Lucy Eaton - Rotten Love [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I will confess that very early on, the ukulele left me dubious about this track, but then Lucy Eaton’s stellar songwriting took over and I was pulled in and emotionally invested by both the writing and the performance.

This track is very Folksy in sound, but even if that is not your jam, the power of the lyrics cannot and will not be denied. Exploring the generosity of love, ‘Rotten Love’ is a fresh take on the emotion of love and that is of course no easy feat given the plethora of songs dealing with affairs of the heart. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Dex Channels - Last Sunday [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Vulnerable honest is not a vibe that makes its way into the Hip-Hop world as oftena s it should, but at times you find that one track that simply lays it out in such an engaging way you can’t help but fall in. Such is the case with ‘LAst Sunday’ from Dex Channels.

Dex Channels, formerly known as Backstreet Peejay, is a based out of Orlando, FL. After a car wreck left his neck fractured, Channels had a change of heart which resulted in the artist’s rebirth and rebranding. The accident changed the whole pitch of his voice and this left Channels uncomfortable with his new sound for a little while making him adapt to new creative pockets. Hence, he gravitated towards a more limitless identity and sound. He’s a boundless artist who’s brand pushes the listener to be their original self.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Benz Paul x The Crushboys - Dear Homie,...I Reject You [Remix]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Sometimes a song strikes the perfect tone to bring forth the vibe of the lyrics, and that is the case here with ‘Dear Homie, ... I Reject You.’

In what would could be described as an emotively flat tone, Benz Paul offers the perfect set of vocals to make you feel these particular lyrics. The melancholic distance is the perfect vibe here, and the combination is very engaging as the performance and writing blend to set a mood that grips the listener hard.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Veridia - Light It Up [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming straight at you with an infectious brand of energy, Veridia demands your attention with their latest single, ‘Light It Up.’ Sometimes the best thing I can do is get out of the way and provide a link to the tracka nd a quote from the artists, so here you go ...

’Our new single, “Light it Up” is about being inspired by those brave enough to speak up and take action against injustice and advocating for human rights with love and grace. This song isn’t condoning violence or literal arson, it’s about our internal, metaphorical fires of compassion and strength that spark real change. It was inspired by the resilient people in my personal life and those who strive and hope every day for a more unified tomorrow... .’ ~ Deena Jakoub”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Bashaya Soul - Magnetic [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“A Disco era throwback with enough of an Electro Pop contemporary vibe to make it feel fresh and contemporary.

One of these days we will all be able to return to the dance floor, and ‘Magnetic’ from Bashaya Soul should be one of the tracks spun to get us up and moving when that day arrives.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Folkus - Blue [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming with a threadbare and almost pained, brand of vocal delivery, Folkus unleashes the emotion behind ‘Blue’ with an intensity that is captivating. The melody and lyrics play perfect roles in the progression and build, but it is the vocal performance here that hooks you and refuses to let go.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Grayson Ty - Tongue Tied [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A smooth and sensual track about the power of love and lust. For me, the cadence and groove really set the mood for the lyrics and emotive vocal delivery. Grayson Ty has the talent to make the simple arrangement work on this single, because he makes you feel every last word.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

dezabel - Fade Away [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Combining the the talents of LA area singer and songwriter, Jazelle Paris, and Zurich based producer, Bilgi, ‘Fade Away’ is a mesmerizing track that I ironically expect to do anything but fade away.

Paris not only supplied the vocals but also wrote the lyrics and melodies to the Electro Pop track that captures the fleeting thoughts and feelings of a high octane relationship slipping away into the night.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mighty - Turn the Lights On [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This high-energy hype track feels like the perfect add to your workout playlist. On ‘Turn The Light On,’ Mighty infuses a catchy hook and a nice rising progression to give us this track which feels like something between an infectious dance floor mix and a big bold sports anthem ready for the arena.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Nothing but a Nightmare - Kleptomania [Review]

