AIM 2023 Judge Review
There's a lot of nice things going on in the composition. The layers work very well together and hearing these varying timbres play off each other is quite pleasant. I also like the melody a lot - it's very catchy and the progression feels cohesive. It has this comforting feeling, like you just started the day and this piece is letting me know that everything's going to be okay. As far as morning vibes go, I think you nailed it.
I'm curious about the intention of giving this track a sunrise sort of feeling, as I don't understand how that connects to the art. A sunrise is a generally tangible part of the world while the art suggests something a little more abstract. It would have been nice to hear some playing around with the abstract, otherworldly and pastel atmosphere in the art. That being said, I think the long drones from the pads get the sense of the water and its vast scale effectively. I'm just not sure if the tone in this track works with the tone in the art, imo.
I love the use of the piano, though I wish it were played more stereo so we can hear the full effect of its chords. The piano was too suppressed to be enjoyable and the synth playing the main melody is just a little too loud, especially at the beginning with those softer accompanying notes. I'm also not a huge fan of the fadeout conclusion; it just doesn't seem like a place where the track should have ended especially given its length.
Other than that, I do love the warm and cozy feelings from this track overall. I think the melody is catchy and does get stuck in my head sometimes. The melodic development is solid and I would have loved to hear this extended to double its length.