contest. Contrary to what some contestants believe, we listened to every one of the 237 remix entries. We definitely didn’t rate a remix highly just because it might be more “commercial” than another – we basically went by creativity of ideas, depth and interesting aspects of the arrangement, and technical quality.
In the end, the three of us hard a really hard time agreeing on one remix to be the winner. We each had our favorites and they weren't the same, much to the credit of the diversity and talent of the finalists. We listened and listened again, and finally we came to an agreement. And the winner is...
Grand Prize Winner
46Bliss You're Not God by MonsterJ Project - listen
This remix was perfect in every way. Sped up to a drum 'n' bass speed but with definite shades of ska, it fit the mood of the lyrics in a great new way. Great technique was all over this track: bouncing echoes and stutters kept the vocals interesting at all times, and little sound effects and keyboard frills made it not only fun to dance to, but great to listen to with headphones. We love this track!
This remix was perfect in every way. Sped up to a drum 'n' bass speed but with definite shades of ska, it fit the mood of the lyrics in a great new way. Great technique was all over this track: bouncing echoes and stutters kept the vocals interesting at all times, and little sound effects and keyboard frills made it not only fun to dance to, but great to listen to with headphones. We love this track!
Runners-up
You're not God (Kriminal Klub Mix) by Kriminal Klub - listen
As near-perfect a house mix as you could hope for. Great technique, arrangement. Nice harmonizations on the vocals. Could have used a few more ideas developing as it progresses though.
As near-perfect a house mix as you could hope for. Great technique, arrangement. Nice harmonizations on the vocals. Could have used a few more ideas developing as it progresses though.
You're Not God (Pale Rider mix) by Jasinski - listen
This thing takes it to a whole new place with the shuffle triplet feel. Really great re-imagining of the original song. Vocal quality might have suffered a little from the time warp FX, but great execution. Smoooooth!
This thing takes it to a whole new place with the shuffle triplet feel. Really great re-imagining of the original song. Vocal quality might have suffered a little from the time warp FX, but great execution. Smoooooth!
Preaching Hate by michaelk - listen
The brushes and toms gave this a funky sound that was unique, combined with a great rhythm guitar track that seemed like it might have come from a loop library but fit perfectly. The way the chorus harmonies were coaxed into a lush new chord was fantastic. You definitely got what the song is about. Effect-wise, the slowly de-pitching word "hate" was a great reference to David Bowie's "Fame". Great arrangement!
The brushes and toms gave this a funky sound that was unique, combined with a great rhythm guitar track that seemed like it might have come from a loop library but fit perfectly. The way the chorus harmonies were coaxed into a lush new chord was fantastic. You definitely got what the song is about. Effect-wise, the slowly de-pitching word "hate" was a great reference to David Bowie's "Fame". Great arrangement!
Morphology Feat. 46bliss by Audio Morphology - listen
If this contest was about originality alone, this remix could have won. Great production and execution and all those horns! Re-tuning of the vocal melody and reharmonization of chords were brilliant. Some of the vocal samples that were out of sync as the song progresses definitely hurt.
If this contest was about originality alone, this remix could have won. Great production and execution and all those horns! Re-tuning of the vocal melody and reharmonization of chords were brilliant. Some of the vocal samples that were out of sync as the song progresses definitely hurt.
46BLISS - You’re Not God (The Beat Dust House Mix) by The Beat Dust - listen
This one pumps along really fine and feels great. Great retro bass line made me wanna dance (and I think I got up and did so!) Totally pro all the way. Lead vocals might be a tad hot level-wise, especially at louder listening levels. Great job!
This one pumps along really fine and feels great. Great retro bass line made me wanna dance (and I think I got up and did so!) Totally pro all the way. Lead vocals might be a tad hot level-wise, especially at louder listening levels. Great job!
you aint no god by PJ PALONE REMIXES - listen
Nice vocal sample usage, nice filter FX, Funky-azz synth bass line. Spooky sexy cool! Loved listening to this one!
Nice vocal sample usage, nice filter FX, Funky-azz synth bass line. Spooky sexy cool! Loved listening to this one!
DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU (46Bliss) by Jay Brannan - listen
So cool, so clever and so well crafted. Big fat bass line and those "yeahs" are great. Also the way you double the vocals on "don't have to listen to you" from 2 different occurences was quite the shyte! Love the whole car experience too. Great stuff!
So cool, so clever and so well crafted. Big fat bass line and those "yeahs" are great. Also the way you double the vocals on "don't have to listen to you" from 2 different occurences was quite the shyte! Love the whole car experience too. Great stuff!
46bliss - You're Not God v2 Remix by Callan Maart - listen
Great treatment to the vocals. Love the way the echoes of the lead vocal changes pitch as they cascade along in the chorus. Really good vibe!
Great treatment to the vocals. Love the way the echoes of the lead vocal changes pitch as they cascade along in the chorus. Really good vibe!
You're Not God (Artificial Artisan Radio Mix) by Artificial Artisan - listen
Lots of energy. Nice repetition of the vocals. Love the way the backround vocals are being used as a new rhythm instrument around 1:50
Lots of energy. Nice repetition of the vocals. Love the way the backround vocals are being used as a new rhythm instrument around 1:50
You´r Not God (eterman dub) by latency1 - listen
Wonderful 80's-ish remix. Love the slow buildup, gets more and more exciting as it develops. Dark, edgy and deep. Nice synth sounds.
Wonderful 80's-ish remix. Love the slow buildup, gets more and more exciting as it develops. Dark, edgy and deep. Nice synth sounds.
Honorable mentions
Great Job! (In no particular order)
Grand Prize Winner
ACID Pro5 Premium Loop Libraries
Sony Mini Hi-Fi Component System MHC-EC77
About the Contest
Electronica artists (and long-time friends of Sony Creative Software) 46bliss are offering “You’re Not God” for remixing.
Sony Sound Series Loops and Samples Special Deal on Ultimate Electronica Pack: North America Buy Now! |
|
About the Artists
The sound profile of electronic pop trio 46bliss is best understood as an entrancing potion that opens you up, enhances your senses and releases you into the world with fresh eyes. Their music has been compared to everyone from Air to Zero7. Not content to merely produce soothing, low-impact electronica, the creative minds behind 46bliss (whose name was inspired by an obscure NYC subway stop) simultaneously address the themes of modern life while transporting you far away from them. Drawing upon a rich folkloric tradition and influenced by a myriad of performers from The Moody Blues and Patti Smith to Aphex Twin, their songs are sonically progressive but rooted in a phantasmagorical sense of the poetic. The voluptuous alto voice of Clare Veniot gives way to a satiny upper register that feels timeless in its simplicity, providing a perfect balance to the technological mastery of vocalist, programmer and keyboardist David Cooper and electronic drummer Jack Freudenheim, creator of ambient music software Sounder.Maybe what makes their collaboration such a successful marriage of talent and inspiration is the fact that each band member hails from such far-flung worlds. Clare grew up in an idyllic seaside community on the shores of eastern Canada; Jack was living with his family in France before moving back to the States to study Indian music at Wesleyan University (and was introduced to the band through Derek Sivers, the future creator of CD Baby); David attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston before moving to NYC. Technology enables a persistently long-distance partnership, with one bass player sending his part from a computer in France, and Jack emailing his mixes from a laptop on the Metro-North somewhere in upstate New York.
46bliss is best known for their contribution to the soundtracks of Veronica Mars and CSI-NY, their singles "The Way You Are" and "Desire Give Way" both made waves on Internet pop charts and the press took notice. Billboard magazine called their music "hypnotic… an engaging mélange of percolating rhythms, taut melodies and poetic lyrics." Their ingenious remix of Mahalia Jackson crooning "Silent Night" was included on “Christmas Remixed Vol. 2” (Six Degrees Records) and covered in a front-page article in the Washington Post. A haunting track from their repertoire, "In A Long Time," was a winner in The International Songwriting Competition in 2004.
Homepage: http://www.46bliss.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/46bliss
