Mathias Julin - Where We Are [Music Review]

“Mathias Julin has the kind of emotive vocal style that makes listeners stop and lean in from the first word. And his latest track, ‘Where We Are’ is written with the same level of emotional engagement so the combination leaves us with a song you can feel as much as hear.

Lyrically the track is about two people who don’t fit the mold, and don’t need to. In a world where everyone’s attempting to cultivate the illusion of perfection, “Where We Are’ is a love song about a couple who sees each other’s imperfections and loves each other because of them, not in spite of them.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ali Cashius Jr - Fear No Evil [Music Review]

“Puerto Rican and Yemeni artist, Ali Cashius Jr is unflinching in his political commentary on the track, ‘Fear No Evil.’ Speaking up for communities that too often lack a voice this track utilizes hard hitting lyrical punches and a traditional Hip-Hop sound to speak against the racial motivated injustices of today’s political climate.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

MICHAELA - TTYN [Music Review]

“We’ve all been on a bad date r found ourselves chatting with someone that we’d like to get away from. MICHAELA leans into those moments with a bit of fun irreverence on her latest Alt Pop single. ‘TTYN’ or Talk to You Never is about making that realization in real time and simply acting accordingly.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Sunspots - Cut To The Chase [Music Review]

“Roll back the calendar to a musical time of peace, love, and soulful harmony. The Sunspots however are new to the musical landscape. ‘Cut To The Chase’ is the first release and if it is any indication of the talent involved expect THe Sunspots to shine bright for a long time to come. This is old school Retro Soul at its finest and that sound when well-executed is timeless.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Liam Horne - Everywhere [Music Video Review]

“LA based singer/songwriter Liam Horne is having fun with his new Pop single, ‘Everywhere.’ A track about being in total sync in a relationship and simply feeling it at every step. The video showcases that mindset and LA a bit as Horne confidently strides through the city. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

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

Provurb - Joy [Music Review]

“Man I love everything about this. The vinyl scratch in the backing, that beat, and the tasty old school delivery. Fun truth and words of wisdom spit in the classic way that takes me back. A relatable and easily digestible flow that will have you quickly singing along with Provurb in pure ‘Joy.’”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

IDA JANE - Tashkent [Music Review]

“IDA JANE is a Swiss born artist with Aussie roots. She has a similar one foot in one foot out vibe while performing with a distinct modern edge and an old school Soul delivery. ‘Tashkent’ comes with give and take type lyrics that oscillate between dismay over people taking the easy route to success and affirmation for those patient and dedicated enough to do things right.”

— 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

Lucy Frost - Lead Paint [Music Review]

“This song is a bitter pill of truth we all face at some pint or another. ‘LEad Paint’ by Lucy Frost is a track about those moments of realization you have fucked up and wound up in a relationship that has zero potential for the future.

Delivered in a sweet almost baby doll brand of vocals, the track’s lyrical edge feels just that much sharper.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alexa Kate - Not Your Fault [Music Review]

“Alexa Kate has the rare combination of vocal tone and emotive delivery that makes it easy to feel the emotions of her lyrics. ‘Not Your Fault’ is a tender and vulnerable track about holding on too long only to realize you are hurting yourself and that pain is of your own creation.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Félix Collin - i still replay [Lyric Video Review]

“Félix Collin leans in on Indie/Alt Pop vibes to deliver ‘I still replay.’ The track is tender and vulnerable while also maintaining a distant loneliness to sell the emotion of the lyrics. The song deals with emotional attachment and an inability to move forward at least in a timely and healthy fashion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Silver Otto - Favorite [Music Review]

“Silver Otto is a rising Alt Pop star that blurs the lines of genre and style. ‘Favorite’ asks the question what if we are living a lie and then twists it by asserting who cares if we are because sometimes the fantasy is far more fun than reality.

The artists as well as the song seems to dance on the edges lending an extra air of intrigue.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Amy Swift - Under [Music Review]

“Amy Swift bursts with sultry and defiant attitude on ‘ Under.’ The soulful Alt Pop track is all about that dangerous kind of love. The kind where lust leaves you hungry and desperate even though you know toxicity lurks in the depths of the relationship and it’s only a matter of time before the passion takes a dark turn.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kira Rizavi - Secrets [Music Review]

“Few of us truly speak our mind or share our deepest held ‘Secrets’ about ourselves. Kira Rizavi takes an energetic, almost exotic tine to tease us witht he possibilities of our own minds and how that relates to our relationships with others. There is a bit of World Beat vibe adding some mystery and intoxicating melody to the mix.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Gabrielle Ornate - Sun And Moon [Music Review]

“Gabrielle Ornate gives us a celestial and forbidden love story about the ‘Sun and Moon.’ The track offers an ethereal take on classic rock style vocals to create an engaging and spot on vibe that gets the wheels turning about the universe at large as wella s how things sometimes don’t work out for reason beyond our control.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ozi x Cat’s Eye - Work It Out [Music Review]

“Moving on is hard especially when you can still feel those feelings of old. Hip Hop artists Ozi and Cat’s Eye unfurl this flow about wanting to ‘Work It Out,’ but some damage is irreversible and sometimes things will never be the same. The track has a old school West Coast rap vibe that keeps the linster on the edge, leaning in for the entire lyrical build.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Starling - Cupcake [Music Review]

“Alt Pop can take any number of directions and here rising UK Pop star Starling unleashes a stream of conscious style narrative about shedding self doubt and flagellation in favor of enjoying life exactly as who you are. Written on her birthday it feels like a self-awakening we all need from time to time.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Smallest Number - Don't Let Go [Music Review]

“Love can be fleeting and ‘Don’t let Go’ from The Smallest Number is a Deep house track about trying to hold onto a love that you feel slipping away. The emotional track builds and swells in both arrangement and emotion pulling the listener along while also settling over you like the feeling of a warm hug from a friend.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger