Peri El - Slow Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is all about the vocals. Peri El does a masterful job with pace and tempo and allowing the emotion to develop. There are moments of power and wonder, but the track is strongest for me in its quieter moments.

Toeing a line between a classic Adult Contemporary sound, and a more Commercial/Jazz vibe, the track changes when it hits the bridge. That interlude is brief, but works very well to give a unique spin on the track and keep the piece feeling solidly contemporary.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Flow'etic x Natel - Jelly Water [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is a nice fusion of Reggae and Rap to this track. Lyrically, the single is about those fake ass friends we have all had to deal with at one point or another.

Playing off of a Jamaican proverb the chorus is catchy and hooks you easy enough. The track is fairly chill, with a low key beat and melody. Well produced the blend of music and voices is interwoven to perfection. This one is all about mood and vibe. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jaycreux - Buggy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jaycreux drops a soulful Hip-Hop flow that feels a bit stream of conscious in the mood, but also brings a nice groove in the beat and melody. His voice has just a touch of rasp, and the performance brings emotion and passion which keeps the single interesting, and makes it easy to connect with. The lyrics are complex and layered, making this is the kind of track you will pull new things from every single time you listen. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Freedom Fry - West Coast [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Freedom Fry are one of my favorite discoveries since joining LA on Lock as a reviewer. They often surprise me and this track is no different.

’West Coast’ delivers nice harmonies over the top of a classic California sound, and lyrically the track is sharp and twisty, in the way that Freedom Fry’s lyrics usually are. As you listen, the emotion permeates the air and warms you like the golden rays of a setting sun. There is both hope and trepidation here, and that so perfectly captures the feelings of chasing a dream.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

NEO NOIR x AIMEE - Jezebel [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track is one of these songs that feels like therapy for the artist that wrote it. The thing is, when a songwriter and performer puts this much into a track, it often turns out to be therapeutic for the rest of us as well.

The song is wryly humorous, in its directness, and the vocals bring a pure Pop rhythm that is easy to become engrossed in and sing along with. The chorus is catchy and fun, and overall the song offers one big FU to the narcissistic assholes we have all known. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Amanda Spvde - Other Girls [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The slow beat and tempo would not work nearly as well without Amanda Spvde’s stellar vocals on this track, but as it is, the balance is perfect.

Here, the heartbreak builds and is palpable throughout the track because of the outstanding vocal performance, and the production got out of the way to allow that magic to happen. This is a track to play on repeat when your own heart is caught in those vulnerable moments at the end of a relationship.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rouno - On My Way (feat. Chris Yoon) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is a Future Bass love letter written to a distant lover. An ode to the longing inspired by a long-distance relationship, the track brings an emotional resonance. The beat and melody are soft for the most part, with enough build to make the track interesting and engaging. The production, lyrics, and vocal performance compliment each other to create a seamless, emotional thread.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Mayblues - Modern Nocturne [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track delivers that smooth, almost snakelike Alternative Rock rhythm that Nirvana made famous. here that vocal style comes slithering in over the top of a bluesy beat.

Lyrically, the song details a doomed relationship that was meant to be casual, in the friends with benefits kind of way, but those situations never last long, because invariably one party catches THE FEELS. And we all know once the feels come out, there will soon be a cosmic train wreck that derails what was only meant to be a steady hook up.

Call it commentary of today’s dating world if you must. But what matters here is the single has genuine heart and emotion along with a talented retro vibe. Check out this rock solid single from The Mayblues. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Grand Am - Five Days A Week And Twice On Sunday [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Inspired by a storytelling acquaintance in New Orleans, ‘Five Days A Week and Twice on Sunday’ is a bluesy Alternative Rock single about the power and definitive feelings love inspires in us all. The track captures the desperate need and want quite well all with a soulful groove that shines through the beat and melody.

Grand Am has given a track that pulls you in and hooks you with both emotion, and a hint of funk behind their Rock and Roll sound. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hello Ocean - Whatever You Wanted [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has an old school Adult Contemporary/ Country feel in the vein of Linda Ronstadt. The vocals are heartfelt and emotional and I could feel every last word. Lyrically, the single is delivered from the viewpoint of a forsaken lover who is not quite ready for the relationship to be over. ‘Whatever You Wanted’ is less about desperation, and more about hope. The plea of the heartbroken lover is soft and touching and explores a situation most of us have found ourselves in at some point.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

COUNTERFEIT. - 11:44 [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jumping right in with the opening line ... ‘Raise your middle finger, gotta let them know,’ COUNTERFEIT. wastes no time bringing energy and passion to their latest single ‘11:44.’

