Cade Hoppe - Flatearther [Music Video Review]

“Willful ignorance has never sounded so good as it does on LA singer/songwriter, Cade Hoppe’s track, ‘Flatearther.’ And no, I am not describing Hoppe as ignorant. Quite the contrary. He has done a masterful job of capturing the emotions and spirit of believing what you want to believe despite overwhelming evidence proving otherwise.

Sure, .ost logical freethinkers mock the flat earthers and their unfounded beliefs but then we’ve all done the same with a love interest, good friend, or some other thing we badly want to believe in despite the evidence suggesting otherwise. This softly delivered Alt Pop track makes you stop and rethink your own perspectives. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Steve Maggiora - Echoes of Us [Music Review]

“A nostalgic look at love that once was can be a powerful thing and the emotion really depend on how things ended as well as our own outlook on life. ‘Echoes of Us’ from Steve Maggiora is a track that chooses a positive bit of reflection on love lost.

Delivered in a classic Indie Rock style, the song feels rather timeless and could have been right at home from almost any modern musical era. The perfect song to fondly remember what once was and smile.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Avery Cochrane - Toy Gun [Music Video Review]

“Don;t let the sugary Pop vibe fool you, ‘Toy Gun’ from Avery Cochrane packs a lot of kick. The simple, yet wryly delicious video adds to the sharp edge of these lyrics and Cochran’s spot on delivery makes damn certain you feel every pointed innuendo and assertion.

This is an Alt Pop track that hits every mark, the light fun build and singalong lyrics are what you’d expect, but not every songwriter can deliver such a direct and pointed message and make it all entertaining at the same time.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Albert Kass - fallin' off [Music Review]

“Nothing fuels art like misery. Suffering is part of being a human so it is often comforting to get the pain out or to hear that you are not alone in your pain. Albert Kass wrote ‘fallin’off’ after what he calls the darkest, deepest part of his life and that is tangible in the song.

You can call this Alternative Rock or probably it would more accurately fit in the Americana genre alongside the likes of Jason Isbell or Tyler Childers.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

FREND x SKV - Arcade Elevator (feat. SKV) [Music Review]

“If you are craving a feel good Synthpop track look no further. FREND has joined by SKV to give us ‘Arcade Elevator.’ In some way this track has that unexpected feel in that it just continues to grow and blossom as you listen. Like a great conversation with a friend you just sort of lose track of time while immersed and speaking of friends that is exactly what this song is all about.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Carlyle - Without the weed [Music Review]

“Carlyle delivers a thinking person’s song with ‘Without the Weed.’ Rising an unusual, yet artistic, structure and delivery the song is one that takes multiple listens to pick up on all the nuance. A blend of R&B and Pop sensibilities the best comparison might be Prince though more in structure than sound. An interesting track that you can dive in on and find new meaning with each listen.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

PUNKTUALS - Dog Bite [Music Video Review]

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story The Pacific Northwest has been growing musicians for decades now and while sounds and style certainly morph and evolve, PUNKTUALS throws it back a bit with their single, ‘Dog Bit.’

I wouldn’t quite call it grunge given the musical style, but the vocals certainly have that flavor. Almost like Alice in Chains meets Ozzy.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Piper Connolly - unapologetic [Music Review]

“LA based Alt-Pop artist, Piper Connolly is ‘unapologetic’ about who she is and is boldly singing her refrain for the world to hear. The track is all about being true to who you are and taking an unflinching approach to life. A song that serves as much as an personal anthem as it does an uplifting reminder for the rest of us.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on lock Blogger

The Upsides - Pretending It Fades [Music Review]

“A plucking guitar ushers in ‘Pretending It Fades’ from The Upsides and you can feel the pending emotion before the vocals begin. Delivered in a classic Indie Rock manner the track feels almost timeless in sound from the very first listen. Great music often makes you feel like you’ve heard the song before and that was the case with this single.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Hanna Andréa - Pinnacles [Music Review]

“While Erling Haaland might be Norway’s most famous celebrity at the moment, singstress, Hanna Andrea is a rising force in the Pop landscape.

The rising star’s latest single, ‘Pinnacles’ is a track about slowing down and stepping off the wheel in today’s modern rat race. The vocals are tender but sharp and delivered with authority installing a sweetness that speaks to the soul.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

oktehya - complicated [Music Review]

“oktehya, formerly known as tehya, is a rising star out of the Pacific Northwest. And while that region is best known for Grunge and Alt Rock, oktehya leans more to the Pop side with a bit of Contemporary R&B sensibilities tossed in to give a more varied sound overall.

’Complicated’ is a track about falling for the wrong or forbidden person and the array of emotions and feelings that come with such an infatuation.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Harley - Gold [Music Review]

“Being true to who you are while also being comfortable in your own skin truly is worth its weight in ‘Gold.’ And that is exacltyt he point of Aussie rocker, Harley’s latest single. This Indie/Alternative Rock anthem is one of vulnerability and self confidence and is a lesson we all need delivered with talent and emotive power.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

townsend - slipping [Music Review]

“Chasing a dream comes with many roadblocks and a music career is tough when you must also balance a so-called day job to make ends meet.

townsend takes on those feelings with his single ‘slipping,’ an Indie Rock track about trying to do both and feeling time slipping away.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Enola Bedard - Allergic To Roses [Music Review]

“Enola Bedard is a Canadian artist now based out of LA. ‘Allergic To Roses’ is an moody Alt Pop track that unfurls with emotional vulnerability and true to life emotions. The build is purposefully languid, perfectly mirroring how time slows and our minds stretch out in such meaningful moments.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alyssa Caroline - Hey Moon [Music Review]

“Many of us have stared up at the moon searching for answers. Perhaps even a fairytale type of love. But of course reality rarely mirrors fantasy and the moon holds no answers to our everyday life and yet we keep romanticizing the notion. Alyssa Caroline plays off of that with ‘Hey Moon,’ an Alt Pop song about love and patience and perhaps our own expectations. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Pool Girl - CRAB [Music Review]

“Pool Girl gives us a dreamy summertime vibe with ‘CRAB.’ The Alt Pop track was meant to capture the sun-soaked vibe of a European summer and it certainly does that but the esthetics aside the writing is emotional and in touch with humanity.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Adjenai - Early Mourning [Music Review]

“There is a bit of nostalgie to the sound of Adjenai’s single, ‘Early Morning,’ and perhaps that is appropriate given the looking back aspect of the song.

The LA artist takes on both impending grief and the aftermath in the track that was written as she was taking care of a loved one during their final days. The song is both intimate and universal at the same time and if that isn’t true art, I don’t know what is.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Wintur - Writers Block [Music Review)

“A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, Wintur is now in LA carving out his place in the Southern California music scene. ‘Writer’s Block’ is a moody brooding track that delivers and Alt Pop/ Folk Pop feel. Delivered in a soft, misty tone the melancholy draws the listener in deeper, reminding them of their own struggles in a profound way.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

J. Killen - Oak Tree [Music Video Review]

“All Country/Americana artist, J Killen has taken a circuitous and bumpy road to his latest release. ‘Oak Tree’ is a single from his album titled, Depression Dollars.

The song deals with grief and loss and how that can shape how you live the rest of your life. Killen has seen his share of strife and those experiences can be felt in his writing and performance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lady Di Mega Diva - Precious [Music Review]

“Fun. Audacious. Bold. All of that and more explains the vibe of LAdy Di Mega Diva’s single, ‘Precious.’ This is a summer anthem type of Pop track that is easy to join in and sing along. I predict this one will be belted out during many a ladies night out for years to come.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger