Music Talk : Music Industry Interviews, Advice and tips for DJs & Producers · Grahame Farmer

Music Talk 077 - How to get Signed to DeVice with René LaVice

·1 hr 22 min

1. Music Talk 077 centers on Music Talk : Music Industry Interviews, Advice and tips for DJs & Producers as Graham Farmer runs a live demo-feedback session with René LaVice. 2. Graham Farmer hosts and René LaVice guests as the Device label founder who reviews demos and explains what he wants from producers. 3. The episode is for producers who want to understand how Device decides whether a track is ready for release and how René hears demos. 4. René says he has been doing studio work on his own music while “A&R-ing for my label” and going through “tons of demos” for Device. 5. He says Device gets “about 200 demos a week,” which is why the submission process has to stay organized. 6. René advises producers to use a Dropbox link or a downloadable SoundCloud link because previewable files are easier to assess than attachments that crash inboxes. 7. He says WeTransfer links can expire “in under a week,” which means some music never gets heard. 8. René recommends that demo emails include a producer name, a contact email address, and social media accounts so the label knows “who you are.” 9. He argues that the most important step is making sure the label can physically get the music and identify it as a demo file. 10. He says the strongest submissions are tracks that are “pretty much all the way there,” because labels can then “get it to market” and add a framework around it. 11. In one feedback segment, René describes a tune as “really drum funky” with “low and rumbly old breaks jungle breaks” and suggests subtle DJ-friendly additions like a hi-hat, ride cymbal, or vocal sample. 12. He also suggests tightening the structure by cutting some bars between about 1:50 and 3:00 and by muting the pad during a transition to make the drop feel bigger. 13. On another track, he praises the “vocal sample” as a hook and says the drop could benefit from different stabs and more evolving percussion in the second 16 bars. 14. He references older drum and bass records from the late 1990s and early 2000s, describing a style that gradually adds notes and drum elements to build a chugging groove. 15. One demo gets an especially strong response because René says he would “sign something like that” and likes the tasteful low-end detail and energetic rolling feel. 16. On a different track, he says it “would be great” to make it longer, adds that the production is strong, and flags a possible mid-range bass crunch that may be affecting the hi-hats. 17. The tone is direct, technical, and conversational, with René giving line-by-line production notes instead of broad generalities. 18. The format is a live stream with the chat visible, demo names called out on air, and René reacting in real time to what he hears. 19. Best for drum and bass producers, demo submitters, and label-minded DJs. 20. Skip it if you want a narrative interview with a single guest story arc.

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