The Image - Believe In Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Imagination! As an idea people might call imagination a flight of fancy best utilized by little kids. But as a principle, imagination is at the heart of everything from innovation to who we are as people.

’Believe In Me’ is a track that is as nuanced and deliberate as you imagine it to be. And the masked duo comprising The Image fall in the same category. The video here is spectacular and I encourage you to listen and watch and decide for yourself what your imagination is telling you to believe in. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

GATTÜSO & Laidback Luke - Heart On My Sleeve feat. Sarah Reeves [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Offering everything you want out of a big bold dance number, ‘Heart On My Sleeve’ is guaranteed to get people out on the dance floor. Hopefully we can all return to dance floors soon and find our groove to these soaring vocals, infectious beat, and tantalizing drops. Until then, I say crank this one up and dance by yourself or with the ones you keep close, because this track is too sweet to let sit idle until the world rights itself.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sofi Bonde - Angels Above [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is retro rock tune with a bit of electronic flair and a just an ever so slight hint of hip-hop flow that combines to make this track feel contemporary and nostalgic at the sometime.

Like a pin up from the 50’s, Sofi Bonde’s vocal are sultry in a shy unassuming way, whereas lyrically, the track is surprisingly clairvoyant, giving the track another set of oddly joined, but cohesive qualities. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Becky Hill - Heaven On My Mind (with Sigala) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Becky Hill drops ‘Heaven On My Mind,’ a high-energy track with a heavy dance vibe and carefree spirit about it. The second single off of Hill’s upcoming debut album, the track reunites Hill with Sigala, who she collaborated with last year on top 10 hit, ‘Wish You Well.’

The talent is on vibrant display all the way through this single, and the production behind the vocals adds a bit of sparkle to the whole affair. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Gina Naomi Baez - Blow the Roof [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Coming with a twisty, exotic snake charmer kind of vibe, ‘Blow The Roof’ is a Pop track with a soaring spirit behind it that just sort of pulls you along. There are hints of Gwen Stefani and a bit of Katie Perry there as well. The melody and arrangement could have used a touch more variation to the mix , but the talent here is such that I can’t wait to hear what Gina Naomi Baez comes with next.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hymner x Alessandra - Nobody's Fault [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sad pop connoisseurs, Hymner is back with ‘Nobody’s Fault,’ once again teaming up with Swedish songster Alessandra.

Loneliness is a powerful thing that might lead to questionable decisions. We’ve all been there, right? The unique vocal tone caught my attention, and the emotion of the performance kept me listening. The track has a good linear progression that carries your forward with it.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lawson - Animals [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“In an absolute absurd brand of fun, the video for ‘Animals’ is almost a tongue-in-cheek reprimand for anyone that takes songs too literal. That is exactly what the video does and here it makes for a good bit of humor.

As a band Lawson is wiling to have a bit of fun at their own expense while giving us a visual representation of their track about the infatuation of love. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ulrik Munther - C’est La Vie [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a very well written song, made all the more special by the home movie clips of the video. Reconnecting with our inner child and finding the things that inspired us in our purest form is a a way to shake off the burdens adulthood straps to our backs. This song is all about that, and it comes with a joyful melody and a nice light, but emotionally engaging vocal performance.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lauren Sanderson - INTERNET [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The ‘INTERNET’ is that proverbial double edge sword offering good and bad. Connecting the world and making it a smaller place but distracting us from the face to face social interactions that make humanity ... well human.

This track bangs with Lauren Sanderson delivering snappy and edgy vocals over a winding beat and production that feels energetic and alive. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Maddie Zahm - Everything to Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The soft tenderness of Maddie Zahm’s vocals reveals a vulnerability that is also prevalent in the lyrics of this heartbreak ballad.

Letting your walls down for another to invade is hard, and when they take advantage of that opportunity to only leave more scars, it is tough to move forward once again. This track captures all of that with a beautifully pained spirit.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Goldkimono - To Tomorrow [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Inspired by his time in Venice Beach California, the Netherland’s Goldkimono delivers a sound that hints at Red Hot Chili Peppers with an island pop style, and a crunch of a Dutch stroopwafel.

