Very Very - Daydreams [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The melody here brings a dreamy lullaby type of vibe though the lyrics offer a darker feel though the light tone covers up that fact if you are not truly paying attention to the words. The video too has elements of both dark and light and hints at the blackness with a wry bit of humor for those of us with sadistic streak. This is a surprisingly complex song and video if you care to take the deep dive, but the track works as an engaging bit of entertainment if you only want to splash in the shallow end of the emotional pool.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Picture This - "Troublemaker" [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There are some tracks that just grab you and refuse to let you go. Picture This has given us one of those infectious singles with ‘Troublemaker.’

There is a campy quality to the video that grips you in the same way as a classic comedy that you don’t want to laugh and get drawn into, but then you find yourself quoting lines from that very flick years later. Here, the allure goes beyond the video, and this is a set of lyrics you will find yourself singing along to later as well. Don’t fight it, just give in and enjoy this unadulterated fun.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Luke Austin - Arrow [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Once upon a time, much of the mainstream music that came out of Nashville had genuine emotion behind it, but little by little that sound bled out to an over-saturated market of bro fueled party songs that said nothing and conjured even less emotionally. Luke Austin now calls Nashville home, but he hails from Toronto and here on this songwriter styled vibe, he brings exactly the emotion that once thrived in Music City.

I won’t call it country because the modern sound is as unpure as any genre these days, but this song is heavy on the emotion of love, and delivers steady unwavering vocals that some might feel fits what that genre once was. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Carmanah - Best Interests [Music Video Review]

“This track has a groovy little beat and melody that pools and mingles with your soul like cool water on a hot summer day. This soothing quality is not like a calm tranquility, but rather an infusion you didn’t even know you needed so badly.

But rather than trying to describe how the song came about and its meaning I am going to leave that to the band itself and defer to the words of lead singer Laura Mitic ... ‘People are living in a state of nature deprivation, whether conscious or not. The song tells of someone swooping in and pulling their person out of a city and running with them to the coastline. It is intended to be slightly satirical, but there’s a hint of seriousness as well since the song touches on mental health and the state of the world we live in: over consuming, lusty for capitalist greed and concrete (in the literal sense).”

On the timeliness of the track she adds, ‘We are all being encouraged to consider the health of “us” as a community, rather than “us” as an individual. Now is the time to push selfishness aside and have each other’s best interests in mind. Now is the time to be caring for each other and to learn from this experience so we can move forward with our collective planet’s best interests in mind as well.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Mowgli's - Vacation [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The Mowgli’s, who are fast becoming one of our favorite bands here at LA on Lock are back with another bit of ear candy. Smooth harmonies and an infectious beat keep the tempo upbeat and light in this ode to needing a ‘Vacation.’

Right now I think most of us are dreaming about getting away, or at least getting outside and this light airy bit of Indy Pop feels like a treat in its own right.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

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Leena Regan - Flowers [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Leena Regan captures the spirit and emotions of a runner quite well. I don’t mean a runner as in a jogger or marathoner, but rather a person that flees from others when things get to intense.

Yes, even these kind of runners haves emotions even if they run like hell from them. Don’t fall for a runner because they will bolt at the first sign of attachment.

’Flowers’ puts you inside that mindset and allows for some clarity to the motivation behind them, no matter which side of that spectrum you may be on. Delivering an Indie Pop sound, with engaging vocals and a nice commercial beat and production, this is a track that pulls you in and holds you there. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Yorxe - Hide Your Bodies [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Yorxe stacks the lines of these lyrics up like the proverbial bodies she sings about. Coming at you with a sinister vibe, her performance is intriguingly dark, while the beat and melody feels both Industrial and pop like at times. The track begs for a video as it stirs imagery all on its own and would be even more potent with the perfect visuals to punctuate the aura heavy track.

The timing of this track could harm it’s potential as the thought of stacking bodies has taken on new meaning in recent weeks, but for those able to step outside of the news cycle and appreciate music on its own merits this is a track that speaks for itself. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Alara - Demons [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The soft inviting voice of Alara bechon you in on this track. Like a warm hug for you ears and soul the warmth of this track is soothing in ways music rarely is.

The well-written lyrics of ‘Demons,’ incluses lines such as ... ‘the world may not be kind, but open up your mind- Come to me like I come to you,’ reminding us to be good to each other during heavy times.

The vocal performance is astounding and the timeliness of this message makes it all the more powerful.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jared Minnix - Slow Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Quarantine submissions have been flooding my inbox and most fail to capture the true thoughts and feelings, but Jared Minnix has written one that truly captures the vibe of these troubling times.

Soft Pop vocals and a calm, yet energetic melody back these lyrics which feel true and genuine. No one can predict what’s coming next, but perhaps Minnix has created the soundtrack for these odd days where time has very little meaning.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Fickle Friends - Pretty Great [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track captured my attention with honest lyrics that are easy to follow and with strong imagery of the video. I did find myself wishing for a bit more variation to both the performance and the melody, but I was entertained from start to finish and that in itself makes for a ‘Pretty Great’ song.

