Born Runner - Lose Yourself Tonight [Music Review] April 17, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative, Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 A high-energy track that sort of feels like Bruno Mars meets Neon Trees.Born Runner delivers a unique sound so pinning them to any particular genre, or one direct comparison to another artist is tough, but I’ll call ‘Lose Yourself Tonight’ a Indie Rock Funk and say it is a perfect track for any motivational or party playlist because it delivers fun energy at every single turn. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Marella - I Think She's In Love With Me [Music Review] April 12, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Marella has a Retro vibe over a Contemporary sound. That might sound weird but give them a lsitena nd you’ll see what I mean.There are elements of surf rock and some traditional vibes to go with a lively West Coast spirit that feels right at home in today’s Pop landscape. Beach Boys meets Glass Animals.’I Think She’s In Love With Me,’ is about that hopeless feeling of falling in live and there is a nice blend of emotion and nostalgia to make you feel the lyrical build each step of the way. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Jack West - I Realize [Music Review] April 12, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Folk Rating: 4 out of 5 Jack West is one of those voices that hooks you quickly and efficiently without even appearing to try. Of course that is the art, making it appear effortless and easy when we all know only a small percentage of dreamers and schemers actually possess the ability to open their soul and let you see inside. ‘I realize’ is a track that you feel, as much as hear, and West is a voice you can’t turn away from. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Nolea - Room [Music Review] April 09, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 There is no dearth of musical talent in LA and now the band Nolea joins that fray with a an intelligent brand of introspections that is both chill and mentally provocative. ’Room’ is the kind of spacious song that allows the listen the rom they need to come to the emotion and lyrical build. There is an ethereal quality to the delivery and production dynamics here that simply allows you to freefall into the track. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Dover Lynn Fox - When Youth Was Wasted [Music Review] April 09, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 Dover Lynn Fox delivers light, warmth, and hope with an rich tone that feels inviting and familiar. That alone is a talent and she brings these qualities to a set of well-written lyrics. ’When Youth Was Wasted’ is nostalgic and full of yearning for better times, for warmer times. This mirrors how we feel as winter settles in and those first buds of Spring begin to make us long for the coming summer. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Eden Rain - Closer [Music Review] March 31, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Americana Rating: 4 out of 5 dEen Rain delivers an emotive and powerful performance on her single, ‘Closer.’ The track deals with grief and helping a friend make through to to the other side. The vocal tone of this track makes you feel every word, and the build is engaging as the emotions are tangible in every line. The early sound feels almost like Americana, though the track transcends into more of a emotional Pop track halfway through. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Whitney Lyman - Floating [Music Review] March 29, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 Whitney Lyman has a sound that would have been a great fit back in the Lilith Fair days thought hat is not to say her emotional delivery isn’t welcome addition to today’s musical landscape. Strong writing and emotive vocals delivered in a clean and gripping tone is a timeless sound that fits in any era and Lyman delivers both here on ‘Floating.’ — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Estalla Dawn-Angel [Review] March 24, 2024 by Kreadiv Kesh in Indie Pop Rating: 3 out of 5 Estelle Dawn is very descriptive in her songwriting. The guitar strings build you up and the tempo gradually changes. The Indie Pop song has a dark delivery as Estella points out what makes a person crappy. The song is cute, dark, and direct. — Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]
BOY LOCO - Slow Dancing [Music Review] March 08, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Indie Pop, Alternative, Pop Rating: 3.5 out of 5 BOY LOCO delivers a nice, smooth track that emotes a nostalgic brand of reminiscences and motivates your heart to open up and feel. For me the track has a hint of regret, stemming from doubt that maybe the narrator did not hold onto the relationship the way they should have. Or perhaps there was a loss that ended things. Of course others may take this track as more of a post date type euphoria in that the singer simply cannot wait to get back together with their person for some slow dancing. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Cece Benz - End Us [Music Review] February 27, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 This track is about regret and love. Often, regrets over love come from not taking that shot, but this track is about not breaking up with you know the relationship is not for you. It is about the regret of fighting for something you don’t even want in the first place. Cece Benz has artfully written every word to give this track a literary story feel that not many songwriters can pull off as effectively as ‘End Us’ does.The great writing here makes the listener personally invested right form the beginning. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Bex - Did I Do Something Wrong? [Music Review] February 27, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Alternative, Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 Bex deliver the kind of vocal power and emotiveness that is rare individually but all the more so when found in tandem. ’Did I Do Something Wrong?’ offers a slow emotional build and conjured imagery all on its own. This lends the track a theatrical bent that cannot be ignored but here the drama does not feel manufactured simply real and genuine. The track has a modern Stevie Nicks vibe and could have been a Fleetwood Mac track back in the day but that is not to say it feels dated or even particularly retro. More like timeless in this case. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Eleven Point Two - Out of the Noise [Music Review] February 02, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Rock, Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 The synth heavy intro and overall arrangement lends this track an 80’s vibe though the vocal edge and emotions feel decidedly contemporary. Eleven Point Two is the creative name for a pair of talented brothers originally from Michigan but now working out of the LA area. THe track has that timeless sound that only Rock music can really find and the writing is sharp so each listen unveils a new nuance to ponder. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Ships Have Sailed - Find My Way [Music Review] January 21, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Folk, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 The track has that light energetic vibe of artists such as One Republic or Mumford & Sons. There is a Folksy brand of Pop to the sound that is uplifting in nature. The gist of ‘Find My Way’ is about living your best life and taking the opportunities as they come because you never truly know wha tthe future entails. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Dover Lynn Fox - Winter Son [Music Review] January 20, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Americana Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Winter is a time of darkness both literallya nd figuratively with seasonal depression gripping many. But all dark times pass and Dover Lynn Fox gives a track of transition to take us fromt he dark bleakness to a time of light and understanding with her track ‘Winter Son.’The emotive vocals soar and carryt he emotional burden of a lifetime as well as a season of darkness, but in the end this track is one of hope and brightness. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Limandi - Put The Blame On Me [Music Review] January 17, 2024 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Folk Rating: 4 out of 5 Limandi put her spin on toxic relationships with her track, ‘Put The Blame On Me.’ Emotional abuse comes in many forms and constantly blaming the other person is certainly one of those. Told anything often enough you just might start to believe it and shaking off that cloak of self-loathing can be tough. This exotic and intricate arrangement matches the sort of disarray or minds mist go through to emerge on the other side a new and stronger person.Limandi delivers this track in a sort of subdued control that sells the emotions well. There are Pop and songwriter vibes with hints of a brooding brand of dark Folk as well but the song is a tough one to categorize as anything beyond a talented worthy effort well worth your time. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
CRIS STREETZ- Switchin Sides (feat. Shi Goonie) [Review] December 18, 2023 by Kreadiv Kesh in Commercial, Rap, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 The talking in the beginning builds you up and gives you an idea of what to expect. Cris Streetz “Switchin Sides” is about people being down with you but then changing their ways. The Shi Goonie feature allows listeners to get a good perspective from both male and female. The beat is a vibe and the songwriting and hook is relatable. — Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]
Lauren Woo - Gold Plated [Music Review] December 08, 2023 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Commercial, Adult Contemporary Rating: 4 out of 5 There are solid gold people and then there are the ‘Gold Plated’ among us that can but on a thin veneer for a short time before the truth beings to show through. Lauren Woo lifts the veil on these fakers with her new track which was inspired by wisdom gained from her grandmother.Lauren Woo shared, ‘This song is a tribute to my incredible grandmother, a woman whose wisdom has been a guiding light in my life. She once told me that in life, you’ll encounter people who are ‘gold plated’ and not solid gold. It’s not always obvious, and you’ll experience highs and lows where true colors are revealed. In those moments, it’s crucial to stand firm in your morals and recognize when it’s okay to let go of relationships that aren’t meant to be.’The overall sound is a melancholic Pop vibe with a slight theatrical edge. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock
Mary Middlefield - Atlantis [Music Review] December 06, 2023 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Folk, Americana Rating: 4 out of 5 Mary Middlefield has that deep bottomless kind of emotive voice that hooks a listener without theattrics or tricks. Like a deep inviting pool of cool blue water on a hot summer day, you can’t help but want to jump right in. ”Atlantis’ is a quiet, yet powerful track with well-written lyrics and the straightforward delivery of a confident songwriter. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Newport - Maybe I [Music Review] December 06, 2023 by Travis Erwin in Music, Alternative, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 Newport is fast becoming one of my favorite contributors to LA on Lock. This is the second track we’ve featured and the emotive vocal delivery gripped me early on. The erratic beat and cadence is a perfect match to the lyrical build and emotions of the track, showcasing how deliberate and talented Newport is. I’ll call this Alt Po for lack of a clear genre, but you’ll call it a great new find when you add it to your own playlists. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Mia Humphrey - Newport [Music Review] December 02, 2023 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 The track is a story in itself, and really paints a picture. Starting slow, Mia Humphrey makes you feel every word and once the track takes an energetic shift it feels light and Pop-esque, but still there is that undertone of emotion lifting the track above the fray.’Newport’ is a story of a relationship that takes an unexpected turn. I won’t spoil the fun by saying more but the twist is a surprise and makes a great metaphor for how life goes. — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger