Andrey Pitkin x Christina Novelli - Talking to You (Remix by Filatov & Karas) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean you can’t get up and dance!

Yeah, I am ‘Talking To You.’

This remix is a track that delivers both engaging vocals and an energetic production to get you moving. So grab the one you are sequestered with; the cat, the dog, hell grab the broom if you must, but toss you hair back and move to the music because it is important to get up and groove. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brooks Dixon - Let Go [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Brooks Dixon gives us a chill, Soft Contemporary Rock vibe with ‘Let Go.’ There are some jazz elements to the melody and the song has a calm mood setting aura of reflection and introspection. The vocals are engaging and carry enough emotion to pull you in. Genre wise the track is tough to pin down but for comparison it falls somewhere between Jimmy Buffett, Ed Sheeran, and Zac Brown. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jillian Steele - No Expectations [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jillian Steele has a voice that pulls you in immediately, and her single ‘No Expectations’ is one that has more to offer than an engaging performance and intriguing melody.

Co-written by Michel Heyaca and James Shelley (American Authors), the track was written during a period of uncertainty and confusion to narrate how things happens for a reason. in discussing the song, Steele reveals, ‘Life was happening around me and I was just in it without any control and through this song I gained insight that I do deserve things and I should have expectations of what I want.’

Taking control of emotions is what many artists hope to do with their work and Steele show that with her talent on this track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

LENII - Cereal [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Cereal is a traditional breakfast food made from grains, however Lenii’s brand of ‘Cereal’ is her new single. She shakes it up and pours it with a classic eerie beat as she talks about how words can not hurt her. Even at the 2 mark she went simple with a pause but it still keeps you listening. This is a track you should check out on her forthcoming EP. ‘In All Fairness’”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Matt Carstens - Why Him [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The guitar intro catches attention from the start and then Matt Carsten’s talented vocals take over the show.

’Why Him’ is a track for anyone a bit jaded about that ex that wants to come back and lean on you after their next doomed relationship. Being a crutch for another’s ego or insecurity is a tough position to be in especially if you still harbor feelings yourself. This energetic Pop track is one that many of us can relate to.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kafar Myers - True 2 Self [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kafar Myers has something he wants to say, maybe even needs to say. Often that is the element glaringly missing in modern Hip-Hop, where what is being laid down doesn’t matter as much as one big hook and a mumbled flow over a sick beat. But Myers is ‘True 2 Self’ here with his earnest and heartfelt lyrics delivered so that you can hear and feel every word. Truth and passion are all any talented artist need to rely on to give us a listening experience worth the time and Myers delivers both on this track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Katie Toupin - Don't Wanna Die [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“No, ‘Don’t Wanna Die’ is not about the virus dominating the news cycle as well as most of our thoughts, but the sentiment is timely just the same.

Actually, the lyrics were penned about the need for sobriety, and the single comes via a unique vocal tone delivered by Katie Toupin. There is just a hint of Amy Winehouse, both lyrically and musically, but you can feel the genuineness of the words in the performance which strongly suggests personal experience, rather than fandom of another artists is at the heart of this track. That fact gives this single the power to captivate and intrigue no matter what kind of times we are living in. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sophia Gripari - Clear to Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Finding clarity in the midst of a relationship can be tough, because emotion clouds your judgement like nothing else. This track is about finding that clarity of mind, though through this piece you will have no trouble distinguishing Sophia Gripari’s talent as her vocals shine from the beginning of this single. The production is clean and matches the overall vibe of the song making this a single that is easy to connect to and groove along with beyond the final note.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Nya Crea - Only You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nya Crea honors the 60’s soul singers that inspired her with this track inspired the idea of unconditional and everlasting love.

The track certainly feels like a throwback early on, though the chorus delivers a decidedly contemporary feel that lends the track a modern spin along with the Pop-Soul sound of yesteryear.

This is the kind of song that will be played for years to come at wedding receptions as a first dance for happy couples beginning their lifetime together, but is just at home on your personal playlist when you want to think about the one that speaks to your heart.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Johnny Franco - Tell Me Something [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Folk Funk is how I’d describe this track from Brazilian Johnny Franco. Franco now calls Portland home and you can hear influences ranging from the Beetles to Dylan, to the Shakey Graves in his sound.

