Ryann Ross - Irish Exit [Music Review]

“Say hello to Jersey born, LA based artist, Ryann Ross. Or better yet stop and listen to her artful and emotive delivery on ‘Irish Exit.’ No Irish goodbyes necessary as you will want to stay for the full ride.

As does much of the music that speak to me, this track blurs the genre lines. Alt/Indie Pop, or heartfelt Americana. I can make a case for either but why bother. The important things are the emotion and evocative delivery to sell those words in a way that makes feel as if you are actively living every word.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

M & J - Islands, Diamonds & Silence [Music Review]

“If you are looking for a timeless sound and talent I have you covered with this track. M&J brings old school shades of Soul and mixes them with Contemporary R&B vibes to create what I think best fits the Roots/ Americana landscape, but like I said this is simply good quality music that transcends both labels and time.

’Islands, Diamonds, and Silence’ is a song that lives deep down in the emotional core of humanity. A song you feel as much as hear.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Family Worship Center - Total Monet [Music Review]

“Music is religion so it makes perfect sense this collective of talents goes by the name Family Worship Center. Named for a defunct religious group they describe themselves as a rock and roll soul commune. ‘Total Monet’ is a roots style bit of Americana about the artful way our minds blur the pain to make some memories feel like a masterpiece when in reality they are full of both good and bad.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

KELS - Daddy's Not The One [Music Review]

“Fresh off her performance at the NFL Draft last night, KELS unfurls this sultry bit of Dirty Blues. ‘Daddy’s Not The One’ is a powerful ode to freedom and independence. The track oozes with confidence and take charge attitude while maintaining a sexy subterfuge about it all. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Band of Revelations - All the Way Home [Music Review]

“Band of Revelations hails from the UK though this track has a definite Americana vibe. ‘All The Way Home’ is a song about grief but rather than focusing on things as an ending the track offers some hope to go with the sadness and the band called it a song of new beginnings. Lyrically the track could be taken several different way and that is often the case with any well rendered art.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Estella Dawn - Hometown [Music Review]

“Estella Dawn is back with a calmer gentler track reflecting on her life. The New Zealand born artist now calls San Diego home and has gone on quite a journey both musically and in life.

’Hometown’ is an ode to her past but the magic is others will find it relatable because we’ve all travelled the road of life and experienced many of the same emotions in doing so.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mckai - Can't Love The Same [Music Review]

“Americana from a Canadian?

Sure, why not. Mckai’s latest single, ‘Can’t Love the Same,’ certainly fits the ambiguous genre. A little bit Indie Folk, some Alt Country, to go with singer/songwriter vibes. Lyrically, the track is about how we love everyone differently because with each new experience and heartbreak we carry those experiences within us and each reshapes how we behave and react.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Anais Campbell - Small Things Everyday [Music Review]

“A stripped down Alt Pop track with Americana vibes is what you can expect from Anais Campbell’s track, ‘Small Things Everyday.’ The Australian songstress leans into tender emotion with a soft but powerful vocal delivery and writing that should appeal to the emotions of any dreamer.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bad Flamingo - Shame [Music Video Review]

“The masked seductresses are back. They often tantalize us with their evocative Western tinged Indie Rock, but this mysterious duo embraces the overtly sexy on this track and video. Bad Flamingo is always a vibe and this track only adds to the mystique.

With talent like this, Bad Flamingo definitely does not have any ‘Shame’ going toe-to-toe with any artist out there.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tape Division - Grip Too Tight [Music Review]

“Tape Division takes on Country Pop with their latest single ‘Grip Too Tight.’ That is their description of this track but for me the sound is more soulful than country, more bluesy than Pop. This track has a Teddy Swims type vibe and style.

But genre aside the track is well-written and we’ve all certainly held on a little too tight and found ourselves in a vulnerable position as a result.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Meredith Adelaide - What Do I Know [Music Review]

“Meredith Adelaide delivers an emotive and honest set of lyrics on ‘What Do I know.’ The singer/songwriter taps into a soft emotional side to unfurl an almost stream of consciousness look inward and in her own vulnerability the listener can tap into their own psyche and set of emotions. The vibe is calming and peaceful and lands between Folk and a tender Pop style bit of Adult Contemporary. Though the build ramps up in tension much inthe same way our brain tends to spin on our deeper thoughts.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Timmy Skelly - Nowhere Land [Music Review]

“Timmy Skelly gives us a fun brand of retro nostalgia on ‘Nowhere Land.’

Self-described by the artist as Midwest Y’allternative, the track has that old school jam band feel that harkens back tot he hey dey of Laurel Canyon and the music landscape that sprung from that time and place.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bones Owens - Old Time Low [Music Review]

“Bones Owens delivers an energetic American brand of sound with this track. ‘Old Time Low’ is about the morning after blues when you are fighting off that mix of hangover tinged regret. However, this is the musical equivalent of ... Hair of the Dog so when you wake up feeling rough after a hard night put this one on and sing your misgivings away. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Stupid Reasons - Hot Springs [Music Review]

“The Stupid Reasons utilizes a bit of campy theatrics to deliver their track, ‘Hot Springs.’ By their own admission the song owes a tip fo the hat to David Lee Roth’s ‘Just a Gigolo,’ and it certainly delivers that same brand of tongue-in-cheek fun neatly packaged into an Indie Rock track. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

David B Archibald - Stay Here Together(Live) [Music Review]

“David B Archibald is a Scottish musician, but he wrote ‘Stay Here Together’ on the banks of a Georgia lake while pondering his future here in the USA.

This emotional ode has a hint of Chris Stapleton in the sound and feels real and gritty and the perfect soundtrack to play as you try and figure out your next move. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kito Rayburn - Thunder [Music Review]

“Lonely nights of retrospection out beyond the glare of city lights. That’s what Kito Rayburn’s latest track, ‘Thunder’ brings to mind for me.

Actually the track has hit me differently each time I’ve listened to it. The songwriting is superb and the emotion tangible so sit back and listen and let your mind dance along with this calm storm of the heart.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Iluka - Woman Gone Mad [Music Review]

“LA is a long way from Iluka’s home of Sydney Australia but this talented artist has found her place here in California. Sadly her neighborhood in Altadena was recently decimated by the spate of fires. This track diving into themes of resistance, strength, and solidarity while she navigates the current state of the world. Her vocals are razor sharp and cut your emotionally with skilled precision in this Alt Pop track.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Matt Sahadi - Halfway to Charlotte [Music Review]

“Matt Sahadi weaves a tale of lost love and a journey to rekindle the spark in the hauntingly beautiful track, ‘Halfway to Charlotte.’

Love is one of the the few things that can shake us up enough to rush headfirst into the last place you want to go. This song is about that leap of faith and facing your fears to chase after the thing you need the most.

The stripped down feel matches the emotions perfectly and you can feel the rubber meeting the road on this engaging song. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jelly Crystal x Nicole Sabouné - Forever Is Not That Long [Music Review]

“Jelly Crystal and nicole Saboune team up on this Pop infused Country ode to the beautiful fragility of life and the anxiety we all fear of our impermanence. The vocals are loving and tender and this track will no doubt be shared among loving couples as a stand in for their love and fear that forever simply isn’t long enough.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Juliet Hawkins - What If [Music Review]

“Juliet Hawkins has that kind of raw and tender vocal talent that grabs a listener from the very first word. Fans of Brandi Carlile will hear some similarities especially in the heartbreaking tender moments. ‘What If’ is a question we’ve all asked so the emotions are highly relatable and well delivered.

I did feel a bit less of the emotion as the track progressed but this is still a track I will return to for subsequent listens.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger