“Coming straight out with an energetic Rap flow that will make you go ‘Woah,’ TJA and Jay Willy then transcend into an edgy Electro Trap interlude that owes its existence to their love of the Skrillex and Rock Ross track ‘Purple Lambo.’
The track tailed off just a bit for me in the back half, but is still a talented and interesting production that I will add to several of my playlists.”
“An old school vocal Funk gospel, delivering modern hope and truth! Gold Ford’s anthem of humanity is a plea and a call for togetherness which is exactly what we all need right now. The vocal talent soars, and the feel good vibes shine on ‘Walk With Me.’”
“Blending a nice bass track, with a Trap cadence and tempo, YNG ONE drops this flow which hooks and holds the listener start to finish. I did crave a bit more as the track is on the shorter side, but this track is a definite banger that will get you up and moving.”
“Long before I called So Cal home, I grew up in the windy plains of the Texas Panhandle, so this track by Ryland Moranz spoke to me and my past in a way that few songs do. Call this melancholy Folk, as the tempo and vibe here is of tarnished, bleak places that still somehow speak to who we are. At least those of us who have called such places home.”
“A soulful groove that takes you on the same emotional ride the mind goes on when waiting for and hoping for that nevermind call of forgiveness after things go south with someone. The tempo and progression sort of swim along in a sea of murky water, just as out brains do in such a situation giving it the perfect vibe and feel for such a track. ”
“Being stressed never felt this good. A straight up energetic banger that will make you both smile and nod your head in agreement.
There are plenty of tracks about anxiety that take a more languid approach to the emotion, but this approach has the ability to shake off the stress and get you moving with the beat.”
“If life were presented like a novel, then no doubt each chapter would represent the times we fall in and out of love. The Luka State has given us a track that takes the emotions of those ups and downs, and distills them into musical form. I hear hints of vintage Springsteen and splash of Bryan Adams to the vocal style with an almost gospel like musical build that comes across as pure Indie Rock.”
“Jenny Kern dials up the mood of solitude on her new track, ‘Coming Back For Me.’ The writing and vocal performance combine to capture the vibe of what I’d describe as lonely determination.
The realization that we are each responsible for our own emptions ... be it happiness, anger, pain or any other, is a tough one to grasp, but knowing how to be okay completely within yourself is a worthwhile pursuit for us all .”
“A soft emotional set of vocals brings ‘Dancing Alone’ alive in a tangible way. Kings Elliott has that sensual vulnerability that invites you in close, and lends an intimacy to the words that keeps you leaning in and invested.
Hard to draw an easy comparison to a similar artist, or fit this into a genre, but if pressed I’d label it as Commercial leaning Singer/Songwriter. ”
“Betrayal of any kind is a tough thing to take without suffering emotional scars. Estella Dawn takes those emotions on in ‘Petty,’ a track about coming to the realization that the person you have been there to support of lift up, is not nearly as committed to doing the same for you in your time of need.
Dawn captures the feelings well and delivers an engaging set of vocals to go with a well-written track that speaks to the power of friendship and betrayal. ”
“Tommy Alexander delivers the kind of lines that sound simple to the ears, but are oh so hard to actually condense and articulate in digestible way. Wryly perceptive, and smart, yet common enough for the message to land for any listener who truly pays attention, ‘River Run Down’ has enough grit and energy to hold you without overwhelming the emotions. ”
“Like the rest of the world, Nicholas Hamilton is ready for a ‘Different Year,’ after surviving this past three-hundred, sixty-five.
In this low key Pop song, Hamilton reflects on the things we missed or lost in 2020, but the track carries hope and a touch of defiance as we all gear up to charge bravely forward into 2021.”
“With all that is going on in the world a good Neo-Soul, groove speak night is needed. Due to restrictions not many places are having those events. However, We Plug Good Music, Shanaz Dorsett and EOM allows ‘Imagination’ to give listeners that soulful feeling.This track will have you relaxed and singing along in an elevated mood. ”
10-track sampler of A Prelude To The Future (10th Anniversary Reissue). Full album available on all digital streamers from December 25
“Joshua Radin has given the world a lot of music, and a lot to think about over 16 albums and hundreds of live shows, so it comes as no surprise that his latest single, ‘Better Life’ brings a powerful message as well. The plight of those seeking refuge, hope, and yes a better life here in the United States has been exploited by both sides of the political spectrum, and frankly it is sad given that this country was founded on the ideals of give us your tired, your poor. This is Indie Folk with a heart and I dig it. ”
“Osé’s new single ‘Do No More’ is about being in love but running to the end of the emotional tunnel. As the instruments are played in the background she takes her time to deliver an emotional yet contemporary R&B song. This song is about trust, lies, and feelings.”
“Nipsey has been gone a while now, but he’s certainly not forgotten, and this track conveys the emotions and passion of his fans quite well.
The flow is low key, but the earnest feelings come through loud and clear and you can feel the grief, disillusionment, and anger in every word.”
“Since 2013 Dance Yourself Clean has spent nearly every single weekend throwing parties across North America. With the pandemic the boys have turned their entire focus onto the party’s transformation into a juggernaut music project. In the first full year since the project was created, 2020 brought in over 2.3 million streams on Spotify alone.
With their new single ‘Sugar’ set to release on NYE at 12am EST it looks like they’re setting the scene for what may be a massive year of releases and collaborations.
DYC had this to say about ‘Sugar’, “Normally we’d be spending NYE with our friends and DYC family somewhere... Maybe Los Angeles at Teragram Ballroom or NYC at Baby’s All Right. It kills us that we won’t be able to be together this year celebrating. Setting “Sugar’s” release date for midnight on the east coast and 9pm on the west coast is our way of being together with our DYC family across the nation. It may seem silly, but it means something to us and hopefully them too.”
Happy New Year from us here at LA on Lock as well! Thanks for joining us this year and we look forward to bring you more great music in 2021!”
“Henry Conlon has captured a dark gritty sound with the acoustic version of his signature track, ‘I’m Coming Home.’ Whilelt he single lives in the Americana,/Folk world of sounds it also brings an old school Blues refrain to the mix and all of it combines to create a heavy undertone to the emotional edge of both the songwriting and the vocal performance. This is a song that sits with you long after the last note has faded. ”
“It’s been a long hard year, and for many we had to find our calm where we could. ‘Atshitshi’ starts as Hip-Hop track that falls into a nice soulful R&B groove and there in the smoke of this Cannabis ballad is a tranquil vibe and flow that unfurls like a nice high.
Add this one to your 420 playlist for those times you want to fire up and chill.”
“This last year has left many of us longing to escape and get ‘Away.’ Limon Limon has captured that eager desire in an energetic ode to wanderlust.
Musically, the track has a splash of the throwback 80s vibe without ever falling purely into a retro feel. There is a dash of The Police, but also a hint of Maroon 5 all over the top of a Latin flair to the beat.”