“Coming at you with an alluring, almost sinister charm, Maella seduces the listener with a smooth vocal delivery that invites you in before the darker emotions grab your heart and squeeze.
’Melting Butter’ is a brooding track that for me conjured thoughts of a time in Rock music when grit and passion overshadowed glossy production and million dollar smiles.”
“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.”
“Expressing your feelings is never easy and quite often we turn to liquid courage to speak our heart. ‘One in a Million’ is a Pop-ish, R&B track about two lovers reluctant to admit they are falling for one another in a lasting kind of way. Jesse Gold shines here as does his duet partner and the two voices combine to keep the listener emotionally invested.”
“Oz has the kind of alluring vocals that speak straight to the soul, and her latest single is powerful in title, as well as emotion.
’It’s a song about the moment it really hits you that someone’s trash and they’re bad for you,’ says Oz of her single, ‘Murder.’
The video utilizes stock footage in a montage that managed to capture the vibe of the track as if each scene were created specifically for the project. A mesmerizing Indie Pop ballad that feels melancholy in a self-reflective kind of way.”
“The honesty of the songwriting pulled me in. Meeting a person that has a lot of good qualities, but just doesn’t have that certain spark creates a mental dilemma. In dating world where you come across so many flawed, wacky, and weird people it is hard to walk away from a seemingly normal person simply because the chemistry isn’t there, and this track unravels this thought process with intriguing raw emotion, and an engaging sound. ”
“Alix Page showcases her songwriting talent on ‘Frank’ by playing off of the Frank Ocean track ‘White Ferrari,’ while giving us a track that borrows, but does not steal from a classic hit.
Page’s vocal are tender and yearning in this ode to unrequited love. In both the lyrics and the performance, you can feel the tangible sting of a missed opportunity.”
“Some voices just catch you from the start. The earnest passionate sound of J GRGRY was such a voice for me.
This slow building love song never felt tepid, but rather stoic and determined in the way a lasting love must be. The rising crescendo was important in the progression. The talent shines here in this unassuming and honest track.”
“Kaya Stewart brings an edgy allure to her vocal performance on ‘California.’ Of course the Golden State has long possessed that same brand of allure, so in this track that serves as a love letter to the state, the tone is dead on perfect. A brief Hip-Hop interlude from Childish Major adds to the mood and vibe of the track as a solid change-up to Stewart’s talented performance.”
“Karamilk delivers a dark Pop song about the pressures of social circles and how easy it is to lose yourself in the demands of a group.
The vocals offer a haunting distance that echoes the emotions of the lyrics and the production behind the track adds a depth of feeling that creates a suitable mood for the entire track.
’Hurt’ feels like a bit of genuine honesty amid a see of artificial — in a time dominated by social media and snapshots of what life is supposed to look and feel like.”
“A clever bit of songwriting, and a simple yet imaginative video highlight this track. There is something here that reminded me of Elton John, but just a hint because Thirsty Curses certainly have their own brand of uniqueness to stand on.
’Bruises On Your Shoulders’ is simply put ... the song of life. An entertaining and concise look at the ho-hum, the dreams, the everyday. Hard to categorize, but I was thoroughly entertained.”
“Some flames simply cannot be reignited, and The Mandevilles give a classic Rock sound on “You Feel Like Nothing,’ a track that takes a dive into that very idea on relationships.
Coming with a raspy vocal sound that reminded me some of Bonnie Raitt, this song taps into the emotions of the singer’s own experiences and that fact shines through in the genuineness you feel while listening.”
“The Ella Sisters are Norwegian twins sisters and here their voices blend and mix with sheer precision that is tender and emotional, and energetically hopeful.
The tempo of the track isn’t what anyone would call fast, yet there is a positive vibe and lightness to the track that makes it feel upbeat while still maintaining that tender emotional thread. The vocal arrangement has a nostalgic, almost 90’s element to it, though the track feels modern and contemporary with its beat and overall sound. ”
“My job as a reviewer usually involves me summarizing and then encapsulating a song to bring it alive to entice potential listeners in a scant few words. But sometimes it is best to let the artist describe their track and this is the case on this one ...
This is a confession. Sorry, mom.
’Blood’ is about the 14-year-old insomniac kid I used to be, who was dying to get out of a small town, and would do pretty much anything to feel alive. I used to wait until my mom went to sleep so I could ‘borrow”‘ the car keys and take my friends on late-night joyrides in her beat up Volvo. For some reason, a LOT of those nights ended with all of us laughing at each other, and bleeding all over a grocery store parking lot, after trying to pull off Jackass stunts in shopping carts.
It’s the ‘Blood’ that made us who we are. ”
“The build, both musically and vocally, is almost cinematic here, though the track remains its Rock/Pop vibe thanks to a magnificent performance from Sarah Kinsley.
’I Can Feel It’ has the kind of emotion that sweeps you up and carries you along. A big piano ballad that Elton John and Freddy mercury would be proud of. KInsley puts her stamp on the emotion of making it in the music world.”
“The imagery of the video tells a more direct story than perhaps the lyrics would by themselves, but this track has the musical chops to stand on its own as well. With a darkly alluring vibe and silky, yet sinister, vocal groove, ‘Animal’ takes us beyond the facade we often put up to what lurks deep inside. Of course sometimes the elements of ourselves we bury are the truest and best parts of ourselves. And the very parts others are desperately hoping to discover ”
Rating: 4 out of 5
“The track comes in with a funky little organ keyboard vibe that preludes Estella Dawn’s vocals. The performance feels heartfelt, and in it you can feel the haunting effects of her nightmares which revisit a toxic relationship and her part in that past. The arrangement and mix helps bring out the sentiments of the lyrics. ”
“We have featured Bad Flamingo before and I’ve long been a fan. The diverseness of their sound is especially impressive in a time when many artists sound the same on every track they release.
’Butter’ is not an easy song to categorize, but it is an Indie Rock vibe with a trippy and meandering melody that sort of mesmerizes and comes across as smooth as butter on warm toast. Intriguing vocals add to the dynamic.”
“A fun ode to boredom which most have us have lived in recent months. This song does not overtly refer to the pandemic or being isolated and stuck from friends, but of course that is where the mind goes even without a direct reference. The arrangement here is fun and engaging while still managing to express the disenfranchised and untethered state we’ve all been in though these times. ”