Rating: 4 put of 5

“Sometimes you hear echoes of music past in a track, and in them, you find your connection. ‘Kleptomania’ conjured a blend of Foreigner and Michael Jackson for me, and while few similarities exist between those acts, the blend here is energetic and sharp. Nothing but a Nightmare has submitted several songs to us and the talent always shines. Their diversity of sound truly makes the band stand out and capture my interest.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Amplified. - Look Like [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Amplified can flat out spit, but don’t be fooled by the speed and proficiency of his flow, because behind it is a set of hard hitting lyrics with something to say. It might take you a few listens to pick up all the nuances, but ‘Look Like’ packs in plenty of lines with punch, and you can’t deny the skill with which they are dropped on this track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Nothing but a Nightmare - Problems Being Cool [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A pure Rock anthem for anyone that has ever had trouble playing it cool.

Nothing but a Nightmare delivers an energetic true rock sound, and their latest single ‘Problems Being Cool’ defies the traditional cliches of the genre, to bring forth a track with both heart and grit. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Swan Levitt - Someday Soon [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Swan Levitt delivers a soft emotional track about finding peace and a way forward after a hard time. Written specifically about recovery, ‘Someday Soon’ has even a broader relevance in the word as we all try to find a new path after a tough traumatic year.

In the words of Levitt ... ‘This is about getting back to where you were before it went so wrong...perhaps lying to yourself a little in the mean time. But things will get better, eventually.’ In the meanwhile, a touching song like this can help us feel like we are not alone.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

BurrLin-2-Step [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“BurrLin’s new single ‘2-Step’ comes in strong with a suspenseful stomp intro and shows us the sound of a multi-talented man. With a flow like legendary artists Nas and Nipsey, BurrLin is 2-Stepping through the streets of Cali; musically laying out a map of why the West Coast is the best coast.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Rett Madison - Kerosene [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Rett Madison. Remember that name. Her latest single ‘Kerosene’ is a true burner in every sense. The lyrical power is undeniable, but it is the emotive vocal style that truly makes Madison feel special in that Jason Isbell kind of way.

There is a country twang to her voice at times, but this is no commercial Nashville pablum. This is heartfelt Folk or more aptly Americana that demands you sit and listen and feel the emotion of the words and performance. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Logan Yeater - Hard Liquor [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dropping in with a stream of conscious vibe, Logan Yeater utilizes sharp lyrics, and a powerfully melancholic delivery style to infuse this track with a strong sense of place, time, and emotion. The emotive flow is one that hooks and holds despite not having the kind of glossy repetitive hook that often dominates the music scene. Here such a thing is not needed, as this is a song that you simply feel as it unfolds.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Scott Luka - In the Club [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“It is the rare song that can come with a tongue-in-cheek set of lyrics and still mange to pull of a meaningful track. Scott Luka has done it here with ‘In The Club,’ which originally was meant as a sarcastic condemnation on the often cliched tropes prevalent in a lot of popular music, but along the way the track became a bit more nostalgic for me and that left me feeling sort of caught in between musical worlds and times. Reminiscent for the past, and reluctant but hopeful for that next great thing. In this music is like life and here all of it felt very tangible for me.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jesse Gold - One in a Million [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Expressing your feelings is never easy and quite often we turn to liquid courage to speak our heart. ‘One in a Million’ is a Pop-ish, R&B track about two lovers reluctant to admit they are falling for one another in a lasting kind of way. Jesse Gold shines here as does his duet partner and the two voices combine to keep the listener emotionally invested.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Wax Owls - Set it Free [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“In what is the debut single for Wax Owls, ‘Set It Free’ is a big soaring brand of Commercial Folk. Falling into a stratosphere somewhere between Mumford & Sons and Tom Petty the band’s sound feels lively and emotional on this track. Lyrically, the song is about moving back and sort of facing your past while acknowledging the roads you’ve traveled. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Confetti - People Suck (2020 Remix) [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“True to their name, Confetti comes at you with a party song. ‘People Suck’ might not be a conventional party song, but then there hasn’t been a damn thing conventional about 2020, so perhaps this is the party song we all need right now.

This track is easy to belt out and song along with, and despite the revelry in style, it comes with some serious observations and thoughts.

Cue this up as a barroom anthem for the day we can all gather together and drink once again.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)