The Pop tone shines bright here and you won’t mind the time you spend watching and listening to the Fickle Friends. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kailee Morgue - "Knew You" [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This is my favorite love song that I have heard in a long time. This track does not dive into purple prose or corny affirmations, but takes a simple idea that I wish I ‘Knew You’ longer than I have. This is the feeling that comes with the realization that life is so much better when shared with that one special person, and for that reason you being to resent the fact you did not meet sooner.

The Pop vocals express this with a sweetness that feels genuine without being overtly sappy. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Girl Wilde - Big Fuckup Energy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The songwriting here is intriguing from the start. This track details the self doubt we have all felt and the bending we often do to fit in.

The vocals are passionate and soft early on, before the harder, angst filled chorus drops in. The track goes through a myriad of sounds and vibes just as our minds do when we are overthinking. The transitions are smooth and feel natural, and this Indie Pop track has done a masterful job of simplifying complex emotions.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Katie Windt - Winter Moon [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Growing up in South Africa, Katie Windt had to adjust to harsh Canadian winters after moving to Calgary. That struggle helped fueled this track about relationships and how they can be tested by the cold and so much more. Windt’s vocal are powerful and varied in emotion, but rather than the track feeling jumbled, the overall arrangement pulls us along as she runs the gamut of thoughts. There is a bluesy element to the guitar early on, but the track soon settles into a high-energy Pop vibe.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

penelope - slippin' to you [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The overwhelming sense of loss is a tricky little thing that can hit you long after the fact, and from the most innocuous angles. This track is about a lost love, and the emotions that hit you out of the blue as a result. The writing here make your realize how close the grief over a relationship’s end, is very similar to the grieving loss of a departed love one. Expect, there is an added bit of awkward hurt when you are left to wonder what that person is doing at any given moment. Re they thinking of you? Do they ever think of you? And they are right there at hand, often only blocks away, or perhaps on the other side of town.

This track delivers such complexities of the mind in soft Pop glory that at times reminded me of vintage Joni Mitchel, with a modern vibe to make it feel all the more relevant.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Flo Chase - Spinning Wheel [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Flo Chase gives us a hopeful and energetic vocal performance on ‘Spinning Wheel,’ a track that feels at times like a cross between Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.

The lyrics plays off of the fact our world, and thereby our lives, are taking a turn on this planet this making it all one big spinning wheel of chance and hope. Sometimes the wheel lands on a happy place that we world like hell to land on again. This song does a great job of capturing those magic feelings.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Matt Carstens - Why Him [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The guitar intro catches attention from the start and then Matt Carsten’s talented vocals take over the show.

’Why Him’ is a track for anyone a bit jaded about that ex that wants to come back and lean on you after their next doomed relationship. Being a crutch for another’s ego or insecurity is a tough position to be in especially if you still harbor feelings yourself. This energetic Pop track is one that many of us can relate to.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hotel Mira - Speaking Off The Record [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Honest and vulnerable, Hotel Mira drops ‘Speaking Off The Record,” a track that feels as much like a diary submission as it does an intimately written song. Call it a confession if you will, but we are talking about the feelings, thoughts, and actions everyone of us feels, so this track is more about being bold and saying out loud what few have to courage to express. This is not the same as admitting a wrong, which is truly what a confession is. This is an expression of humanity and a damn entertaining one at that.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

ARSADI - If You Were Mine [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“ARSADI unleashes a musical daydream with, ‘If You Were Mine,’ a track detailing the vivid imagination of a future based upon nothing more than the sight of a complete stranger.

Sometimes the sight of a person speaks to us and we play such a movie in our minds. The vocal style fits that dreamy vibe and the melody is soft and engaging. There is a definite Coldplay aura to this single, and the energy builds as the track progresses to keep you immersed in the lyrics and performance ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

golda - Dear Los Angeles [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This is not the first single from golda that I have shared here in LA on Lock, so the name should not be a stranger to our followers, but ‘Dear Los Angeles’ is her best yet. And that is saying something, given the powerful tracks we’ve already shared.

This single is a slow ballad of raw emotion. There is a retro quality in the simplicity of the melody and the vocal style, but the single is also very much a modern tale of not dashed dreams, but rather delayed dreams. And of the vulnerability it takes to admit it is time to reassess and gear up for another try.

We have all been there and the emotions are tangible, though the talent behind the track singles out golda as a one of a kind artist headed to a plane most of us will never get to. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Le Boeuf x Tema Siegel - Last Night [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This high energy track delivers the same euphoria as that perfect one night stand. And given that is exactly the subject matter of this Electro Pop tune, I’d say that Le Boeuf was spot in in the production of this track.

Tema Siegal delivers the vocals here with a bouncy energy that sells the lyrics perfectly. This is a track you can dance to but be careful you just might catch the feels with this one and we all know what happens then. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)