Sweetlove - "The House" [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“A beautifully written and performed song about grief, and the realization that while love is the very thing that makes such loss hard to bear, it is also the thing that makes our lives worth living. So in the end we can’t have one without the other, and that realizing this can make our grief easier to comprehend and bounce back from. The concept is intricate and emotionally charged and still Sweetlove handles those intricacies with grace on this mellow track. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lucy Eaton - Rotten Love [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I will confess that very early on, the ukulele left me dubious about this track, but then Lucy Eaton’s stellar songwriting took over and I was pulled in and emotionally invested by both the writing and the performance.

This track is very Folksy in sound, but even if that is not your jam, the power of the lyrics cannot and will not be denied. Exploring the generosity of love, ‘Rotten Love’ is a fresh take on the emotion of love and that is of course no easy feat given the plethora of songs dealing with affairs of the heart. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Folkus - Blue [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming with a threadbare and almost pained, brand of vocal delivery, Folkus unleashes the emotion behind ‘Blue’ with an intensity that is captivating. The melody and lyrics play perfect roles in the progression and build, but it is the vocal performance here that hooks you and refuses to let go.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Grayson Ty - Tongue Tied [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A smooth and sensual track about the power of love and lust. For me, the cadence and groove really set the mood for the lyrics and emotive vocal delivery. Grayson Ty has the talent to make the simple arrangement work on this single, because he makes you feel every last word.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Swan Levitt - Someday Soon [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Swan Levitt delivers a soft emotional track about finding peace and a way forward after a hard time. Written specifically about recovery, ‘Someday Soon’ has even a broader relevance in the word as we all try to find a new path after a tough traumatic year.

In the words of Levitt ... ‘This is about getting back to where you were before it went so wrong...perhaps lying to yourself a little in the mean time. But things will get better, eventually.’ In the meanwhile, a touching song like this can help us feel like we are not alone.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rett Madison - Kerosene [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Rett Madison. Remember that name. Her latest single ‘Kerosene’ is a true burner in every sense. The lyrical power is undeniable, but it is the emotive vocal style that truly makes Madison feel special in that Jason Isbell kind of way.

There is a country twang to her voice at times, but this is no commercial Nashville pablum. This is heartfelt Folk or more aptly Americana that demands you sit and listen and feel the emotion of the words and performance. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Wax Owls - Set it Free [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“In what is the debut single for Wax Owls, ‘Set It Free’ is a big soaring brand of Commercial Folk. Falling into a stratosphere somewhere between Mumford & Sons and Tom Petty the band’s sound feels lively and emotional on this track. Lyrically, the song is about moving back and sort of facing your past while acknowledging the roads you’ve traveled. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Fiona Harte - What Is Loving Anymore [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Fiona Harte mesmerizes with her emotive vocals on this dazzling emotional track. The Northern Irish singer songwriter has a hint of Dolly to her tone, and a whisper of Joni Mitchel in her soul, but here on this track, Harte’s talent stands alone in the spotlight with both an outstanding vocal performance and a stellar bit of songwriting which combine to captivate the way few artists are capable.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hugo Valentine - Rule The World [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Hugo Valentine gives us a bit of a throwback. With a track that builds in the arrangement in such a way that conjures vibes of classic hits of the 70’s and 80’s, while also having that big musical sound of a contemporary single, ‘Rule The World’ ends up sounding very much like a collaboration between Elton John and Coldplay.

The energy here sweeps the listener up after a calm opening.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Xanthe Alexis - The Offering [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Reminding me a bit of the Canadian band ,The Cowboy Junkies, Xanthe Alexis delivers a nurturing brand of tenderness in her single ‘The Offering.’

Hailing from Colorado, Alexis brings a hint of that soft mountain spirit to both her songwriting and the vocals in this track. Decidedly Americana in sound, the emotion of this track wraps around the listener and never lets go.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Holly Ouellette - One Time, Pt. IV [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Holly Oullette fully embraced songwriting after a Hockey injury curtailed her athletic pursuits, and what the ice loses, the music world gains in a talented writer and emotive vocalist.

