“Halo Kitsch has some fun calling out the fake hypocrisy of those who work so damn hard to be perfect. Perfect and predictable is a manufactured illusion fed these days by social media likes and follows. ‘BETWEEN YOUR TEETH’ is an ode to the real ones, the true friends that will tell you not what you want to hear, but what you NEED to hear.”
“Luci began her career as a an EDM producer and that influence is clear on this track, though the vocal side certainly has Pop sensibilities.
’Loner’ is an emotive and vulnerable track in its best moments, though for me the harder drops and production that turned toward a Future Bass/EDM style got in the way of the emotions at times.
For me this track shined the brightest with Luci’s emotive delivery and less production behind it clouding the song. ”
“Oslo, Norway’s Aiida wastes no time getting right to the pint on ‘Got No Strings.’
The attitude is palpable, and the writing as sharp and pointed as the delivery.
This is pure Pop Gold in the vein of Britney at her best. ”
“Most of us long to find that elusive soulmate, and while waiting, we come up with our ideas and ideals of what that person will be like. Joshua Golden taps into those expectations with his tack, ‘I Can’t Wait To Meet You.’
The song straddles that line between Pop and Rap to create a Commercial track that should appeal to a wide audience. The emotion and performance and added snippets of conversation on each end really come together to feel true and genuine.”
“This track is a classic example of so many submission we receive here at LA on Lock. There is clear and obvious vocal talent, and even the arrangement has musical potential, the overall track lacks a clean production and build.
From a few pauses and skips that at least felt unintentional, to the mix, which left the vocals feeling too distant at times this track just didn’t quite realize its full potential for me. And yet, I can tell the artistry and talent it is simply a matter of getting it all put together in a tidier package.”
“Ingrid Avison unleashes her debut single, ‘Time Travelling Cowboy.’ The emotive delivery highlight Avison’s songwriting and vocal talent.
With a slight tremble at times that sells the words well, Avison has that classic Americana vibe that feels like a kinder softer Lucinda Williams mixed with some of the strong emotion of a Brandi Carlile.
I did at times crave a stronger sense of build and escalation from the arrangement.”
“Kylie Rothfield caught the attention of Alicia Keys and afte rthis track you’ll understand why. ‘The Barrel’ is a smooth Alt Pop track dripping with emotion and vocal talent. The track ahs some late 80s or early 90s vibes yet still has a contemporary vibe thanks to the writing and strong emotive performance of Rothfield. ”
“London-based artist Eden Rain takes an Alt Pop angle on her latest single ‘Taking.’
The track comes from her highly anticipated upcoming EP, ‘Anyway, How Are You?’
The narrative style lyricism works well here though I did crave a more emotive edge given the vocal side is produced to give a low-key distant kind of vibe. Rain does offer a nie look at the complexities of human relationships, while unraveling the intricate dynamics of the people around her.”
“Richard Tyler Epperson taps into his personal history with the track, ‘All My LIfe.’
The talented songwriter has taken a song that his father first recorded as a, acoustic demo and put his own spin on it to create a link and legacy with his father. Motivated by the recent passing of his father, Epperson utilizes the emotion and meaning to give us a song that is personally meaningful to him that also has the ability to resonate with others in an impactful way.”
“Dax is a versatile artist adept at conveying emotion via a variety of genres, but you can always hear and feel the passion fueling his artistry.
’Lonely Dirt Road’ straddles that line between the Rock and the Nashville style of modern Pop Country. The delivery is deliberate and emotive. A few times I craved a touch less production on the vocal side because I have faith Dax could have delivered these emotional words straight up with quite so much production coloring the sound. That said, this is a track that is accessible to all and one easy to feel as much as you hear.”
“Lisa Heller is anything but a ‘Loser!!’ Though she sings that refrain with ease and kill. Delivery a Pop Punk brand of high-energy, Heller straddles the line of Pop Princess and Punk Girl Bad-Ass quite ably.
It’s hard to imagine her losing anything she wants to keep but this tracks has punch and you can’t help but believe in the performance and the artist.”
“Caroline Romano always delivers with a strong emotive performance and this latest single, ‘Pretty Boys,’ delivers on those expectations.
’Pretty Boys is my honest recount of heartbreak,’ Caroline shares. ‘It’s like reading straight from my diary—a dramatic story with a terribly disappointing ending. The song is a cautionary tale about the blurry line between friendship and something more. Just because you’ve kissed him doesn’t mean you should do it again, and just because he looks at you that way doesn’t mean you’re the only one.’
Romano knows how to tap into her own experiences and emotions to give listeners a full spectrum of artistry. ”
“A big soaring Alt Pop track with singer/songwriter vibes, ‘Her’ offers a smooth and emotional build that speaks to the insecurities and fears many of us possess. WIth that said, this track avoids a wallowing kind of despair, delving instead onto an honest vulnerability that makes the lyrics feel real and of course the talented performance hooks the listener in from the very beginning.”
“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.”
“The wordplay is cleverly and intelligently rendered on this Indie Rock gem from Richard Tyler Epperson. ‘Dream’ is an ode to taking care of you own mental space, the dance between reality and escapism because let’s face it we all need a break from all that life hits us with. But of course you can’t let the mind wander to far or you never really get where you want to go.”
“Originally hailing from Poland, Olah Bliss now dwells within the musical landscape of London. ‘BAng Bang’ is a timeless Alt Pop offering that would have been at home any of the last several decades, which is a testament to the versatility and range of talent on display in the track.
Bliss’s performance is engaging and nuanced and the energetic build is gripping. Musically, the hard edges and industrial feel adds to the emotion of the track in a meaningful way. All of which highlights the artistry and carefully crafted nature of this song. ”
“SABAI teams up with Linney to bring this track to life. ‘Are You Happy Now’ is a Future Bass track with clear Pop influence.
The lingering ghosts of past relationships can haunt us all and it is normal to sometimes wonder where they are now and if they are happy. I suppose what we want for that other person all depends how things ended but this track does a great job of allowing us to feel both sides of a complex array of emotions. ”
“The Kind is a male/female duo from the UK and it is clear they share a powerful chemistry that is tangible in their creative artistry.
’nashville’ is a song of yearning hope and vulnerability. An Alt Pop bit of emotional perfection that grips the mind, body, and soul to anyone that has ever experienced a deep, unrequited yearning. ”
“A high energy Pop track with one foot planted in the retro sound of the 80s and the other here in the present to give the song a nice contemporary Commercial vibe.
Rhea Ray delivers a pleasing performance with ‘Wild One.’ The temp and build keep it all interesting though I did crave more lyrical depth overall. Still, this is a fun party time track about the roller coaster ride of infatuation and love and how we all crave another hit soon as the high fades. ”
“MOTHICA unleashes an honest reflective style of fury on ‘Another High.’ The cycles of addiction are something most of us can relate to, though MOTHICA distills the poison down to a drinkable elixir.
Truth, honesty, vulnerability fuel every line on this Al Pop gem. There is a lot to unpack on this track, so add this one to your playlists and listen when you need to better understand your own shortcoming or the jacked up world around you.”