The track came to me labeled as Indie Rock, but in a lot of ways it feels more Punk to me than anything else. The lyrics are calling for change and engagement with the world around us. This is a rocking political track full of energy and solid writing. A high-energy song urging action.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

MoCity Jones - Won't Be Long [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“If you are thirsty for some old school sound, with a modern spin — then MoCity Jones has you covered.

The lyrics are sharp and relevant. The flow definitely has an old soul to it, both in that it shows the influences of the past, and that brings a hint that Soul sound, especially during the chorus.

The track builds in tempo and emotional impact and I can see myself putting this on more than one playlist and listening to it for years to come. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Beecher's Fault - Head On [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Like the title suggests, ‘Head On’ is a track that straight up faces what it is attempting to say, and expresses the emotions at hand without much subterfuge.

Smooth, soft vocals, that carry a hint of Folk in the tone, deliver an uplifting and encouraging set of lyrics that are affirmative and entertaining at the same time. The melody is not complex , and overall the song brings gentle, but meaningful message that is easy to connect and stay focused upon.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Will Callan - Out Of My Life [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Will Callan is talented beyond his years ,both in vocal capacity, and in the layers to his songwriting. At only 16, Callan is creating and producing music from his bedroom that rivals that of heavily funded labels. This particular single is an energetic ode to moving on even when a big part of you doesn’t want to. That is a hard concept to grasp at any age as our hearts often overrule our minds.

Here, there is enough of a youthful spirit to keep the track this side of melancholy, but enough depth to make it a single you can listen to over and over again. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

EDES - Back To You [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Do you believe in connection? Or sometimes you may wonder how you and a friend or relative may have lost touch? ‘Back to You’ is the debut single from Norwegian producer/singer Edes.; with a nice laid back melody he tells how time and time again he tries to start over but leaves back to you”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

MIDØS - When Will I Learn [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“MIDØS offers a sobering wake up call with, ‘When Will I Learn.’

Breaking free of a toxic relationship is tough, and it often takes a catastrophic event for us to see through the “blindness” that love can instill in us all.

This track is a Pop/Disco blend that sends listeners on an up and down roller coaster of just such a volatile relationship. The tempo is upbeat and urgent, and the lyrics poignant enough to have resonance for all of us, whether we have been there or not. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Murphy's Law - Cypher [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This isnt a BET Cypher but the flow would take the audience by storm if giving the chance. What started out as a creepy melody ended up to be a smooth lyrical Cypher by Murphy’s Law. Even when he started to speed up after the 2 mark he still gave us the smooth tempo throughout the whole track”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Jordana - Signs [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track brings an oddly mesmerizing mix of sounds and emotions. There is an almost, Napoleon Dynamite quality in the synthesized do-it-yourself vibe to the initial melody and beat. And yet, the whole thing also delivers a sophisticated set of vocals and complexity that comes out in layers. The lyrics are well-written and the production decisions are both compelling and befuddlingly perfect.

This single is hard to categorize, but perhaps Bedroom Pop is the best choice.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Soulllfoo x Ed Summers - Love to Love [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A soulful groove leads this track off before the main vocal flow drops in with a steady back beat and smooth roll. The performance feels both intimate and aggressive in a way that is tough to pull off. There is confidence in the delivery as well as an urgent need to make things work. That dynamic makes this an intriguing track and the production and beat keep you on the hook with an undeniable energy that will makes you want to move to the beat. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

4ndreas - Good Times Ain't Cheap (prod. 4ndreas) [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The stark truth always hits hard, and ‘Good Times Ain’t Cheap’ delivers nothing but the truth. An emotional track that brings out the feels for what once was, what might have been, and what could be ... this is the kind of song that puts water on flaming bridges and leads us back to those we love and care about the most. The writing is sharp, and poignant, and the delivery allows us to feel these words to our core. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

social links:
instagram.com/4ndreas
twitter.com/4ndreas_ny