Ingrid Avison - Time Travelling Cowboy [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“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.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Party Nails - Same Old Song [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“PArty Nails conjured memories of vintage Sheryl Crow for me on this track. Warm glowing vocals tell the story of looking for your former self out among the treesa nd coming to grips with who you are in the here and now.

The track rides the line between Indie Rock and more of a Songwriter/Americana vibe. The emion is nostalgic and poignant enough to hold the listener from the first listen, but there is certainly the depth to keep them coming back time and time again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Dillon - Winner [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Raw and emotional, Jake Dillon delivers this track alongside talented vocalists Giavanna. This track has an Indie Rock Singer/Songwriter vibe, but is also right at home in the the world of Americana. Well-written and delivered by both parties with an emotive force, ‘Winner’ is indeed exactly that.

Stripped down and spare in the best of ways, this is a song to both feel and listen to over and over again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

John Calvin - Saint Innocent [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“John Calvin has just enough gravel and grit in his vocals to keep things interesting without that being all you can hear. ‘Saint Innocent’ is a heartfelt and well-written Americana track and the emotions are tangible in a way few songs manage to pull off.

This is a song to feel as much as hear and I am eager to experience more offerings from this talented artist. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kait Madison - House of Love [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kait Madison unleashes a soulful bit of Gospel inspired Americana on her uplifting track ‘House of Love.’

The energy and passion are evident in her every word and she has just enough rasp to her vice to make the performance that much more interesting.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kenny Sharp - Coming Back To You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kenny Sharp’s latest track ‘Coming Back To You’ was recently featured in the latest season of Love Island and I suspect you’ll be hearing the song in a lot of other places as well. Sharp has that vocal sound that is hard to defne to a single genre. A little blues, some roots rock, Americana, Pop. It’s all in there on this track, and the writing has clever word play as well as deeper meaning to ponder on subsequent listens.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lily Kershaw - Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex) [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“LA singer-songwriter Lily Kershaw offers a poignant reminder to connect with the important people in our lives on her new single, ‘Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex).’

The vocal style is reminiscent of Brandi Carlile and the two talented artists share an impressive range as wella s emotive delivery that hooks the heart.

Kershaw’s upcoming album, Pain & More, will be released September 13th. and promises to be dripping in the emotions of humanity. ‘I’ve been struggling for so long,’ says Kershaw, who wrote and recorded it over two years. ‘This record is like a new cycle of my life.’”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Goldie - The Angel And The Saint [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Goldie channels the spirit of freedom and perseverance on ‘The Angel and The Saint.’ The track has a FLorence and the Machine vibe for sure but you can’t discount the influence Goldie’s idols Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton had on creating her sound. There is an edge and attitude and empowerment to this track and the imagery of the video is pretty dang enjoyable as well.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Greyson Chance - Haymaker [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Greyson Chance straddles the line between Rock, Pop, and Folk on this track. The Oklahoma native can be compared to acts sucha s Mumford or the Lumineers, but ‘Haymaker’ also feels in line emotionally with Americana in the vein of Jason Isbell, or even a more traditional Country sound such as Tyler Childers.

Emotionally raw and vulnerable, the track is masterfully written and performed. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lily Meola - Gasoline [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I often struggle to connect to vocals delivered in a high register but not this time. Lily Meola has a very emotive delivery that works for her higher, softer tone.

’Gasoline’ is the latest release from Meola who has captured the attention and mentorship of Willie Nelson. The track leans slightly to a Pop Folk sort of sound that feels alive and vibrant.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mallow Hill - Thinkin' Bout My Baby [Music Review

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track introduces the world to Mallow Hill as it is the band’s debut single. ‘Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ drips with sultry Blues and the vocal tone has a bit of Winehouse over the top of a Gary Clark Jr. musical vibe.

’Thinkin’ Bout My Baby’ is about the personal growth and realization of habits formed from toxic relationships and how we all tend to slip on a pair of familiar shoes even though the damn things tend to hurt our feet. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alana Cruz - Telescope [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Alana Cruz has a sound that could be Country, could be Pop, could be an emotional singer/songwriter expressing their vulnerability and the good thing is great music transcends those type of labels and simply speaks to people’s hearts.

