“Coming with a decided Americana tone. Mainstream Country has left a lot of people high and dry and seeking real emotion with easy to sing with lyrics and vibes. This is the sound picking up that slack and Southbank is poised to be a real force. True genuine music and you can’t ask for anything more. ”
“The slow build of this track is well worth the time it takes to unfold. Morgan Myles has a Country feel to her tone, but the deep range and broad emotional impact is far more impactful than most Mainstream Country offers these days. Think of Brandi Carlisle or old school Ronstadt more than the cheesy bedazzled brand of Country Nashville pumps out these days. This track heartfelt and real, and a journey far too many women face at least once in their lives.”
“Sarah Gross joins a growing movement of talented women pouring their heart and soul out with Folk driven Americana. Currently, Brandi Carlilse is the name many associate with this sound, but Gross offers a softer vocal style that stands on its own. This track, like the rest of the EP is written about the New York town she grew up in and the rich slate of characters that Gross walked beside over the years.”
“Fans of Jason Isbell and Phoebe Bridgers, will find it easy to connect to Suitcase Souls and their new single, ‘Nashville October.’
Deferring to the band here is what they say of the track ... “‘Nashville October’ is the smoke smell in your jacket from last night’s backyard hang, the photos in your camera roll of a selfie that *barely* fit everyone, the feeling of letting go of a past season to grab hold of right now and living in the moment.”
The track does have that worn nostalgic feel that makes our memories both fuzzy and acute and in that the emotions is easy to find and feel. ”
“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. ”
“Born and raised in LA, Gregory Ackerman delivers a timeless Indie Folk sound. “All This Thinking’ is rich in emotion and it wraps around you warming the soul like a nice heavy blanket. The groove and melody are easy to fall in on and the performance makes the song feel as if you are listening to an old friend’s advice. The guitar captured my and held me as tightly as the vocals.”
“When art is genuine and heartfelt it rarely disappoints and Lazer Lloyd delivers both with his single, ‘Real.’
Lazer’s comment on what is behind the song, ‘What do you think it means to be real? What’s your version of reality? Are you controlling your mind or is your mind controlling you? Keep it real to feel the pure manifestation living through you without adding the past, future, like or dislike. I’m a this or a that. Just be truly real beyond description and concepts, completely awake in this very moment which is the only real thing that ever exists...’
This is the kind of track that sticks with you and makes you think long after after the last note. Classic, timeless, and heartfelt! ”
“Nadia Kamrath possesses the uncanny talent to perfectly convey emotion with only a few words. ‘Confessions’ is an emotive singer/songwriter vibe reminiscent to Phoebe Bridgers in style, but Kamrath certainly has her own tonal quality and style that stands out.
The track is about one friend catching deeper feelings and offering up the emotions behind such a realization. The sentiments ring true and genuine and it is an easy track to fall in on.”
“Electro Folk? That might not be an established genre, but this track certainly delivers both elements. On this track, Will Kline sounds like an Avicii/Mumford collaboration.
Lyrically, the track is hopeful and earnest in its wanderlust, and musically it is right at home as a low-key dance number. The end result is a light airy track with a solid beat and a progression that keeps you leaning in for more.”
“This is songwriting at its best. Chris Robley has that extra bit of intuitiveness to his writing that you normally find in such artists as Jason Isbell, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. That line between heartbreak and hope is always at the center of the work and gives the listener a myriad of emotion to work from. This is a track that grows on you with each and every listen, but is mesmerizing from the very first listen.”
“This track took top honors in what the New York Times describes as the Olympics of songwriting, and one listen is enough to see why.
’Jocelyn’ is the tale of an Irish immigrant living in New York and brings to light both the triumphs and struggles of a different time and generation. A timeless, storytelling set of lyrics that offers both hope and heartbreak and a wealth of emotion are delivered in an emotive rasp reminiscent of Tom Waits.”
“The Satellite Station offers up a haunting distant sound that perfectly convey the emotions of this track. ‘For The Coast’ is a melancholic ode reflection about starting over and finding the courage to venture out an reinvent yourself in some new and unexpected way. ”
“This track definitely spoke to my Texas roots. Folk, reminiscent to a blend of the late great John Prine and Todd Snider, the soft tone comes with lyrical punch and a wry bit of emotional twist. This track is not as Commercial in its sound as most of the music we share on LA on Lock, but don’t let that deter you from taking a dive in on this well-written ode to the selfish people we all know.”
“Gabriel Black might be the ‘King of Nosebleeds,’ or he might be king of the Alt Pop Folk sound. Or the case can be made after this track that he is both at the same time.
This well-written track couples great writing with an emotive vocal performance that captures the sentiments to a tee. This song simply speaks to the soul.”
“f you dig a bit of Bluesy weirdness, then Jesse Roper has the track for you. ‘Horizons’ offers a soulful twist on the world of extraterrestrials, but the track really has a vague take on the otherworldliness aspect and relies on the bold vocal performance that just lodges in your bones.
Nathaniel Rateliff comes to mind when you try to draw a comparison, but the track has a unique edge that simply is hard to deny. ”
“Peaky Blinders meets Ray Wylie Hubbard. Chances are most of you have no idea who Ray Wylie Hubbard is but this track put me in mind of the Outlaw Texas songwriter.
Opus Kink hails from Brighton, England and this track has a gritty Cowboy PUnk/ British fusion vibe that simply works in a dark gritty way.”
“Riley Pearce taps into the human psyche with ease, both in the writing and the performance. Delivering a sound that lands somewhere between Springsteen and Coldplay, this Aussie evokes strong emotion with a slow, yet steady build that matches the tone of the lyrics step for step. Can’t wait to hear more from this artist. ”
“Straddling that line behind a Commercial sound and Indie Folk, LA based group, Wax Owls, have that clean emotional delivery that hooks listeners across a wide spectrum of tastes. ‘By My Side’ is a nostalgic look at utopian childhood and simply makes you happy to listen. ”
“‘tis that time of year ... and who doesn’t like a good drinking song all in the name of a good Saint. So raise a pint, make it green if that’s your thing, and revel in the day it’s okay to get shitfaced. Actually this past year, we’ve all had many of those days and hey that’s okay too because sometimes you just gotta play the cards as they’re dealt. This is a fun Celtic Punk track perfect for the year and the season.”
“We all love to discover those powerful new voices and then share them with our friends. Here is your chance to be the musical explorer in your core group and share an important new voice. mae krell delivers talent and vulnerability that rises above what most artists are capable of.
Written on the two year anniversary of their sobriety, “are you sure?” explores the low points that make you forget the progress you’ve already made. The emotion is temporary, but it’s painful to overcome. Sung with the tremor of someone on the verge of tears, the single is raw in the most intimate way, with Mae’s distinctive voice wavering over textured guitar and charango and piano accents. ”