“Written for her best friend, ‘For Shaughnessy’ is a tribute to friendship, empathy, and the power of emotional connection. Madisyn Gifford never meant this track to be released but when she shared it with her friend they decided together that this was a song that needed to be shared and heard by others.
The power of friendship is clear and so is the humanity of the writing as well as Gifford’s incredible vocal talent.”
“Breakups are complex and hard, no matter the circumstances and often the wounded parties pretend as if they never knew each other to cope and move on.
Vilhelm Buchaus tackles this dynamic with the powerful lyrics of ‘Nothing At All.’ A soaring ode to heartbreak and resiliency and trying to pick up the pieces. This Commercial leaning singer/songwriter vibe has an Ed Shereen meets Taylor Swift kind of vibe and is universal enough to reach anyone who has suffered through the grief of a breakup.. ”
“Caroline Romano is a star on the verge of breaking out, and her latest single, ‘This House,’ is the kind the emotionally laden track that will endure her to listeners.
Reminding me of the emotional punch Taylor Swift delivers Romano blends vocal power and talent with a vulnerability and honest songwriting to go beyond the superficial and talk directly to our souls. ”
“Estella Dawn is a favorite of ours here at LA on Lock. Hailing from San Diego this Southern California Pop star never fails to impress with her thoughtful lyrics and emotional delivery. ‘Didn’t Occur To You’ lands in-between a songwriter/country vibe and a Pop diva standard with soaring vocals to showcase Dawn’s talent and range.”
“Nicky Youre is pure energy and charisma and it shines from the first note of this track. ‘Good Times Go’ is a party jam, and a track I can see being a big summer hit for this star on the rise. We have featured Youre before, and again I am swept up and in by the talent and passion that is almost tangible here on this track. Youre definitely has that indescribable it factor working for him. ”
“Mental health is something we all face on one way or another and in doing so we realize the path isn’t linear. There are up and downs. Progress and missteps and that in itself can derail lives. April Jai tackles this and captures the frustration, hope, fear and bundle of emotional complexity with her track, ‘You Didn’t Notice,’ a song with depth and heart aching accuracy. ”
“An energetic beat and build contrasts the darker nature of these lyrics. Noak Hellsing unfurls ‘When The Shadows Go Home,’ a track about trying to connect in a world that is increasingly divided and fake. Being content alone with your thoughts is uncomfortable for many and the contrasting layers help to express that set of emotions quite well on this track.”
“Andrea Clute drops this emotionally vulnerable and honest track about getting ‘Nervous’ in the presence of a crush or new romantic interest. The soft Pop style vocals work well and feel genuine. This is a straightforward track that most of us can relate to at some point in our lives. I like the way the track builds and you can almost hear an escalating heartbeat in the rhythm of the music. ”
“A nostalgic track that harkens to the Pop Punk sound of the 90s with a infusion of Contemporary angst. You can hear a dozen musical inspirations but in the end it is Alexx Bean’s vocal talent and emotional prowess that brings the track to life. ‘Right Where You Left Me’ will have you singing and bouncing along and thoroughly convinced you’ve been listening to this jam for years now. ”
“Bo Baskoro delivers a track that has some Commercial, Pop elements but also is rooted in an emotional foundation more reminiscent of singer/songwriter type tracks. ‘Holding You Over’ is about that relationship that isn’t bad but isn’t exactly forever either. Especially for one half of the equation that always seems to be searching for something better and using you as a placeholder.”
“R3HAb and INNA team up to put a new unique spin on Sash!’s iconic 90s hit ‘Ecuador.’ The build and beat are the same, though the vocals and lyrical build make this feel like a completely different song.
’Rock My Body’ is a high energy Dance Pop track with one foot in the past and one solidly here in the present. No the track isn’t reinventing anything, but it is highly danceable and a groove you will fall in on quickly.”
“Electro R&B anyone?
Okay, so that isn’t exactly an official genre, but if it was ‘Rush’ from Ben alexander and Arya would top the charts right now. With a smooth, almost early 90s synth vibe, and a classic R&B vocal groove the track blends not only genres, but eras of music and still somehow feels contemporary and fresh in doing so. ”
“ Swedish songsmith, Omar Rudberg might not be on your radar yet, but he should be. ‘She Fell In Love That Summer’ is songwriting at its best, an emotional movie unfurled in under three minutes.
The delivery is emotive and powerful and sweeps the listener up and along. There are a million love inspired songs, so it is never easy to create another that takes you for the same up and down ride relationships often do, but Rudberg has certainly delivered on this track.”
“Aiida unleashes a Pop gem with ‘Stupid Perfect.’ The energetic track is about second guessing a new love as that initial phase of euphoria slides into a warped brand of logic where you begin to ask yourself ... is this real? What am I missing? Nobody is this nice all the time.
Call it the Too Good To Be True Syndrome in musical form. And Aiida deliver the track with a fun tempo and melodic build that almost contradicts the mind games she’s plating on herself with self doubt. ”
“Riding a pure Pop sound, sadboi unleashes a heartfelt love song about a long-distance relationship. Fans of Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Harry Style will enjoy this sweet track called, ‘Cover You In Chocolate.’
Loving from afar is always tough, but hey, chocolate does make most things better so perhaps this track is just what such a couple needs to feel the love and connection until they can once again come together for a taste of each other.”
“Regular readers of these reviews are no stranger to San Diego Pop star Estella Dawn, as we have featured a handful of tracks from this rising talent. ‘Just Me’ is but the latest in a strong repertoire of songs. Utilizing two different vocal flows that play off each other and help bring out the emotions this track showcases the versatility of Dawn’s talent.
The vibe is sultry defiance and the emotions range from anger to determined resolve and all of it is performed with a genuine honesty and openness that many artists struggle to find.”
“Francis On My Mind comes with a Pop Funk brand of energy that is impossible to not fall in on. There is just a hint of rasp in the vocals at times, and that gave me Miley vibes though nothing about ‘I’m Alright’ feels derivative. The track has a fresh, original vibe and an soaring uplifting spirit that will keep listeners coming back for repeat listens.
This song fits with so many different mindsets, that you’ll want to add it to numerous playlists.”
“People change and the best ones grow and learn from their past mistakes. This track is about being that new person and reflecting on a prior relationship. My only critique is that I wanted more and the song was over far too soon.
Blending a Hip-Hop vibe and a smooth R& B type groove the talent shines and pulls in the listener quickly and easily. ”
“A strong emotive track perfect for the Singer/Songwriter genre. Grayson Foster delivers this song with passioned, emotive strength and the end result is a timeless sound that will appeal to fans of artists ranging from the rock flavor of Springsteen to the Folk of John Craigie and the the Pop style of Harry Styles. That said Foster hasn’t created a derivative track, but rather one simply rooted in genuine artistry utilizing his own sound. ”
“Ryan Winston creates a track that certainly reminded me of Calvin Harris though ‘Wierd Love’ does not feel derivative and the vocal talent of Leslie Ann Miller sells the emotion in a way that the track hooks from the very first verse.
This is the kind of track that reveals new nuance and emotion with each listen. A track perfect for a number of playlists and moods. ”