“Staying calm, cool, and collected, in the midst of a first date is no easy feat, and AJ Smith deliver the emotions of those anxious moments with sheer brilliance on this track. ‘Cooler’ is about trying to shake off the mental trappings and insecurities to better connect with the person that has caught your attention. This single certainly captivates and demands attention with its clever structure and emotive delivery. ”
“This emotive track falls somewhere between an emotional singer/songwriter vibe and an Electro Pop energy ready to erupt. Written about the mental health struggles of the singer’s father, the track could certainly be interpreted in other way as well and in that versatility the talent of both the writing and the performance comes alive. I felt every word and held on in eager anticipation to see how the track would build and progress. ”
“GAYLE offers this stripped down FU to a former boyfriend, and while the track starts subtle enough, it soon tromps straight to the point in calling out the hypocrisy and lies behind a bad breakup.
’abcdefu’ offers both clever word play and the directness to make the point with stark clarity. The vocal tone is intriguing and laden with the proper emotion to make such a track truly come alive. ”
“A different kind of break up song that will make you smile, but also nod along if you’ve even been there in that situation of watching a relationship dissipate.
LA band, An Adolescent Tragedy has a decided West Coast sound that has enough of a Punk vibe to be categorized that way, but still brings a bit of the 90s sound to the mix to make the track have a Commercial feel as well.”
“Austrian duo, dreaming of Cali, might be wishing they were on a beach here in California, but they are certainly not wasting their lamentations. Their latest track, ‘fed up,’ offers a nice mix of wistful wanting and emotional resonance and the production helps to bring out both with a genre bending sound that falls between commercial pop, and a low key EDM style arrangement that holds you with its tempting build.”
“David Rasmussen and The Companions team on this heartfelt single that lands square in the feels department. ‘Lost Or Gone’ is the type of song that speaks directly to the center of your soul.
The performance is timeless and pure, and is impossible not to feel if you truly take the time to listen and appreciate the emotions laid bare in the most genuine and honest way.”
“Annie of the Canyon is not a stranger to LA on Lock readers, but if you have missed her previous features here on the blog it is never to discover her emotive and tender vocals. There is a mysterious allure to her tone and the emotion of her writing and delivery never fails to engage the deeper senses of my psyche. Like a modern Stevie Nicks, Annie of the Canyon has that odd combination of fierce determination and soft vulnerability that is both alluring and inviting. ”
“I hear a lot of songs about anxiety, so it is very tough to hit that theme and stand out, but Darragh Chaplin was able to do exactly that with the single, ‘Honestly.’
The writing dives into the mental dynamics of envying others for their so-called ‘normalcy,’ and losing who you are as you try desperately to emulate the societal norms. The delivery has talent and passion and you can feel the struggle in a way that makes the track very relatable no matter if you suffer from anxiety or not.”
“This world is full of stereotypes. However, Elle Baez is living her truth and showing her beauty. Surrounded about so many other beautiful women like her they are living free of stereotypes. Life is about having fun and not being anyone’s snow white with tight jeans. ”
“We all want to break free from life choices. In Nate Fenn’s new single “Cashier” it is about wanting to be more than your hometown. Everyone want’s a different outlet or a plan to get them out of where they are. The song has a relaxed tempo but allows you to vibe with it.”
“Sometimes we try to escape from the memories but the memories are still in our head. Liam O’Brien’s new song “US” is about not wanting to think about someone but there are triggers. Triggers that have you thinking of them. Using a fan to represent the song is pure classic. Most fans spend time in their room singing anyway.”
“Leah Kate is anything but a ‘Shit Show,’ but that does not stop her from regaling about the chaos of a wild and fun night. Or poking a little fun at herself and state of affairs she often finds herself in.
The track is pure Pop gold and the energy and vocal talent makes it easy to fall in and connect with the fun. All of our lives digress into that shit show scenario from time to time so it is easy to buy in and sing along with this one.”
“This track has a light, almost bubblegum feel and I wanted to dismiss it early on for that reason, but the vocal talent shines and that held my attention until I realized that the writing is actually wryly sharp and pointed.
That combination makes this song infectious in all the best ways, and I stayed leaning in to hear what she would say next all the way through. I can see why all of Gwyn Love’s exes would keep hitting her up, because she has that extra it factor that is hard to let go of.”
“JonPaul Wallace is all about energy and personality and that comes across in both this song and his bio. JonPaul, don’t call him plain old Jon, is having fun delivering ‘Here We Go’ and you will hav jsut as much fun listening. It is the kind of track that will lift you up, and propel you forward to take on whatever you face. That said, lyrically the track does a great job of motivation, but does not offer a lot in the way of deep insights beyond the infectious rhythm and energy.”
“Andi infuses passion and attitude in every line of her performance of ‘Money.’ The keys add a brooding beat to this sultry track about the lure and dark side of money. The track has a clear message, but makes said point with a dark, siren-like tone and Electro Pop vibes so that the message does not feel like a warning or lecture as much as simply a statement of observance that the listener can take or leave as they see fit. ”
“We all need to take time to do stuff simply for our own pleasure, and this track is an uplifting reminder of that. The chorus has a Mumford & Son vibe and the verses are a bit more lowkey, but overall the track is a clear pick me up and is the perfect add to your motivational playlists.
Jack Blair is clearly feeling the words he wrote and that comes out in this engaging performance. ”
“The clever word play and use of overlapping lyrics really hooked me in early. Both voices do a great job of selling the sultry emotion and lyrical build keeping the listener leaning in from start to finish. The overall tempo makes you want to move in a nice sultry groove.
This a nice addition to that playlist you use when the lights go off and the action heats up.”
“Caroline Romano drops ‘Oddities and Prodigies’ on us, and the track is bound to remind some of Pink as it delivers the same brand of energetic talent that hooks and pulls you along. The vocal talent makes the track, but the writing is strong and the hook keeps the listener engaged. If I had any negative critique at all it, is that the track is short at two minutes and I was left wanting more. ”
“Most people travel to LA to pursue their dreams but Mack Imagine’s new single “Frosted Flakes” is about finding a new love. LA has so much to offer and despite it being so big you can really find happiness with it. Even if you start being there alone you can find someone to enjoy the experience with you. ”
Mack Imagine is a singer-songwriting pop duo based in Southern California formed in 2020. During the pandemic, Matthew Zeko (guitar, vocals) and Jack Brady (piano, vocals) decided to quit covering songs--and started to write their own. Reaching from their life experiences and musical influences, the two began to quickly create their own aesthetic through their vocals and guitar melody writing.
“I am a sucker for a good story song and a murder ballad certainly fits the bill. okay so Mia Mormino’s track isn’t exactly a ballad with its jazz infused energy and retro scat vibes, but it the story of a pissed off and fed up Burlesque dancer ready to exact her revenge on the men who expect more from her than she is willing to give.
Mormino’s talent brings it all to life and the writing is dead on. Pun intended. My only wish is there was a bad ass video to give some imagery to this track. ”