“Far too often our pasts are there to confront us. Be a memory or an actual sighting of the person that takes us back and leashes that floodgate. Here on this timeless track from Rightfield, the jolt arrives in the form of a ‘Birthday Party’ with the forced social awkwardness of encountering an ex for the first time.”
“If a classic, prohibition era speakeasy had a sound, this track would be it. ‘Seven Year Storm’ is a bluesy, jazzy, Indie rock ride through hard times and an IDGAF attitude. This offering isn’t as commercial sounding as much of the music we feature on LA on Lock, but something about the spirit of the song spoke to me.”
“For my money, the best Rock and Roll is born from anger and attitude. DEVORA offers up plenty of both in this ode to personal rage and frustration.
’Body Bag’ sounds like Sheryl Crow, if Sheryl Crow were pissed off and ready to start enacting revenge on all her enemies while teamed up with Rob Zombie to score the soundtrack. ”
“We have featured several tracks from Limón Limón and now the LA based duo is back with another new release. ‘Attention’ captured my interest with a bluesy folk melody and a set of vocals that emotes the strong emotion and passion of the writing every step of the way. The track has just a touch of a retro feel, but stays contemporary with the overall vibe and energy.”
“Young love is a theme often seen in music, but despite travelling that same road, nothing about Simone’s track feels cliche or stale. The emotions of ‘everything/nothing’ are up front and present, and oh-so-real, even if it has been years since that first young love of your life. You can feel this relationship unfold, and in that you have no choice but to think back on your own life.”
“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.”
“The video and lyrical build are paired perfectly here in this track from Alice Merton. The German songstress has captured the very essence of soul-crushing anxiety on her latest single, ‘Vertigo.’ The arrangement and progression increase in tempo to give the lister a jolt of adrenaline before the track settles into a surreal stretch that matches the up and down mood of being overwhelmed. ”
“The Satellite Station captures the fragility of being human on this track. ‘Only Human’ is a soft and tender ode to the struggles we all face. Delivered in a singer/songwriter vibe, the lyrics are emotional and reflective but also come with an underlying optimism and inspiration that feels invigorating as you listen. ”
“Straight forward honesty always works in art, and this well-written song certainly qualifies in every definition. Something about this hit me as Lorde meets Foster the People. Sure its a bit tough to categorize, but pigeon holes belong under pigeons and nowhere else. This song soared for me no matter how anyone wants to define it. ”
“Oscar and the Wolf brings a shimmering fusion of contemporary R&B and melancholy electro-pop straight out of Belgium. There are definite Drake and Weeknd vibes through there is an added softness that gives the this track a distant vulnerability that allows the emotions to land and dissolve into a smooth progression that keeps you invested in the mood of the piece. ”
“The world is full of them ... people we don’t like for a variety of reasons. ‘I Hate You’ is a tongue in cheek Pop track with a hearty dose of observation about the people who annoy us all.
Sara says on the track, ‘Peter and I were talking about how people will always say, ‘man, I hate that guy.’ So we wanted to figure out who ‘that guy’ was and write a song about how much we hate him. It turned into a very cool song about a very annoying person. I think you’ll hate him too.’”
“Pure musical energy! Arkells is joined by K. Flay on this track on this Poppish Rock track about going after what you want. Don’t hold back! ‘You Can Get It’ is the kind of track that will get you up on your feet and moving both literally and metaphorically.
A great add to your energetic and motivational playlists.”
“A nice melodic groove brings this track alive. Smooth and soulful like something between Bieber and Bruno, this Pop groove works well. The hook of the melody and the straightforward lyrical presentation lends themselves to joining in and singing along. Simply a fun, self-reflective track.”
“A hard-charging song about a girl named ‘Livia.’ On the surface you might wonder why you are supposed to care about Livia or her namesake song, but the energy here is palpable and the rock permeates a timeless vibe that feels both classic and contemporary instantly. A big bold track that hooks you and puts you right there yearning for Livia.”
“Inspired by the great literary love stories, Emlyn has given us a passionate love song of sorts, despite the fact she admits to never having been in love herself.
’A Thousand Parties’ is a big bold Pop track that would be right at time on a Demi Lovato album. The boisterous vocals drive it all home giving this track a huge presence.”
“There is an optimistic energy and spirit about this track from Kama Tala that lifts the song and makes it impossible not to fall in and sing along. A bit of island flair and a dash of Paul Simon brings it all alive. Like a slightly more commercial sounding Jack Johnson.”
“This track is for anyone that has ever taken a leap or gone in search of themselves only to discover that the person you once were is not the same person you are now. Delivered with an emotionally bare and vulnerable performance the track is a ‘Soft Landing’ for the senses that simply feels true and genuine. There is a hint of Folk but the overriding feel is Indie Pop and it simply works well.”
“This past year has left us all feeling like we are stuck in a badly written thriller. Ravaged by both boredom, and a pandemic, we are stuck in the duality of feuding emotions and this track with its sort of rowdy yet lazy vibes captures those contradictions with a simmering brand of energy that gathered me in and left me wanting to shout at the moon.”
“Lauren Spring has a timeless voice that carries hints of Ronstadt, Emmylou, and the entire Wet Coast Folk/Country sound of the 60s and 70s. That is not to say this track has a retro vibe, because Spring infuses plenty of modern touches to make “I Remember You’ stand out and above so many artists trying to put modern spins on classic sounds from that era. The smooth steady progression and lyrical flow feels like a warm hug from a friend on this track. ”
“It’s the vocals for me. The Shadowboxers allows us to not only listen to them but levitate and feel the song. ‘Forever’ is delivered at a smooth tempo that speaks on love and mental connection.”