Cam Carter and Raquel Aurilia - Reaching Out For You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“In today’s musical landscape, we often dismiss a track before it has time to truly land it’s emotional punches. I nearly did that here. The early vocal groove from Raquel Aurilia, while beautifully delivered, did not hit me in the feels, but when blended with the slow deliberate flow of Cam Carter and the message of the track subsequent refrains landed with perfect emotional balance. This is definitely a track that means more with each listen.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lex Holmes - Camera Roll [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We all have those old camera shots that transpose us back in time in an instant. With the new single, ‘Camera Roll,’ Lex Holmes unfurls the emotions of such a trip and the times behind it.

The Indie Rock sound, and slow tempo of the track combine to hook the listener in and put them in the perfect place to reflect on their own set of images.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zach Hood - Flashbacks [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is as honest and emotionally bare as music gets. Zach Hood drops a deeply personal Indie Pop song about the emotional effect on a child when one parent simply walks out of their life. Divorce is rough on all involved, and the imagery of the home videos here doubles down on the emotion of the track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Alyssa Caroline - Not The One [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Alyssa Caroline comes with Commercial/Indie Pop single that speaks to to the insecurities lurking in most of us. There is a bit of a Taylor Swift flavor in the emotion, but for me the writing here is more honest and straightforward. ‘Not The One’ is an ode to anyone who feels like they are more of a second choice than a priority for others.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Satellite Station - Satellites [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The Satellite Station delivers a tranquil atmospheric sound here on this track about the fleeting brightness of many relationships. Like ‘Satellites’ crossing the sky with a brief, but a bright glimmer, these short arcs of our lives have a bigger impact on the cosmos of our existence even though they come and go.

This is definitely a mood piece perfect for those reflective times when we are considering our own place in the universe.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Josh Fudge - Hit My Line [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A soulful groove that takes you on the same emotional ride the mind goes on when waiting for and hoping for that nevermind call of forgiveness after things go south with someone. The tempo and progression sort of swim along in a sea of murky water, just as out brains do in such a situation giving it the perfect vibe and feel for such a track. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Luka State - Fall In Fall Out [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“If life were presented like a novel, then no doubt each chapter would represent the times we fall in and out of love. The Luka State has given us a track that takes the emotions of those ups and downs, and distills them into musical form. I hear hints of vintage Springsteen and splash of Bryan Adams to the vocal style with an almost gospel like musical build that comes across as pure Indie Rock.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jenny Kern - Coming Back For Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jenny Kern dials up the mood of solitude on her new track, ‘Coming Back For Me.’ The writing and vocal performance combine to capture the vibe of what I’d describe as lonely determination.

The realization that we are each responsible for our own emptions ... be it happiness, anger, pain or any other, is a tough one to grasp, but knowing how to be okay completely within yourself is a worthwhile pursuit for us all .”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Estella Dawn - Petty [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Betrayal of any kind is a tough thing to take without suffering emotional scars. Estella Dawn takes those emotions on in ‘Petty,’ a track about coming to the realization that the person you have been there to support of lift up, is not nearly as committed to doing the same for you in your time of need.

Dawn captures the feelings well and delivers an engaging set of vocals to go with a well-written track that speaks to the power of friendship and betrayal. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Limón Limón - Away [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This last year has left many of us longing to escape and get ‘Away.’ Limon Limon has captured that eager desire in an energetic ode to wanderlust.

Musically, the track has a splash of the throwback 80s vibe without ever falling purely into a retro feel. There is a dash of The Police, but also a hint of Maroon 5 all over the top of a Latin flair to the beat.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Michael Malcolm x Leems - Without You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If you crave honest emotion from your music, Michael Malcom has you covered with ‘Without You.’

Teaming up with his bestfriend, Leems, this Canadian pairing offers a nice tranquil Pop song that is long on simply honesty and the genuineness is what makes the track captivating.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Devora - Not Dead Yet [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Devora says of the single — ‘This song commemorates the ups and downs of life, while celebrating the moments that we have today, if only for today. It’s a salute to going your own way in life and carving your own lane undaunted—observing one’s uniqueness, honoring yourself and embracing the crazy ride along the way. This song is a salute to outlaws everywhere.’

Travis says of the single, This is a kick ass supercharged track that pumps through your veins from start to finish.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Candid - Amputation [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The Candid offers up the pain of having your heart removed. ‘Amputation’ is not a word widely used as a synonym for hear break but having your soul ripped out by a bad breakup is no less panful than losing a limb while you are are enduring the emotional pain so it works well here in this raw, Indie Rock delivery. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Tessa Violet - Wishful Drinking [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming in with an alluring beat and vocal style, Tessa Violet is doing a bit of ‘Wishful Drinking’ on her latest single. The track first found life as part of a Tik Tok challenge, and is now ready to go beyond the realm of social media and mesmerize us all with its snake charm like sound of intoxication. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Ella Sisters - Drunk On December [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written like a melancholy letter home, ‘Drunk On December’ is a songwriters’ ode to feeling down and blue while stressing over the anxiety that they have not fulfilled the expectations of others they care about. The Ella Sisters deliver vulnerable emotions that hold you tight in a relatable way that speaks to all of our insecurities and fears.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Maella - Downtown [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Maella is back with a seductress of a single that feels like the whisper of a lover in your ear. Smooth vocals and an alluring groove keep you leaning in on the progression of this Indie/Electro Pop ode to the excitement of meeting that someone new that quickens your heart and lowers your inhibitions. ‘Downtown’ is where you will want to be after listening to this track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Carly King - Mountains, Alone. [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Carly King has that vocal tone that works for whatever style she wishes to sing, and that does make it tough to categorize her sound. There is a hint of Macy Gray, a splash of Dylan, a whiff of Rondsant and Emmylou all in that timbre, but most important is the emotion and feeling that emits from her delivery. This track couples that with strong songwriting, and in the end, the emotions wrap around you like a soft warm blanket on a chilly day.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

TROY - Undercover [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love on the sly brings that extra little bit of excitement and this ubeat track from TROY certainly captures that spark and secretive allure with its own tone and vibe.

’Undercover’ leans more Commercial Pop, but does deliver just a hint of a Funk groove that works well. No doubt this is a track that will be shared between covert lovers, but no matter who you are, you can appreciate the passion and energy. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Tommy Newport - Warp Speed Suzie [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tommy Newport has captured magic by blending an old soul vibe, with a modern progression and build on his latest single, ‘Warp Speed Suzie.’

The Funk might draw comparisons to Bruno, but there was a verve and confidence about the performance that also reminded me of Timberlake, not in tone, but attitude. This is the kind of track you hear once and by the end feel like its a song you’ve been jamming to for a decade.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

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)