“Royal & The Serpent offers this sultry track that feels like Justin Timberlake meets Pink with a dash of the Black Eyed Peas on the side. The beat is infectious and the hook seductive though in the end I did crave a bit more than was here lyrically. The video is engaging and entertaining as well.”
“This is the rare song that did not immediately capture my interest, but came with enough talent to keep me invested in and listening close until suddenly I realized that I was completely enthralled and eager for the next line.
The emotion hear feels genuine, and the performances refused to let me go while that personal attachment grew and built.
Sarah Barrios does the heavy lifting but don’t sleep on the interlude provide by Rence, as his voice added a nice touch.”
“We featured this track a while back here on LA on Lock, and while it is rare that we post tracks twice, Moncrieff’s single, ‘PLAYLOUD’ now has a video that adds to impact of the track. Consider this a push to get out and vote as the time has come for everyone to express their opinion by casting their vote in the upcoming elections.
Here is my original take on this track and I stand by that assessment as I offer you a chance to watch the video ...
Make no mistake, the world is jacked up. Moncrieff knows it and gives us an energetic take on the state of affair. This is a call to arms to everyone that feels angry, frustrated and alienated by the greed and and bungling job of politicians the world over. The track is not preachy, but rebellious in an uplifting and entertaining way that hooks you in spirit and vibe. ”
“I like the blending of the Retro 60s vibe, with the contemporary mood this set of lyrics left me with. The track stays mellow throughout, though it well established an emotional brand of melancholy that served the song well. The smooth harmonies and easy groove melodically make it an easy track to stay with and fall into.”
“The more I listened to this track, the deeper I fell into the emotions behind it. Eiza Murphy delivers a hauntingly emotional vocal performance, though for me it was the power of the songwriting that most captivated me and held my attention over and over again. The piano and build of the music perfectly matched the mood and emotion of the words. ”
“Eva Snyder has the kind of vocal tone that makes you lean in from the very first note, and her latest single, ‘Transparent’ holds you there with the honesty of its writing and an energetic arrangement and delivery.
Like a conversation with a close friend this track feels candid and in that we find bits of our own fears, insecurities and feelings.”
“Listening to this track gives you the same sensation you get while walking along the boardwalk on a warm sunny day ... when the scent of the ocean is in the air, the buskers are playing your favorite song, and the girls are all smiling your way.
Carefree and energetic are the two words that come to mind here so kick back and listen to feel the warm sun no matter where you happen to be.”
“Abigail Fierce has that same sort of sultry vocal tone that catapulted Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac into stardom though Fierce delivers more of a Folksy singer/songwriter vibe here on this track. ‘Some Sorta Goodbye’ is about looking for the end of a relationship straight from the very beginning. The expectation things will end badly, so the act of self-sabotage keeps the loss from being on someone else’s terms. ”
“The energy and progression of this track swept me up and carried me along. The falling in love trope may be the most popular one in all of music, but still the emotion of being lovestruck is as powerful of an emotion as any of us can experience, so time and time again it is a refrain that speak to the masses.
Izzy Staden puts her own unique perspective on the matter here, with a rapid Pop style delivery that makes you feel the rising euphoria quite well. ”
“A light airy song of heartache and sadness ... because ... Hey, if you’re going to feel the pain you might as well do so with a jaunty little melody.
Matt Hansen has a bit of Jack Johnson to his sound and soul and this track is one that simply feels like an honest ode to heartbreak. The EDm vibes deeper in did not hold me as wella s the early emotion and energy, but this is still a worthwhile track from a talented young artist. ”
“Take a little 70s Funk, toss in some old school Magnum P.I. vibesn and coat it all in straight up Rock and Roll and you have a good idea what is going on with Zachary Kibbee on his latest track, ‘Somewhere To Put My Gold.’
The video is straightforward, but adds to the retro feel with its credit style. This is a track that just lodges in your bones and allows you to straight up rock out. ”
“Reminding me a bit of Linkin Park, This Modern is a Phoenix based rock band, that delivers on all three elements with their latest track, ‘This Time Around.’
The writing is strong and offers a nice blend of hook and meaningful impact to keep you leaning in as a listener. The musicianship behind it adds to that power, and the vocal delivery is emotive and engaging. This is a band to keep your eyes and ears on.”
“Unrequited love tends to feed into all of our fears and insecurities. At times the risk of extending ourselves only to be rejected keeps us from loving at tall. This song is for all those who love a little too hard a little too often and often pay the price. The suffering sucks, but these are the people that make the world worth living and we should celebrate them for bring more love to the world. So here is a talented and energetic ode to those who dare to love. ”
“Cloudy June is fast becoming one of my favorite voices that we feature here on LA on Lock. Per usual June’s writing delivers emotion and impact to match the talented performance. The blend of light and heavy is intriguing on this track, as it mirrors the complexities of our emotions.”
“The track set a nice ambience early on and the vocal flow adds to that with a tranquil smooth entry. Bella Paton offers her refreshing talent in a slow steady build that keeps the listern leaning in and emotionally invested. ‘Underwater’ is a mood and one we have all found ourselves in.”
“This track feels a lot like having a conversation with a friend, and since a lot of my friends are musicians and artists, I have actually had similar heartfelt talks about the creative and promotion process many times. The lyrics of this track are as natural and unassuming as any of those talks. There are a few places where the vocals almost get too emotional and lose their edge but those place s are also what makes this track so endearing for me.”
“A trippy modern track about the act of self-doubt and self-loathing. We all second guess ourselves, and often take that too far by getting deep inside our heads. There are hints of classic Rock and thread that will remind some of Biliie Eilish, but overall this track creates its own sound and mood that is captivating in a dark and brooding kind of way. ”
“Sometimes a song strikes the perfect tone to bring forth the vibe of the lyrics, and that is the case here with ‘Dear Homie, ... I Reject You.’
In what would could be described as an emotively flat tone, Benz Paul offers the perfect set of vocals to make you feel these particular lyrics. The melancholic distance is the perfect vibe here, and the combination is very engaging as the performance and writing blend to set a mood that grips the listener hard.”
“Strong lyrics and a tender emotional delivery made this track stand out for me. The fact Richard has the kind of looks that force adoring fans to fall in love with more than the music, will certainly help his career take off.
I suppose that fact and the added commonality of being Canadian will draw comparisons to Bieber, but my initial reaction is that ‘The One’ is better than any of Bieber’s early work.”
“Coming straight at you with an infectious brand of energy, Veridia demands your attention with their latest single, ‘Light It Up.’ Sometimes the best thing I can do is get out of the way and provide a link to the tracka nd a quote from the artists, so here you go ...
’Our new single, “Light it Up” is about being inspired by those brave enough to speak up and take action against injustice and advocating for human rights with love and grace. This song isn’t condoning violence or literal arson, it’s about our internal, metaphorical fires of compassion and strength that spark real change. It was inspired by the resilient people in my personal life and those who strive and hope every day for a more unified tomorrow... .’ ~ Deena Jakoub”