Anna Bates - Last Man On Earth [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Inspired the unfinished TV of the same title, ‘Last Man on Earth’ is a wryly sharp track about the end of times and the few people that remain left behind. The imagery of the video is as entertaining as the actual song.

Anna Bates is a talented songwriter and here she delivers an emotive track that comes with humor and emotion — a rare combination to get right. The track has a folksy vibe at times, and feels light and airy, but lyrically the song covers a realm of emotions.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jackson Guthy - Like I Did [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There is an inherent sadness to this track but given that Jackson Guthy is singing about the waning days days of a relationship that is almost a given. ‘Like I Did’ is a last ditch question to a lover in a final effort to get back to the former happiness and euphoria the couple once felt.

Delivered with an emotive rasp and a building piano melody the track feels timeless in both its sound, and emotions. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sahara Beck - Stillness [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sahara Beck delivers a haunting yet tender set of vocals on this track. ‘Stillness’ is sort of the calm before the storm with fear and anxiety looming on the horizon, the track’s lyrics and vocal style bring out the rising dread you feel when you realize the world is about to tip and become less stable. Deliver in nuanced fashion, the impact is all the stronger. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

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

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The road to stardom is fraught with all manner of stress and pitfalls as is life itself, and Hotel Mira captures that with ‘Speaking off The Record.’

Any artist worth their salt has experienced hard times as most often the tough times are the creative fuel that inspires great art. This track is candid and raw and taps into the pain and turmoil that we all feel and experience, but are often too afraid to share with the world.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Limón Limón - Weird Vibes [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LA duo Limón Limón offers up this intriguing bop about the ‘Weird Vibes’ of our times. History has definitely taken an odd turn and this track captures the sentiments of most of us as we try to navigate our way through the mud and muck. A steady beat and tight vocals keep the track running straight and the strong writing brings home the points as well as the emotions of the track. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Attics - Comic Sans [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kelaska - Long Way Home [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Going out of your way to avoid running into that person that broke your heart or hurt you in some other way is something we have all done, and Kelaska expresses those emotions with heartfelt clarity on the track, ‘Long Way Home.’

A Pop track that is comparable to emotion of a Taylor Swift song, the lyrics tell a story but he vocal performance makes you truly feel it.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Peaceful James - Love Like Vegas [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Peaceful James captures a nice blend of Funk, Rock and Roll, and energy with the track ‘Love Like Vegas’ This is the genre bending kind of sound that you’d expect from The Black Keys or Jack White and the energy is as palpable as your heartbeat. For all its sinful brand of fun Vegas is a hard place to walk away from as a winner and love can feel that same way way at times. This track brings that point to musical life very well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Taylor Bini - Started Chewing My Nails Again [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Finally a break up song that feels as random and abstract as our minds tend to get after such a painful experience. The emotions are real and tangible here on this track and the writing is spot on brilliant. The track is short, but packs in everything it needed to in just under two minutes. A brilliantly crafted song that comes with a different angle than most artists are capable of delivering. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

LVRBOY - sick of me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LVRBOY releases this lyrically intricate track about friendship and bad relationships. ‘sick of me’ is about friends sick of seeing you give a n ex chance after chance when they are undeserving and the conflicting emotions of being caught up in the middle. The sound is bold and as much Rock as Pop, but blends the lines quite well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ryan Cassata - CLOSER [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Longtime fans of LA on Lock are no stranger to Ryan Cassata’s talent as we have featured several songs from this songsmith.

’CLOSER’ is the latest track from the artist and once again Cassata has tapped into an emotional energy that sells the lyrics with precision and verve. This track is a bit more energetic than the others we’ve featured, but the groove and rhythm really help bring this one to life.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

STAY GLDN - Dead Ends, Fake Friends [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LA on Lock is proud to premier this new single from STAY GLDN. ‘Dead Ends, Fake Friends’ is the antithesis of nostalgia. There are many track about going home again but this British band puts a different spin by lamenting the fact they did not leave all that much behind when the left the nest.

This Indie/Dream Pop track conveys the memories and emotions and the simple video works well to help convey the relived brand of melancholy the song puts off. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

RIVER - Someday [Review]

“Nostalgia and melancholy ride tandem in this track from Hamburg’s RIVER. ‘Someday’ is the kind of track that can mean different things to you from day to day depending on your own mood and headspace, but no matter what you take away the easy groove and clever writing will engage you and pull you deep inside the rhythm of this Indie Rock effort. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Hunter Moreau - Sleepyhead [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We all get stuck in our head and repeat the same old tired refrains we believe to be true, but that often hold us back. Hunter Moreau takes that habit and turns it into an engaging Bedroom Pop track. ‘Sleepyhead’ has enough energy and verve to make the track come alive, yet enough emotional vulnerability to hook and hold and get us all to thinking about our own mental habits. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

MIXIE - Run Away [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Already having made her mark as a model, digital artist, and fashion designer, MIXIE is celebrating her artistic journey into music with her debut single, ‘Run Away.’

LGBTQI+ to the bone and current Manhattanite, MIXIE is a renaissance girl for the 21st century. Riding pure Pop tones and Commercial vibe musically, this track is right at home with current hits. The energy and lyrical flow hooks in and doesn’t let go. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ian Oshér - Never Alone [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Light and upbeat, ‘Never Alone’ from Ian Oshér is one of those songs that grabs you in immediately and refuses to let you go. The LA artists rides a nice calm wave to deliver the track. There is a subtle energy and spark without the track resorting to gimmicks or over production. The simple, straightforward lyrics and arrangement work quite well. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

CVBZ x American Authors - This Time is Right [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is one of those big bold Indie Rock songs that feels as much like an anthem as anything else. The kind of build and arrangement that sweeps listeners up and in. The kind of track that incorporates various elements and genres to create a sound that resonates for music lovers of all.

The energetic build and progression is joined by talented vocal performances to create a vibe that hooks and holds with ease. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Manic Boys And Girls Club - Blacked Out [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Everyone enjoys a night out but then there are the nights were we try to escape. The Manic Boys And Girls Club latest single “Blacked Out” is about one night out of being free and escaping the world and its issues. The bond between the artists are amazing and the visual aspect allows you to really experience the mindset someone has when they escape and black out, just or wake up alone. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Kayla DiVenere - PSYCHOPATH [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This is masterfully constructed track. LA’s Kayla DiVenere utilizes not only her vocal talent to instill a mood, but the arrangement plays a huge role in conveying the emotion and feeling behind the well-written lyrics.

Coming with a Commercial Pop Punk sound ‘PSYCHOPATH’ delivers an up and down tempo that matches the impact of the writing and keeps the listener guessing what will come next as they lean in and lose the world around them.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sarah Gross - Amy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sarah Gross joins a growing movement of talented women pouring their heart and soul out with Folk driven Americana. Currently, Brandi Carlilse is the name many associate with this sound, but Gross offers a softer vocal style that stands on its own. This track, like the rest of the EP is written about the New York town she grew up in and the rich slate of characters that Gross walked beside over the years.”

— Travis Erwin