Known for writing the iconic Kygo - Firestone, Goldkimono describes his sound a lot like his clothing style, ‘Take a handful of sunshine and throw it into a boardwalk thrift shop, walk out with some comfy colorful pants and a Levi’s Sherpa jacket and don’t turn back.’

‘To Tomorrow’ brings the carefree spirit of youth with little regard to what happened yesterday, because you believe in the present and tomorrow so damn much.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Fionn - Modern Medication [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Lyrically sharp, Fionn has delivered a track of social commentary on Gen-Z. The production of the track has a bit of a throwback vibe, and yet the songs delivers a very modern vibe and mood. The vocals are alluring and evocative, as are the lyrics.

The imagery of the video is fun and yet punctuates the commentary of the song quite well.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Christian Dupree - POS Car [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Riding a strong hook that will have you singing along by the second chorus, ‘POS Car’ is a track that is simply easy to connect with and stay dialed in on.

The vocal groove is infectious, and the vibe smooth and tranquil like the best of memories that plays over and over in your mind. Christian Dupree delivered a winner here, that I suspect will be added to many a Summer playlist. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

RUNN - Better [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Recent times have us all wanting to feel — ‘Better,’ and RUNN’s vocal performance on this well-written song certainly helps us feel like we are not alone in these thoughts.

The soaring vocals deliver the emotions behind being fearful and anxious, and yet the track also brings a notable tinge of hope in the performance. The single has a borderline Pop/Singer Songwriter sound that is both entertaining and stimulating.

Solid!”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sarah Barrios - Mourn The Living [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Mourning is accepted when it comes to those who have passed on, but it often seems like we as society tell people to get over it and move on when they are mourning anything else but the dead.

With ‘Mourn The Living,’ Sarah Barrios gives is a heart-wrenching Pop ballad to the loss of relationships, friends, and even times gone by. The vocals deliver the sense of loss with a tender almost ragged emotion that hits hard.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Harmonee - Don't Bring Me Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Meshing a Hip-Hop vibe with an Electronic sound, Harmoneee drops ‘Don’t Bring Me Down.’ The production and arrangement keep the track moving forward at a tranquil pace that meanders, but never lags.

Lyrically, the track is a positive reaffirmation that tough times, hard times, anxious times — do not have to define you. That you can keep on moving forward and overcome the roadblocks until you get to the other side. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

blvkkhvrt. x Flannel Albert - Vuddy! [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Cool and crisp like a bright Summer morning. ‘Vuddy’ delivers a beach vibe just in time to get some sand between your toes.

This track is about that one girl that refuses to go quietly. The one that demands to be noticed and will stop at nothing until you do so. The groove here is infectious and the vocals stay in that same lane to keep the good ties going.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lune - Where Do Love Go [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“It is a simple question with complex ideas behind it. ‘Where Do Love Go?’ Here one minute and gone the next. Not unlike a magical tune that lands in your ears and fills you with ideas and emotion only to disappear as another track comes on. Still some songs stick with us and this is that kind of song. Light and airy in the best possible way Pop music can be, Lune has given us a track that we can easily dance along with as we ponder all the wonderful and weird facets of this thing we call life.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Makena - Time of My Life [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“On a track that will leaving you trying to decide if you should laugh, cry, or dance, Makena gives us a gamut of emotions.

’Time of My Life’ is an ode to growing up and finding your place in the world through tough times and good times and all the times in between. There is a pop element to the vocals that adds a lightness to what lyrically at times is a very dark song.

Showcasing a variety of vocal styles, the track also offers that hopeful feeling you get with the knowledge you are not alone in your hopes, fears, and struggles.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cobi - Don't Stop [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The soft piano melody invites you in, Cobi’s delicate yet emotive vocals makes you want to stay. Lyrically, this track will no doubt hold different meanings for different people, because this is that kind of artful songwriting that can deliver both intimacy and broad relevance.

’Don’t Stop” transcends genre, by falling into the power ballad spectrum of simply good music that speaks to a wide array of listener.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)