NEO NOIR x AIMEE - Jezebel [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track is one of these songs that feels like therapy for the artist that wrote it. The thing is, when a songwriter and performer puts this much into a track, it often turns out to be therapeutic for the rest of us as well.

The song is wryly humorous, in its directness, and the vocals bring a pure Pop rhythm that is easy to become engrossed in and sing along with. The chorus is catchy and fun, and overall the song offers one big FU to the narcissistic assholes we have all known. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Madison Beer - Good In Goodbye [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The track offers a few surprises early on, both in the sound and the imagery of the video, but at its heart, we have a pure Pop vibe with a cleverly written set of lyrics and an engaging sound. The chorus in particular is catchy and twisty and will have you singing along once you hear it.

Madison Beer delivers an alluring and talented performance that pulls you in and keeps you both listening and watching from the very beginning.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hello Ocean - Whatever You Wanted [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has an old school Adult Contemporary/ Country feel in the vein of Linda Ronstadt. The vocals are heartfelt and emotional and I could feel every last word. Lyrically, the single is delivered from the viewpoint of a forsaken lover who is not quite ready for the relationship to be over. ‘Whatever You Wanted’ is less about desperation, and more about hope. The plea of the heartbroken lover is soft and touching and explores a situation most of us have found ourselves in at some point.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Will Callan - Out Of My Life [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Will Callan is talented beyond his years ,both in vocal capacity, and in the layers to his songwriting. At only 16, Callan is creating and producing music from his bedroom that rivals that of heavily funded labels. This particular single is an energetic ode to moving on even when a big part of you doesn’t want to. That is a hard concept to grasp at any age as our hearts often overrule our minds.

Here, there is enough of a youthful spirit to keep the track this side of melancholy, but enough depth to make it a single you can listen to over and over again. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

MIDØS - When Will I Learn [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“MIDØS offers a sobering wake up call with, ‘When Will I Learn.’

Breaking free of a toxic relationship is tough, and it often takes a catastrophic event for us to see through the “blindness” that love can instill in us all.

This track is a Pop/Disco blend that sends listeners on an up and down roller coaster of just such a volatile relationship. The tempo is upbeat and urgent, and the lyrics poignant enough to have resonance for all of us, whether we have been there or not. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

wrs - why [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track delivers an exotic, almost dangerous vibe that instills an eager anticipation as you listen. Beneath that is a melancholy undertone that adds yet another layer to the single. Matter of fact, layered is the best way to describe this single from wrs.

The production brings different elements over the top of a steady beat and the various embellishments all add to the emotion of the track. Lyrically, ‘why’ deals with a love, or at least infatuation gone bad.

The imagery of the video brings all of this alive with vivid, understated imagery.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Vana Blu - Scarred [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a bit of a Retro feel with hints of George Michael, and even Prince, in the in vocal delivery. And yet, it also feels very contemporary in the musical arrangement and vibe.

A single that is easy to focus on so the lyrics really shine and come to life. We have all been ‘Scarred’ in one way or another and this track makes no bones about the scars, but it also lets us know that those scars are a part of who we are so it is important to acknowledge them and build a better tomorrow as a result.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rosemary Joaquin - "A Little More" [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The emotion of this track is delivered in slow, low-pitched vocals that feel earnest, and raw, and vulnerable in a starving for more kind of way. This makes sense given the title of the track is ‘A Little More,’ and the emotion is understandable as well, because in every new relationship or crush situation, we all want just a little bit more than we have. This track deals with that insatiable desire in a methodical yet entertaining way.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hannah Evans - Crying On Your Own [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track is a tale of two sounds. The first is dark and soulful, while the second is pure pop with a bouncy commercial appeal. The contrast is a bit shocking at the first change in tone and style, but overall the arrangement works quite well once you adjust.

