Kiesza - Crave [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is a real 80’s vibe to this track, both in the sound and imagery of the video. Kiesza delivers the vocals with energy and a theatrical brand of emotion that works very well in the build toward the chorus.

’Crave’ is a song that just keeps rising and pulling you along until it explodes into a chorus that arrives with a smart satisfaction.

The video is simple in concept, but works well to keep you entertained and dialed in on the track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kevin Brown - Shine! [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kevin Brown keeps it positive in the face of haters and fake friends. ‘Shine!’ is about keeping your light on bright, despite a world filled with those trying to push you back into the dark.

The production here is lively and energetic, and Brown’s attitude truly does shine through in his vocal flow. This track would make a nice addition to your motivational playlists.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Maudlin - The Best Thing [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dark and dirty best describes the mood here. A song of emotional reflection on the suffering that our hearts can put us through.

Two lonely dirty souls ... is part of a line from these well-written lyrics, and if you think of human lust and love in those terms, you will be smack dab in the mindset of this single.

Maudlin is raw and real in the telling of “The Best Thing.’”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Amanda Raye - No One Knows [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some tracks simply cannot be pigeonholed into a genre or even time. Amanda Raye has given us such a single with ‘No One Knows.’

The irony of the title aside, this is a track that truly is beyond genre or era. There are times I hear a 70’s Stevie Nicks vibe, others where a Country/Americana sound that hints at Miranda Lambert shines through. There is a bit of Lady Gaga and Ronstadt and a decided 2020 mood, but also a sprinkle of 1985.

Give it listen to discover this talented artist for yourself, and maybe then you will know what I mean.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Olivia Lunny - Bedsheets [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Olivia Lunny hooked me with the longing hope of her vocal performance here on this track. The lyrics bring a strong emotional connection right from the beginning, and the soft steady flow held my focus in rapt attention.

’Bedsheets’ is about time running out on what could be. The longing and earnest hope is tangible and heartbreaking and much of that comes from the stellar vocal performance Though the songwriting has its own undeniable allure. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Confetti - Elephant In The Room [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Confetti is fun. The band I mean, because unlike their namesake, this kind of Confetti requires no cleanup up after the party. Fun and light, ‘Elephant In The Room’ brings that carefree party vibe with an infectious hook and energy. Witty and sarcastic in the best possible ways, this is a track that will put a smile on your face no matter how many times you blast it. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ella Isaacson x Gallant - Expectations [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This smoothly delivered track is a winner for a pair of talented emotive vocal flows, and a strongly written set of lyrics that sweeps the listener along.

The idea of ‘Expectations’ can be a double edged sword and this track brings out that two sides very well. Ella Isaacson’s tender vulnerability ushers the track in, before Gallant comes in with his own stirring performance that adds a dynamic that takes the track to the next level.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cate Tomlinson - Let You In [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This is a softly delivered track with a commercial vibe in the sound, and a singer/songwriter sensibilities behind the writing.

The well-written lyrics bring out the emotion of discovering that one person who has captivated you feels the same way. It is about a burgeoning relationship, and the vocal tone expresses that hope and guarded excitement.

The production and musical side is low-key here which allows the emotion to take center stage. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Moby Rich - friends* [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Alt-pop duo Moby Rich joined forces with the multi-platinumed talent, Bishop Briggs for a new single. In the case of ‘Friends*’ the asterisk is important, because sometimes those friends mean more to us than we are willing to let on. The longer you have been designated as friends, the harder it is to take the risk and let it be known you wish to be more.

I don’t think there is a person of dating age alive that has not found themselves in this scenario so the song hits home for us all. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Trinity Rose - Morning Text [Lyric Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Trinity Rose’s voice is the musical equivalent of that pretty girl next door. Sweet an innocent, but fully capable of breaking your heart if you are’t paying proper attention to her. And Rose’s latest single, ‘Morning Text’ feels exactly like that.

On the surface, that tantalizing R&B groove is smooth and mellow, but lyrically the track is a dagger to the heart of her enthralled morning messenger. The beauty of this track is in its simple complexity, and no, that is not an oxymoron.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jasmine Thompson - Love For The Lonely [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jasmine Thompson secured a record deal with Atlantic records at only 13 off the strength of her YouTube performances. Now 19, Thompson has only refined her talents that much more.

”Love For The Lonely’ is a powerful ballad about finding and maintaining love even when it is less scary to walk away or destroy the burgeoning relationship. The video adds to the emotion and isolated mindset giving the project a cohesive intimate vibe to go along with the powerful performance.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kieran Sid - Roll The Dice (Feat. Sam Jackson) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kieran Sid is more than ready to ‘Roll The Dice’ and with this single, he has bet on a winner. The track has a varied and unique sound that kept me at the table with every gambit. There is a vulnerability that is soft as the felt of your favorite craps table, but an energy that comes in with the chorus and feels like the pure adrenaline of hitting your roll on the Vegas strip.

How many dice references can I cram into one review? As many as it takes to get you to listen to this fantastic track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

somegirlnamedanna - kitchen table [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“somegirlnamedanna is a mouthful, but this track establishes that same girl as a big force to be reckoned with so perhaps they two are perfectly matched. Emotion laid bare, such as this song gives us, speaks loudly far beyond the actual decimal level or style. The vocal tone of yearning vulnerability on the track only adds to the punch of this track.

’Kitchen Table’ is as true a song as you are likely to hear this year, or any other, and the homespun vibe of the video is the perfect accompaniment.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

danny G - best friend [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A fun upbeat ode to the friendship side of love. danny G offers up a nice blend of vocal styles on this track, which is earmarked to help fellow musicians impacted by Covid-19 with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

So, consider downloading this one to add a fun energetic Pop style Hip-Hop track to your personal playlists, and to help musicians struggling through these tough times.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Pink Elefants - Blame On Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Pink Elefants are a trio of talented vocalists each with their own sound and flow. This diverse talent gives the band a varied and rich sound that is engaging and hard to pin down genre wise. There is a vibe reminiscent to The Weeknd, as well a smooth Pop feel to ‘Blame On Me,’ which lyrically is about the burden of bearing the brunt of blame in a breakup.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ben Labat - Born to Cross Lines [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The ability to make a listener truly feel the emotions of what you are singing is a gift, and Ben Labat shares that gift with his latest single, ‘Born to Cross Lines.’ A little Folk, a little soul, and a whole lot of talent are at the heart of the track. that pulls you in and holds you with a smooth melody and vocals that simply feel right and natural. This is the kind of emotion that comes from a life spent living forward and the hard earned wisdom is a gift for all that truly stop and focus on the lyrics and performance. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zoe Brush - Ego [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“I like that this track came in with a piano beat reminiscent of Dolly Parton’s classic ‘9 to 5.’ Like that famous track, Zoe Brush’s single, ‘Ego’ delivers attitude and a pissed off, not going to take it quietly vibe that makes the song come alive.

Brush begins with a bit of anger before the chorus transitions into a soft and cheerful, SCREW YOU! The juxtaposition of styles and temperaments really caught me by surprise and made me smile. This is a fresh new spin on the women scorned cliched though rarely is the women this clever and talented.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lucy Cloud - Jealous [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Part of the hook is the almost disenfranchised vibe to the vocal performance, which works here because it further conveys the emotion of being stuck in a rut — watching and envying others live their life.

The age of social media makes this a real phenomenon that affect most of us to some degree or another, and here, Lucy Cloud delivers a tantalizing example of being ‘Jealous.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brightside - aftr mdnght [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Landing somewhere between Contemporary R&B and a more commercial Pop groove, ‘after mdnight’ is about wanting to be more than an after midnight booty call.

The track brings a smooth easy groove that is easy to fall into and sing along with, though there is also a sensual vibe like driving alone at tight on a rain darkened stretch of road while your mind runs away to someplace else. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Neon Dreams - Sick of Feeling Useless [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Uplifting and energetic, ‘Sick of Feeling Useless’ is the new single from Halifax alt-pop duo Neon Dreams.

This is the kind of track that sweeps you up and carries you on the wave of bright sounds and clean vocals, but in order to achieve that, a track must also bring a lyrically relevance that connects for most of us. And this song certainly does that with a nice Pop vibe that gathers you in from the very first line. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)