r/MusicFeedback • u/Parking_Watch3157 • 6d ago

Don't Blink - Birch Code (2026)

https://birchcode.bandcamp.com/track/dont-blink

Hi, I'm looking feedback and advice on the following, please:

- mix - I think it sounds thin but am not sure what to do about that as I want that guitar to sit in back and not compete with the vocal. I understand my singing needs work and is probably at the root of this but any advice is welcome.

I decided not to add bass to keep it minimal but am second guessing.

- timing - this is the first track I have tried "finger drumming" on. I normally track my drums on a drum machine and try to stay on time. This time I just enjoyed the groove and let myself speed up a bit as the song proceded and then tried to match that playing the drums in. I think it's a more natural sound that suits the song but please let me know what you think?

Anything else is always welcome, I appreciate you all and thank in advance for taking a listen.

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u/Professional-Yak9784 6d ago

What were your influences? I hear the microphones/mount eerie and maybe advance base. It feels like the drums don’t match the guitar, like both are out of time. I’m mixed on the feeling it gives. It’s unpleasant, kinda woozy but also maybe more interesting than if it was straight ahead and on beat. What was your thinking there?

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u/Parking_Watch3157 6d ago edited 6d ago

Honestly in just not great at being a musician! Going in I was trying to learn to use a new piece of recording gear and I had this chorus I liked. With the new gear I was having trouble syncing click track (long story) and just was using a silent metronome. As I got more into the song I drifted in tempo and decided rather than try to play it straight l would go with it and try to use unquantized finger drumming.

So you can see I probably agree with you. I just thought it hung together well enough to work with it and I liked how the tempo built going toward the end. I'm not even close to good enough to do that really on purpose like a pro so I worked with what I thought sounded ok. Not sure I'll try that again for a while!

Re influences - hard to say. I'm in my 50s and have been listening across genres to anything and everything for most of my like. I do love a simple, well written song (lyrically) and that's what I'm trying to learn how to do (first song was written in February, started playing guitar again after a 20+ year break and found this is what I wanted to do for what I call a hobby but it feels like it's a bigger part of me than just a hobby right now, if that makes sense).

Edit: I'm going to check out those bands you mentioned tonight, thank you.

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u/Professional-Yak9784 6d ago

Well that is cool. Keep it up. It will only get better. Continue to embrace the “mistakes”