The comparisons to Billie Eilish are easy ones to make, but there is a bit more soul to the slower verses and a bit more of a pop feel during the uptempo portions of the single so Hannah Evans is bringing her own spin and brand of talent to the table. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Running Lights - Next Year (Acoustic) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The end of the years tends to bring out reflections in all of us ... where we are, as opposed to where we hoped we’d find ourselves. The New Year then turns those feeling into resolutions and goals.

This track captures the emotions of all of that in a few minutes and entertains us with a calm melody and emotional performance as it does so. There is a sort of a Pop/Coffee house vibe to the track making it not truly fit in any genre. But good music is good music, and it rarely needs a definition.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zack Ely x DEEGAN - Rough [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a smooth Pop feel from the very first beat and word. Lyrically, the track can be interpreted varied ways, and I suspect it will hit people differently based upon their own beliefs and life experiences. The vocals are layered and capture your focus with a stellar performance that brings the emotion to the forefront.

Drawing a comparison here is tough, as Zack Ely has a voice that hints at a few well names, but still clearly stands out all on its own. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kenza - Fool For You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kenza delivers a classic pop vocal performance on her latest single, ‘Fool For You.’ Both vocally and the melodically, the song carries hints of a retro 90’s vibe. And yet, the track still brings a definite contemporary vibe, especially during the chorus, which rings with confidence, even though the track is about being so head over heels in love that you feel out of control.

The single is one that feels almost timeless from the first listen. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

HeartMouth - Be Alright [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“An emotionally charged ode to finding the possibilities in the very face of difficult times.

Our outlooks can carry us in the same way as a nice melody and beat can carry a song with darker lyrics to a lighter place.

This song echoes life by highlighting the choices we make, and accentuating the fact that quite often it’s not over until we decide that it is. There is a folk rock (Mumford & Sons) feeling to this track that serves it well.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kayla Rae - Get Close [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We have featured a few songs on LA on Lock from Kayla Rose now so it is safe to say we dig her vocal talent. This latest single, ‘Get Close’ is a fun flip of the 90’s Maxi Priest hit, ‘Close To You.’

Playing off the lyrics from that single, this track delivers a fresh contemporary Pop/R&B vibe that stands out fully of its own strengths. The tie in here is more of a fun fact, than a requirement to enjoying Rae’s latest single. That said it is fun to give both a listen to get both sides of the story.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Michael G Moore - Fall To Sleep [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“At first listen, Michael G Moore’s latest single ‘Fall To Sleep’ comes across as half classic Rock ballad and half adult lullaby, but with subsequent spins, the track feels like so much more.

Written with the approaching birth of his daughter in mind, the track encompasses those emotions as well as the broader thoughts on the state of the world that often hits new parents as they prepare for not only their future, but far beyond. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jacqui Fauni - Computation [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a fun and sassy song and honestly, the line ... dial 1-800 stay the fuck out of my life ... had me hooked for good.

The tone hear is light and airy and the writing clever and zingworthy throughout. The upbeat tempo is defiant yet fun and the vocal flow uses a few different paces to keep it fresh and engaging.

A fun song start to finish. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

KILLBOY - JUST ME [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“An appealing tone, and a steady beat hooked me early on even as I struggled to connect lyrically. This is the kind of track that pulls you in fast with beat, melody and vocal talent, but it takes several listens to fully decipher and digest the lyrics. The beauty of this is that you get surprised in the best way with subsequent listens. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ethan Patrick & TyC - I Won't Watch You Cry [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Alluring vocals lead us into the heartbreak and pain of a relationship that has shrunk away to nothing. Slow and steady this single unfolds as the mind unravels what comes next while also building walls of protection.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

PIWA - Hundreds (Prod. by nïko) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A nice cadence pulled me in from the start before the track settled in and hooked me lyrically. Talent and production meshed quite well here to create a track that holds you and leaves you wanting more. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kate Vogel - Rain [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The best musical artists often defy genre in that they write such meaningful lyrics and deliver them with emotion laden performances that resonate with music lovers across the board. Kate Vogel is such an artist, and with every submission I’ve heard from her repertoire, my appreciation for her talent grows. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)