Hannah Evans - Crying On Your Own [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track is a tale of two sounds. The first is dark and soulful, while the second is pure pop with a bouncy commercial appeal. The contrast is a bit shocking at the first change in tone and style, but overall the arrangement works quite well once you adjust.

The comparisons to Billie Eilish are easy ones to make, but there is a bit more soul to the slower verses and a bit more of a pop feel during the uptempo portions of the single so Hannah Evans is bringing her own spin and brand of talent to the table. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mash Louis - Enlightenment [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A nice stream of conscious track that builds throughout. Starting easy and calm, the vibe intensifies, as does the flow, creating an urgency that held me tight to both the lyrics and the performance.

The track hits a bit of calm in the middle giving us a breather before again launching back into the emotion and verve that hooked me before. Their is both confidence and vulnerability here, and that adds to the intrigue of this track. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

FARR - Heal Me [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“FARR is a multi-national duo with the talent to demand you sit up and pay attention to anything they release. ‘Heal Me’ hits like a soulful prayer for the pained and lonely.

Written after a night of London libation, the track was written by the Los Angeles based half of the group, and rarely has a hangover combined with a case of the heartache from missing someone resulted in something so gripping.

Hard to put this in any genre, but Electronic Pop Blues will somewhat point you the right direction. No matter what you call it, you will want to listen over and over again, as the emotions settle on and around you.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Running Lights - Next Year (Acoustic) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The end of the years tends to bring out reflections in all of us ... where we are, as opposed to where we hoped we’d find ourselves. The New Year then turns those feeling into resolutions and goals.

This track captures the emotions of all of that in a few minutes and entertains us with a calm melody and emotional performance as it does so. There is a sort of a Pop/Coffee house vibe to the track making it not truly fit in any genre. But good music is good music, and it rarely needs a definition.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Abigail Rose - Birthday [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“The beat and melody come in light and airy, and leading in, the song has the feel of a sugary sweet love song, but the vibe turns quickly.

’Birthday is a well-crafted song with lyrics that feel like stream of conscious heartache that mirrors the mundane acts that hit hard after a breakup. And if there is regret or uncertainty that you did the right those emotions are all the more acute.

The lyrics as well as the performance bring all of this out perfectly in this Electro Pop track that is easily my favorite within the genre in a long while. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Payson Lewis - Nothing To You [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Payson Lewis delivers creativity in his new visual ‘Nothing to You’. He shows how he’s in love but it’s like she no longer notices him. He becomes invisible like a piece of furniture or a fly on the wall. Through the frustration he explains he rather have her not exist.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

paintriiip - MAKE WAVES [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Delivering a chill vibe, ‘MAKE WAVES’ is a tranquil track offering encouragement and inspiration.

The vocal are smooth and relaxing here and lyrically the track is urging you to be you. Without worrying about, or trying to keep up or impress others based upon their idea of success. Call it an anti conformity track if you want., but this is the kind of message we all need to hear from time to time. A perfect addition to your more reflective playlists. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

SHY Martin - Slow [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“A soft melody leads us into SHY Martin’s stellar vocal performance. The edges of her voice are ragged and vulnerable in the best possible way. The lyrics are well-written and the combination of songwriting and performance are perfectly balanced to make ever word carry an impact. The pace is slow and the vibe both soft and delicate, but both are perfect for the song to come alive.

We’ve all been hurt and had to tiptoe our way back into some kind of relationship or situation so this track has a resonance that will speak to most who take the time to slow down and listen.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zack Ely x DEEGAN - Rough [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a smooth Pop feel from the very first beat and word. Lyrically, the track can be interpreted varied ways, and I suspect it will hit people differently based upon their own beliefs and life experiences. The vocals are layered and capture your focus with a stellar performance that brings the emotion to the forefront.

Drawing a comparison here is tough, as Zack Ely has a voice that hints at a few well names, but still clearly stands out all on its own. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

LILYAN. - HAUNTED [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The writing here cuts like a knife, and the resulting wound feels raw, fresh, and wonderful because the emotional truth is palpable. And sometimes a good emotional blood letting is needed for a full recovery.

The eighteen year old LILYAN. is talented for any age, but the songwriting is not her only asset as the vocal performance is alive and passionate as well. In this case, the vocal tone unfurls the words with precision and variance making it hard to escape the hold this track puts on you. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Stardawg - Runaway [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track feels bigger than it is, thanks to the layering both vocally and musically.

As a duo, Stardawg relies on the depth of their talent to achieve such a complex sound. Lyrically, ‘Runaway is the kind of song that can be taken different ways and still have true meaning and emotion. I for one, am eager to get a listen to both the upcoming EP and a live show from this LA based pair.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hovzter - Left Me Broken (Remix by Dachaio & JAGGE) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A tender vulnerable voice launches in from the beginning and it is in the softness of that voice that the emotional attachment first forms. The production here is subtle but a perfect match to the performance and lyrics. The beat is as gripping as the vocal tone making this a complete track that you will want to listen to over and over gain because the vulnerability of the song is one that we can all relate to unfortunately and this mix does a masterful job of making us feel every nuance. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Zali - That Girl [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The taste of regret is never an easy one to swallow and Zali conjured the memories of that flavor with ‘That Girl.’ Soulful Pop is the sound here as the track delivers attitude from the perspective of the one you let go, and now find yourself wishing you didn’t.

This is a fun song that should resonate for those on both sides of the emotional spectrum because you relate if you are the one who screwed up, or are the one who can hold your head high in knowing your ex now regrets all of their mistakes. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Young F.Y.E - 1 Wish [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is my first go hearing Young F.Y.E, and that is a damn shame because this is Hip-Hop as it should be.

Delivering a unique tone to a familiar world and theme, ‘1 Wish’ isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather just put some some and personal spin. The flow is talented, clear and distinct, no mumbling to a rhythm and calling it art. Rooted in personal experience you come away feeling like you know a bit about the man behind this track rather than the smoke and mirror job some in the game try to fool us with. In other words, this just feels real and we need more genuineness in the genre.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cardell - Here We Go Again [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“We love festivals and concerts but what do you a call a lyric video that is full of energy and unicorn colors? You call it ‘Here We Go Again’ by Cardell. This Electric Pop Song is something that you can be free on. The melody hits each chord just right to take you wherever you want to go.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Magic Seis - Pablo [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A smooth Latin beat backs the vocal flow on this track giving it an exotic and Reggae feel. The performance here held me with lyrics that offer a commentary on Hip Hop culture as well as Magic Seis own goals and aspirations.

The dream is often closer than we realize but the struggle to keep battling is tough. This track hints at that aspect while also using the metaphor to suggest it is important to be careful of who you keep close. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kubla - Changes [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There are certain artists that simply know how to capture their audience and Kubla instantly hit me as that kind of artist.

Musically and vocally this track just feels a bit different somehow. Soulful with smooth guitar throughout, this track feels like Prince and John Mayer came together in one glorious act of musical enlightenment.

Lyrically, the track did not speak to me quite on that same level and yet I stayed captivated by the performance. And that, is the magic of talent that elevates each song they deliver.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

kieranae - kieranae & Jasmine Bailey - Taco Nap Feat. Russell Seward [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some tracks just have that ability to quickly establish a mood and vibe. And when paired with the right emotion, it is those tracks that land in our very soul. This is that kind of track. The kind of musical piece perfect for chilling and watching the sun slide down in the west.

This is the kind of music that somehow brings us closer to our inner self as we listen. Tranquil and calm, the vocals both sooth and evoke, which is a tough combination to achieve.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Dez Money - I Want Your Love [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The name Money is no stranger to the music world, and Dez Money carries on with the family tradition started by his father, Eddie. The family can be seen on AXS TV’s show Real Money. ‘I Want Your Love’ is a contemporary song that feels more like Coldplay than his father’s music. At least it does until that guitar rift around three minutes in, when suddenly the DNA seems to come home for just a bit. This is a smooth easy track that is easy to join in and sing along to.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ziva - I. Otherside [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ziva will no doubt draw comparisons to Billie Eilish and while there are definite similarities between the artists, the teenage Ziva is a unique talent all on her own right.

This track is smooth and soulful, with a dark emotional thread carrying it to the end. The horn delivered a nice touch to the melody and brought with it just enough uptempo and funk to take this single to another level.

I can’t wait to hear more from this rising talented singer/songwriter as she moved forward with what should be a long career given her obvious talents.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)