’Tell Me Something’ is the kind of single that just takes over and forces you to sing along and move. it is the kind of song that you will be singing the rest of the day.

Franco is having a good time on this track, and you will too while listening. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lisa Heller - Closure [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“When its over, it is rarely truly over, because relationships are so deeply ingrained in us that there are many different layers we must peel back. Lisa Heller delivers those complexities with her latest single, ‘Closure,’ which is an intimate look at the feelings behind trying to get to that goodbye emotionally, while also desperately searching for something, anything to make it easier.

Heller’s haunting’s beautiful vocals brings out the strength of the songwriting, giving this single far more power than any of us feel in the vulnerable moments she sings about here.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

NugLife - All I Wanna Do [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Producer NugLife is adept and bring interesting collaborations, but ‘All I Wanna Do’ is different in that it is a solo effort. Featuring his talents both on production and vocals, NugLife takes you into the world of the stoner producer and his perspectives.

With a touch of the psychedelic in the sound and vibe, this track feels like a nice chill trip into the clouds. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Caleb Mills - Sold My Soul [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“A thumping bass line leads the charge on this bluesy track from Caleb Mills. From Robert Johnson onward the lure of selling your soul to achieve your dreams has been tossed about, but this track puts a nice little groove pop rhythm with that refrain. Here the lyrics are more about sacrificing all else for a shot than they are a true deal with the devil.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

CocoRosie - Burning Down The House [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Unleashing the vibe of Edgar Allen Poe, meshed with the musical talent comparable to any Pop Diva, the sister duo of CocoRosie has created a gloriously macabre sound with ‘Burning Down the House.’

This is not cookie cutter music and could frighten the more delicate looking for mindless music to rhythmically tap the steering wheel to while stuck in traffic. This is twisted and bendy and artistic, the perfect soundtrack for all of us looking to dance in the embers of convention.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Camden West - Lie, Cheat, Steal [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is an engaging Pop song that could fit in today’s definition of Mainstream Country Music which has increasingly gone to the pop side of things. Don’t get chased away by that, because this is not a country song. I repeat this is not a country song, but rather a damn good Pop song with solid emotional engagement and a top notch vocal performance. True to life lyrics and an energetic melody give the song an upbeat fun vibe. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Hollyy - What A Shame [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track incorporates a bit of a 50’s do wop vibe into a modern Indie Rock/ Americana sound, making it feel as if the single could be a hit across many different decades.

A slow dance track with soul and introspection behind it. You certainly will not be saying ‘What A Shame’ after giving this latest single from Hollyy a thoughtful listen.

Hollyy is an up and coming alternative soul band from Chicago.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kip Macklejar -Alligator Swamp Monster [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If you are a fan of Jack White’s quirky genius and energetic diverse melodies you will love Kip Macklejar’s single ‘Alligator Swamp Monster.’

Banging drums, keys, and a flair of the eccentric highlight the sound on this track that at times brought forth thoughts of Beck as well as the White Stripes. A fun, Indie Rock song to get your blood pumping. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Andrey Azizov x Mauwe - Take Me Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Andrey Azizov joins forced with Mauwe on this Electro Pop track which is a nice balance of light and dark both lyrically and melodically. The soft emotional resonance of her voice bring forth the sullen rain sodden vibe that is perfect for anyone feeling reminiscent or a touch melancholy. The track feel like a dark stormy night in that the world is quiet and still, yet the mind moves on. There too is a freshness and scent of hope that only rain and receding trouble can bring. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

ARSADI - If You Were Mine [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“ARSADI unleashes a musical daydream with, ‘If You Were Mine,’ a track detailing the vivid imagination of a future based upon nothing more than the sight of a complete stranger.

Sometimes the sight of a person speaks to us and we play such a movie in our minds. The vocal style fits that dreamy vibe and the melody is soft and engaging. There is a definite Coldplay aura to this single, and the energy builds as the track progresses to keep you immersed in the lyrics and performance ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Femke - I See You [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Written for a friend that attempted suicide, this track puts into words what so many people want to say to a loved one when they are in that desperate, dark place. Femke captures the emotion in both the lyrics and in a vocal performance that delivers both tenderness and resolve.

The calm tranquil melody helps us feel this track and explore the feelings being expressed. This is a singer/songwriter at the top of their game only life is no game. Life is a journey and sometimes we need talent like Femke to be our road map. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)