“Shannon Dooley has the vocal chops to do whatever she wants and while this track doesn’t showcase all of her range it does offer a nice emotive experience. Perhaps darker than most Indie Pop, ‘Make Some Noise,’ is a grittier ode track that gets in your mind and makes you think as it entertains.”
“Unfurling smooth R&B vocals with a hint of Pop sensibility, Kailaya invites the listener in to her intimate world. ‘To Be Loved By You,’ brings some old school sultriness to the contemporary world with a heartfelt build of emotion and vulnerability.”
“This track might win the timeliness award, but hey is there ever a bad time for a good Murder Ballad with a nice Caribbean flair? I think not.
Add in the rising sense of rebellion given this countries current events and I this track is surely to resonate in a powerful, yet fun way. Macabre power at its best!”
“Some songs simply grab hold and refuse to let go. Tamar Berk certainly has talent and a pleasing tone though I can’t fully explain why this one stuck to me so fiercely. The delivery and melody are nice, but the hook and lyrical refrain of the song is what grabbed me and refused to let go.
Like an ear worm in the best of ways!”
“I have probably featured Estella Dawn more than any other artis in my time here at LA on Lock. And this is perhaps my favorite track from the talented San Diego artist yet. ‘Detached’ is an in your face anthem of sorts. The vocal tone is emotive and layered and hits you right in the gut. The songwriting is just as rich and developed and the production as always is spot on.
The video is well rendered as well and the imagery help you feel the track that much more.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
“Sometimes the onlyw ay to feel free is to get outside and rediscover yourself via nature. ‘Bozeman Baby’ is an ode to aedie’s time in Montana and Big Sky Country.
Style wise, the track has an Indie Folk Rock kind of vibe and the result is a timeless sound that would have fit in the 80’s musical landscape as well as it does the current times. A fun easy track that I get something new out of with each listen.”
“Sometimes the painful truth is plain as day and yet we choose to ignore it. Vilhelm Buchaus is all about this dynamic on his new single, ‘My Mistake.’
The track has a 90’s Indie Rock vibe as it showcases a relationship that is doomed from the start even though he is diving in head first with the realization it won’t end well.”
“Mt. Misery delivers a sound that harkens to a simpler time on their latest single ‘Sunday Song.’
Nostalgic is how I’d best describe this track that feels like a cross between an Indep Pop track and a theme song from a 80’s sitcom. It’s the kind of track that simply puts a smile on your lips and you can’t help but sing along to as soon as you know the words.”
“If you don’t know Estella Dawn by now then you clearly haven’t been reading my blogs and reviews. Dawn is a talented Pop artists from the San Diego area and I have featured a number of her tracks. ‘Julian is but the latest from this talented artist that continues to create and perform talented songs that entertain while delivering emotional depth and intelligence.
Dawn is one of my favorite Southern California artists and really has proven her place in the So Cal musical landscape. Now the rest of the world needs to catch up.”
“Estella Dawn is one of my favorite artist that submits to us here at LA on Lock. Dawn always delivers Pop gold with a sultry sexy side and evocative well-written lyrics. I will remain in her corner advocating for the world to sit up and pay attention because she is certainly an artist that deserves a meteoric rise.
’Hey Gina’ fits the accolades above and offers a nice energetic groove that has a touch of Bruno in the beat.”
“LA troubadour Ethan Buckner comes with a smooth Indie Pop Folk vibe on ‘Wavering.’ The musical side has a tasty and evocative feel that ranges from smooth oceanscapes to a mor theatrical brand of brooding and though that build the lyrical progression pulls the listener along for the ride.
This is a track to listen to on repeat to pick up on all the emotions and nuance and I am here for it.”
“The worn out cliche of love is blind is one we’ve all heard, but MAdison Taylor takes that idea farther with ‘Golden image,’
The track showcases Taylor’s talent and the idea that we all view our love interests with rose colored glasses rather than under the glare of reality is one that is true and this track puts an entertaining Indie Pop groove to the idea and perhaps the dangers of idolization.”
“Unresolved emotions and unrequited love are the earmarks of sixten’s latest release, ‘Atlantic.’ There is a touch of Stevie nicks in the vocal emotion thought he tone has more of a Miley vibe for me but really the sound the unique and stands on its own so comparison are not as apt in this case.
The lyrics convey the emotional distance and longing and the performance brings all of that home in a very digestible way making this an easy track to feel and experience. ”
“Hanna Andréa takes a moment to express herself through song. She makes the song related to anyone who is overwhelmed by life’s demands and struggling to stay afloat. The song is a nice chilled ballad with a little frustration in the lyrics. It is about sinking or swimming when life is stressing you out. Just when you think the song is a little depressing it gives a small amount of motivation around the 2:40 mark.”
“True love is often found in the sweet everyday moments and Lila Holler captures that magic with her single, ‘Not Mad.’
Delivered in a Dreamy Folk Pop sort of vibe, Holler highlights all the little things that reinforce the love she feels. The moments that define a relationship far more than the grand gestures and purposeful actions. Simply a sweet track, dripping with sentiment and emotion. ”
“Liv Miralidi now calls LA home, but hails from Ohio originally. ‘Unfinished Business’ is a personal song for her.
Inspired by the death of music business powerhouse busbee, the track details the emotions of having a mission interrupted by a sudden death and how hard it can be to carry on alone. The song touches on grief and the fact the real world is not a movie where everything comes with a nice tidy ending.”
“This track and video are both quirky and different enough to catch the eye and ear.
’Greatness’ is an ode to self promotion and getting pumped to take on whatever you need to. Sometimes we have to be our own hype person, to convince ourselves we are in control and ready to face anything that comes our way.
Olive Louise conveys all of this on the screen and in the performance of this Indi Pop standout song. ”
“Break up speeches are a bit ridiculous in that they often heap praise about you being a good person and deserving better but then the person says but hey we are still going to break up. Boy Jr. takes a wry and ironic go at this practice with ‘Still Be Friends.’
The Indip pop track is fun in spirit, but also has enough of an edge to slice deeper.”
“German Pop songstress, Francie Eliot drops this debut single and she is anything but ‘Delusional,’ because her talent is obvious. There is a bit of Miley in the tone though the arrangement gives me Fleetwood Mac vibes as well.
The writing is strong and her emotive delivery sells the words well. The up-tempo arrangement is energetic and entertaining start to finish.”
“By his own admission Born Runner is surprisingly bad at running, but lucky for all of us he can sing and entertain. ‘A long Time’ is a Indie Rock track that simply feels like the soundtrack for a fun Saturday night out on the town. ”