“With an uplifting backing that feels like a choir urging you on, Call Me Ace drops his truth with sharply written lines and a rising passion that builds as the track progresses. This track is part of NBA 2K21 in game experience so while many will hear ‘No Assistance,’ it is vital that you take time to stop and digest the lyrics for the full experience to land.”
“The truth delivered here in these lines ... Everybody dies, ‘Not Everybody Lives’ ... is a sentiment we have heard before, but K.M. drops this hook amid a lyrical build that feels both passionate and earnest. The flow is steady and deliberate, yet still conveys a heartfelt belief that makes every word land with conviction. It is this, that allows the track to break through and land in a meaningful way.”
“The Candid offers up the pain of having your heart removed. ‘Amputation’ is not a word widely used as a synonym for hear break but having your soul ripped out by a bad breakup is no less panful than losing a limb while you are are enduring the emotional pain so it works well here in this raw, Indie Rock delivery. ”
“Isanna infuses her performance with an angsty form of passion that hints at both anger and frustration, but feels oh so real on this track.
’Business’ is about trying to stay grounded and focused amid the chase of trying to carve your place in the world. Quote from Isanna: ‘Business is a kind of refuge amidst the chaos and clout-chasing of the music industry. At the time of writing it, I felt myself getting swayed by the smoke and mirrors of the business, and the song felt like a way to bring myself back down to earth, and to the people who keep me sane, for example, my brother and manager Alex. The track is a reminder to protect your energy and keep moving forward, no matter what’s happening around you.’”
“Lola Lennox drops this energetic track on us that feels a bit like a Holiday song in spirit even though the lyrics are not specific to any time of the year. The vocals reminded me of a mix of Amy Winehouse and Adele though this single certainly feels more Pop oriented than those artists tend to sound.
All in all, a fun track that gathers you in and carries your forward with a smile on your face.”
“Coming in with an alluring beat and vocal style, Tessa Violet is doing a bit of ‘Wishful Drinking’ on her latest single. The track first found life as part of a Tik Tok challenge, and is now ready to go beyond the realm of social media and mesmerize us all with its snake charm like sound of intoxication. ”
“Icon South teams up with fellow Texas artists Neko Savvy & Lil Twist to lay it down on this crazy Zetra & Sham beat.
The beat and progression make it easy to put a little bounce into your sway as you let this track settle down on your shoulders. The unique vocal tones mesh well and leave the track standing out in a time when a lot of tracks sounds exactly the same.”
“Fans of Jack White will appreciate the eclectic and at times, defiant sound of Bad Flamingo. This is not the first track from the masked band that has caught my attention here at LA on Lock, nor is it likely the last given the band’s proclivity for mood setting productions and arrangements.
There is an element of Spaghetti Western here with a bit of trail dust carrying a hint of bad girl grit. Such a track will miss for some, but if you are looking for something different than the same old radio tracks — Bad Flamingo has a leg up on the competition.”
“The unique tone caught me first, and the strong writing kept me leaning in. Both flows deliver a nice bit of passion and emotion and the beat production feels right for the track — hitting hard at times, but staying out of the way where need be.
’What is Hell Like?’ ... well I can tell you Hell is not listening to good music and talented artists like this, so the question will have to be answered another day for me.”
“Cristina Hart’s warm vocals wrap around you allowing the emotions of this single to engulf and comfort you in the same way a timeworn memory can.
’Will You’ is a slow building, big Pop single that speaks directly to the heart. The vocal talent carries the day, but the production certainly aids in the warmth of the track.”
“Written like a melancholy letter home, ‘Drunk On December’ is a songwriters’ ode to feeling down and blue while stressing over the anxiety that they have not fulfilled the expectations of others they care about. The Ella Sisters deliver vulnerable emotions that hold you tight in a relatable way that speaks to all of our insecurities and fears.”
“Maella is back with a seductress of a single that feels like the whisper of a lover in your ear. Smooth vocals and an alluring groove keep you leaning in on the progression of this Indie/Electro Pop ode to the excitement of meeting that someone new that quickens your heart and lowers your inhibitions. ‘Downtown’ is where you will want to be after listening to this track.”
“The holidays are filled with love and gatherings but there is no place like home. Jamie Grey’s ‘Christmas In Our Hometown’ is about memories and experiencing Christmas at home. The melody is a guitar meets bell in a smooth relaxed delivery. This would be a perfect song for any Christmas movie.
Jamie says: “I tried to just be honest and write about what the lead up to Christmas rather than the actual day always felt like to me being from our little town of Redcar. We kind of have a strip of pubs and bars in the town centre, which practically the whole town comes out to from around the 21st of December up until Boxing Day. I always remembered coming back from London and so looking forward to seeing old friends and even acquaintances that I’d only see once a year. ”
“Pain is one thing but the battle between love and hate is ongoing. KJ Smoove new single ‘Sad Truth’ tells the story of love and hate. It speaks on death and incarceration. The beat is upbeat but there is no fun in the song just pure reality.”
Love and Hate
“Born Allah teams up with Rakaa on this track to come straight at you here with a flow that demands your attention. The confidence and razor sharp wordplay provide the hook, over the top of a horn and percussion heavy track created by German beatsmith Zpu-Zilla, which finished off an energetic track with yet another layer that refuses to let you turn away.
Born Allah’s new album Analog Baby drops January 7th. ”
“Rick Miller drops a new single, ‘Atmosphere’ which is the kind of track that simply feels right for the moment. The big Future Bass production offers hope and encouragement in for what many is a dark time. The build and progression offer reassurance without resorting to any sort of cheap gimmicks, just a steady determination that mirrors what we all need right now.”
“We have all got swept up in a moment of passion and spoken in haste, words we don’t truly mean. FRKLZ faces that in the track, ‘I Lied’ which deals with the aftermath of delivering those words you so desperately want to take back.
The single has a commercial Pop/ Rap feel that works well to deliver the mental anguish of the situation though at times the autotune felt heavy for me.”
“Just in time for the holidays, Blue Light Bandits come out with an energetic, uplifting single in ‘Every Day Is a Holiday.’ Though not specific to any particular season, the funky little groove and vibe here feels cheerful and magical which is something we all hope to feel this time of year.
There is a definite tip fo the hat to John Mayer with the vocal style and production on this track, and the piano melody somehow reminds me of Charlie Brown and Snoopy in a nostalgic kind of way.”
“Gillian Heidi possesses that rare gift to immediately pull you into whatever she is singing. This warm, emotive quality of her voice will serve the 16 year old artist well on the coming years, but already she is proving to be a true emotional force within the industry.
’Moonlight’ sheds light on the fact that this star will not be dimming anytime soon. ”
“Carly King has that vocal tone that works for whatever style she wishes to sing, and that does make it tough to categorize her sound. There is a hint of Macy Gray, a splash of Dylan, a whiff of Rondsant and Emmylou all in that timbre, but most important is the emotion and feeling that emits from her delivery. This track couples that with strong songwriting, and in the end, the emotions wrap around you like a soft warm blanket on a chilly day.”