Part of a larger project, ‘One Time’ is about trying to rekindle the spark and hope from a damaged relationship that once held great promise. The emotions shine through in both the writing and the delivery, making this an engaging track that simple refuses to let you go. Look for the complete project titles What I Can’t Take Back to hear more of Oullette’s talent.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Gabrielle Marlena - Lady Comforts [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The honesty of the songwriting pulled me in. Meeting a person that has a lot of good qualities, but just doesn’t have that certain spark creates a mental dilemma. In dating world where you come across so many flawed, wacky, and weird people it is hard to walk away from a seemingly normal person simply because the chemistry isn’t there, and this track unravels this thought process with intriguing raw emotion, and an engaging sound. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mamie Minch - Fortified Wine [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming with a classic Folk sound, both vocally and in the melody, Mamie Minch gives us a ‘Fortified Wine.’ There is a bit of Woody Guthrie woven through this track and because there is a bit of Woody in so many artists from the genre you can trace this sound to many other contemporary Folk artists. That said, Minch’s husky vocals and emotive style rises above the fray to deliver a truly engaging single.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cory Taylor Cox - Queen of Valley City [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written about, and for, his mother-in-law, Cory Taylor Cox takes what many would dismiss as the mundane and turns it into an extraordinaire ode to a life well spent. The love and dedication, and determination shine through, and the vocal talent brings all of those assessments as well as a spirit to the track, making the songwriting shine as much as the performance.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Emily Drinker - Enough Is Enough [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Is Commercial Folk a thing? If it is Emily Drinker is taking a big sip from that fountain, because while there are definite Pop sensibilities within the arrangement, Drinker’s overall vocal tone feels folksy and energetic with hints of blues and jazz coming through at times. The build and progression are engaging, and I was on the hook all the way through. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

BabyJake - Don’t Give Me Problems, Give Me Wine [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“How can you not get down with the philosophy of ‘Don’t Give Me Problems, Give me Wine?’

The tone here is engaging and straightforward. BabyJake emotes the passion behind the lyrics in this track that feels almost Cosmic Cowboy in nature. A hint of Folk, a jolt of Rock, a splash of that 70s Alt Country vibe and this track simply oozes with coolness.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Our Man In The Field - It Was Ever So [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Sometimes songs speak for themselves. The melody, the lyrics, the emotive vocals. ‘It Was Ever So’ is such a song.

Written about the fire-fighters who lost their jobs when the oldest fire station in London was shuttered by Boris Johnson, the track is the first single from Our Man In The Field’s next album due out September 2020.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Becky Krill - Alive in the Summertime [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Becky Krill is summer vibing with this track that opens with a nostalgic, folksy feel before slipping into more of an Electro Pop groove as it progresses.

’Alive in the Summertime’ offers a light energy of optimism in a world that often feels pessimistic these days. I did find myself wishing the track had another verse to keep the good feelings going a bit longer.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Corey Quinn Farrell - Melancholy Lullaby [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Corey Quinn Farrell gives us this poetic Folk song that feels as much like literature, as it does a song. The cello and guitar melody add a layer of emotion that compliments the heartfelt lyrics.

’Melancholy Lullaby’ is a fond remembrance of a love that has drifted apart and the nostalgic refrain carries a tinge of sad melancholy, but also offers a kindness in its recollections that makes the track feel sweet and tender.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Donovan Woods - Clean Slate [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Like any kind of high we find in this world, be they artificial, chemical, or purely natural ... like falling in love, what goes up must eventually come down.

’Clean Slate’ explores the emotions of that arc. The euphoria of getting swept up and feeling like the world is sunshine and rainbows and the realization that once that bliss wears off a bit you are still much the same, but that is not to say you can’t acknowledge and do your best to erase the things you want to let go of in order to embrace the possibilities ahead.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)