Dylan Dunlap - Another Holiday [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The holidays are coming soon and given the stress of this past year the season will no doubt bring out increased emotional pain for some folks. This is not a new phenomenon, but could be more acute this year.

Dylan Dunlap gives us a melancholic track about this very thing and despite being a sad song, sometimes listening to such is exactly what we need so that we can understand we are not alone. ‘Another Holiday’ is a track that won’t necessarily uplift but can make you feel understood. Addressing the feelings of sadness is important as well so embrace your sadness if you need to and speak out f need be as the season descends upon us. Dylan Dunlap delivers a genuine emotional track that is relatable for so many of us. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Leon Stanford - By Your Side [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“This is one of the first songs I really got excited about while writing on my iPhone smart keyboard before developing it more with Danny Owen on an old piano in my mate’s flat. The song is written for all to relate to about not giving up on love but one of the last lines of the song gives the true identity of the meaning.”

— Leon Standford

“What is love? Love is holding someone’s hand, standing by their side and walking with them through the hardships and the smiles. Leon Standford’s new single ‘By Your Side’ shows love over time and in many forms. He sings about holding on to eternity as you walk together. The piano keys are just as emotionally strong as his vocals and you can feel the love as he sings. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

SONNY - Place I Love [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“SONNY infuses his personal passion into this track. ‘Place I Love’ is a big spirited Pop anthem paying homage to his hometown, and while there are a few specifics to the lyrics anyone that feels a special bond and connection with a place they call home will get swept in by the boisterous energy and heartfelt emotions. The talented vocals certainly help the lsitern find that connection.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Extra Special - I Hate Love [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love, or at least the pursuit of it has embarrassed us all at some point and this dreamy Indie Pop/Rock track takes a look at those situations.

’I Hate Love’ is an ode to all the embarrassing things you do when you are crazy about somebody who just won’t love you back. Stalking their online profiles, picking out an outfit just in case you happen to run into them (and working out in preparation for that same occasion), learning how to be a master chef in the kitchen, trying to manifest them back into your life by repeatedly saying their name into thin air. You know, normal stuff like that.” ~ Bushell on ‘I Hate Love’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Filous - Trying Not to Think About You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is an uplifting lightness to the production and performance of ‘Trying Not to Think About You.’ The work of producer Filous, and featuring the vocal talents of Nina Chuba, this track comes with a sultry Pop vibe that keeps you feeling good as it progresses along.

The energy and build will put a smile on your face and a bit of extra spring in your step. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Limón Limón - Northern California [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track brings the California coastal vibes as it dives into the emotions of returning to a place that you once called home. No matter the years, facing who you once were is no easy task and this set of lyrics delivers the emotions of attempting to do just that. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Arms Akimbo - Dizzy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Life on the road is not easy for any band or touring act, and yet the allure and call is inescapable. LA Indie Rock band, Arms Akimbo, takes a dive into those aspects with their latest single, ‘Dizzy.’ A smooth melody and infectious lyrical build makes you almost feel the wheels rolling beneath you as you sit back and miss about everything back at home, while still mesmerized by the allure of that next stop on tour.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Matt Hansen - warn me right before i fall in love [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“A light airy song of heartache and sadness ... because ... Hey, if you’re going to feel the pain you might as well do so with a jaunty little melody.

Matt Hansen has a bit of Jack Johnson to his sound and soul and this track is one that simply feels like an honest ode to heartbreak. The EDm vibes deeper in did not hold me as wella s the early emotion and energy, but this is still a worthwhile track from a talented young artist. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Maella - Melting Butter [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Coming at you with an alluring, almost sinister charm, Maella seduces the listener with a smooth vocal delivery that invites you in before the darker emotions grab your heart and squeeze.

’Melting Butter’ is a brooding track that for me conjured thoughts of a time in Rock music when grit and passion overshadowed glossy production and million dollar smiles.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cloudy June - Cheap Wine & Vodka [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Cloudy June is fast becoming one of my favorite voices that we feature here on LA on Lock. Per usual June’s writing delivers emotion and impact to match the talented performance. The blend of light and heavy is intriguing on this track, as it mirrors the complexities of our emotions.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Bella Paton - Underwater [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The track set a nice ambience early on and the vocal flow adds to that with a tranquil smooth entry. Bella Paton offers her refreshing talent in a slow steady build that keeps the listern leaning in and emotionally invested. ‘Underwater’ is a mood and one we have all found ourselves in.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Theo Kandel - Around the Bend [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track feels a lot like having a conversation with a friend, and since a lot of my friends are musicians and artists, I have actually had similar heartfelt talks about the creative and promotion process many times. The lyrics of this track are as natural and unassuming as any of those talks. There are a few places where the vocals almost get too emotional and lose their edge but those place s are also what makes this track so endearing for me.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jesse Gold - One in a Million [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Expressing your feelings is never easy and quite often we turn to liquid courage to speak our heart. ‘One in a Million’ is a Pop-ish, R&B track about two lovers reluctant to admit they are falling for one another in a lasting kind of way. Jesse Gold shines here as does his duet partner and the two voices combine to keep the listener emotionally invested.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

OZ - Murder [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Oz has the kind of alluring vocals that speak straight to the soul, and her latest single is powerful in title, as well as emotion.

’It’s a song about the moment it really hits you that someone’s trash and they’re bad for you,’ says Oz of her single, ‘Murder.’

The video utilizes stock footage in a montage that managed to capture the vibe of the track as if each scene were created specifically for the project. A mesmerizing Indie Pop ballad that feels melancholy in a self-reflective kind of way.”

— 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)

Alix Page - Frank [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Alix Page showcases her songwriting talent on ‘Frank’ by playing off of the Frank Ocean track ‘White Ferrari,’ while giving us a track that borrows, but does not steal from a classic hit.

Page’s vocal are tender and yearning in this ode to unrequited love. In both the lyrics and the performance, you can feel the tangible sting of a missed opportunity.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

J GRGRY - China Creek [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some voices just catch you from the start. The earnest passionate sound of J GRGRY was such a voice for me.

This slow building love song never felt tepid, but rather stoic and determined in the way a lasting love must be. The rising crescendo was important in the progression. The talent shines here in this unassuming and honest track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kaya Stewart - California feat. Childish Major [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kaya Stewart brings an edgy allure to her vocal performance on ‘California.’ Of course the Golden State has long possessed that same brand of allure, so in this track that serves as a love letter to the state, the tone is dead on perfect. A brief Hip-Hop interlude from Childish Major adds to the mood and vibe of the track as a solid change-up to Stewart’s talented performance.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Karamilk - Hurt [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Karamilk delivers a dark Pop song about the pressures of social circles and how easy it is to lose yourself in the demands of a group.

The vocals offer a haunting distance that echoes the emotions of the lyrics and the production behind the track adds a depth of feeling that creates a suitable mood for the entire track.

’Hurt’ feels like a bit of genuine honesty amid a see of artificial — in a time dominated by social media and snapshots of what life is supposed to look and feel like.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Thirsty Curses - Bruises On Your Shoulders [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A clever bit of songwriting, and a simple yet imaginative video highlight this track. There is something here that reminded me of Elton John, but just a hint because Thirsty Curses certainly have their own brand of uniqueness to stand on.

’Bruises On Your Shoulders’ is simply put ... the song of life. An entertaining and concise look at the ho-hum, the dreams, the everyday. Hard to categorize, but I was thoroughly entertained.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)