’Telescope’ is that kind of song.

At times I heard Natalie Maines of the Chicks, Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mack and Brandi Carlile but in the end this is simply the talented Cruz, belting out her truths as she expresses what unrequited love and the yearning brand of hope that comes along with it truly feels like.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Claire London - Black Leather [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Claire London blends the Blues with Pop sensibilities to give us this track. ‘Black Leather’ offers enough of that sultry edge to tease and enough dirt and grit to truly make it all interesting.

The track is loosely based on London’s first meeting her eventual husband but at its heart it is about personal confidence and simply getting about your business because you are truly feeling it.

That self assured groove comes through and carries the track on its back for a nice ride.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Annie Bacon & her Oshen - Mist [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I was hooked from the opening line. Annie Bacon & her Oshen delivers an emotional track that feels gritty and real.

There is more than a hint of Stevie Nicks to the tone, though the writing and overall vibe reminded more of Jason Isbell meets Lucinda Williams. Whatever you want to call it, this is songwriting glory performed by a talented and committed artist that ensures you feel every last word. Music as it should be!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bad Flamingo - Numb [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“No artist or band delivers dark, folksy blues the way Bad Flamingo can. The raspy tone and air of alluring mystery permeates most of their work and this intriguing duo keeps cranking out the engaging tracks utilizing that branded sound.

’Numb’ paints a picture and transports the listener to a dimly lit backstreet, a dusty dirt path, a concrete wasteland as a vagabond traveler drops the decree of the despondent, the independent, the restless. This track is a vibe and so is Bad Flamingo.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Parker Smith - Air Stream [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a nostalgic Gram Parsons kind of musical vibe to go along with the Country Chic lyrics that would do John Prine proud.

Parker Smith gives us a track that might be what Buffet would have come up with had he been raised in a trailer park, living in an ‘Air Stream.’ Of Jerry Jeff Walker if that trailer were parked somewhere in Texas.

Fun and gritty and the perfect tune to crack open an cold one and watch the sunset over the top of a Dollar Store alongside your baby.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Eden Rain - Closer [Music Review]

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

Parker Lane - MAGIC [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written for his children, because he doesn’t get to see and spend as much time with them as he would like, ‘MAGIC’ is a track of love and hope that will ring true for anyone missing someone and longing for a reunion.

Parker Lane shows off his vocal chops with this emotive and uplifting track that soars on the currents of the human condition.

A true feel good song!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dan Johnson - Along the Way [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Dan Johnson boldly sings the line ... I’d rather be a fool tomorrow, than a coward any day ... in his new single, ‘Along The Way,’ and in that simple brilliance, can be found both an idea and an ideal on how to live life.

Putting yourself out there, risking yourself in the name of love is dangerous and leaves us all vulnerable. Though of course not doing so, not allowing others to truly know who and what we are, leaves us isolated and alone. This uplifting track is a reminder to us all — you can’t truly live without taking some risks along the way.

The earmark of a great song is playability. A good song you can listen to a few times and be content, but a great song soars to life and compels you to listen time and time again. And with each listen you feel the emotion and come to a personal understanding that very well may transcend beyond the artist’s original intent as you layer in your own experience with the sentiments being sung. This is that type of song.

The genre is tricky here ,as the track defiantly and artistically straddles a many different lines. Big and theatrical. the single comes with elements of Indie Rock, Americana, and Gospel. At times it conjured thoughts of the Lion King with the chants and uplifting mantra that would be right at home on any Broadway stage or musical soundtrack.

But gerne is a marketers game anyway. For we consumers the lines are simple ... not for me, good, or outstanding.

And this track lands square in the latter category for me. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Joh Chase - Avalanche [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“The video here did not add much for me, but then again it didn’t need to because the songwriting and performance is though evoking and provocative enough to carry me forward.

Some things just hit hard instantly, and that was the case for me. on this song. For those needing a comparison, there is a hint of Brandi Carlile, more in the talented defiance and writing than the vocal tone. ‘Avalanche’ is a track that will bury you in the best possible ways. The emotions, the nuance, the strong vocals and emotive power.

If I had to label this one I’d call it Americana, but good, no great, music transcends genre and this track did that for me.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger