NIIVA - Love Games [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 .5 out of 5

“NIIVA starts ‘Love Games’ with a soft vulnerability that is alluring yet somehow leaves you wary at the same time. Not wary of the talent, but rather of what she drop next lyrically. The track keeps you on your toes and offers a few different vibes and arrangement all of which are seamlessly transitioned so that you are never left with emotional whiplash. Coy and talent I have the feeling the very talented NIIVA holds her own in any games she plays.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Crash -Homeless In LA [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“In a world where so many people are homeless or have experienced a time where they slept on the street, in a car, or been so broke they ate a $2 fast food meal. One of the leading cities for the homeless is LA. Artist Crash’s new single ‘Homeless In LA’ tells his story of having somewhere to go but really not having anywhere to go but the streets of LA.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Very Very - Daydreams [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The melody here brings a dreamy lullaby type of vibe though the lyrics offer a darker feel though the light tone covers up that fact if you are not truly paying attention to the words. The video too has elements of both dark and light and hints at the blackness with a wry bit of humor for those of us with sadistic streak. This is a surprisingly complex song and video if you care to take the deep dive, but the track works as an engaging bit of entertainment if you only want to splash in the shallow end of the emotional pool.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

YP GottiGang x Ju$tin Gray - Pretty Pretty [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Some tracks capture you in their beat progression and pull you effortlessly along for the duration. ‘Pretty Pretty’ is such a song and while lyrically there are few surprises, the words are engaging enough that you are compelled to join in and sing along.

Delivering a bit of verve and attitude, YP GottiGang and Ju$tin Gray leave us with a track at home in the car with windows down, in the the club, or on that playlist for your girl.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

MADic - Trump Check [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track drops a comical flow on the whole lock down, quarantine, Covid mindset. From blowing your stimulus wad on a one big joint, to Tiger King references, this one hits many notes of our time of self containment, but it does so with a wry smile and a thumping beat.

MADic obviously blew off some much needed steam by writing, recording, mix and mastering this one over a short 72 hour time-frame while stuck in confinement in NYC. His diverse talents show up throughout, and the video is a entertaining as well. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mikano -Fuego [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“What do you have to lose? Shxt according to Mikano”

” In a Men In Black meets Dead President visual, Mikano gives us a paced flow in the first verse then a strong flow comes in. As the guys are seen jumping around and having fun in an empty deck the song may sound simple but it is catchy. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Kelsy Karter - "Devil On My Shoulder" [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is a seductress. I didn’t really want to give in to it’s devilish charms, but Kelsy Karter gives a varied performance that is hard not to fall for, and the imagery of the video is fun and gripping as well.

Karter lives up to her unpredictable reputation with this track and the energy is undeniable. Give it a listen and be careful lest you to find a ‘Devil On My Shoulder.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Picture This - "Troublemaker" [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There are some tracks that just grab you and refuse to let you go. Picture This has given us one of those infectious singles with ‘Troublemaker.’

There is a campy quality to the video that grips you in the same way as a classic comedy that you don’t want to laugh and get drawn into, but then you find yourself quoting lines from that very flick years later. Here, the allure goes beyond the video, and this is a set of lyrics you will find yourself singing along to later as well. Don’t fight it, just give in and enjoy this unadulterated fun.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

S.G Goodman - Red Bird Morning [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Writing up a personal narrative, and tying it to something more so that it feels personally relevant for others is not easy chore, but S.G. Goodman has done so with ‘Red Bird Morning.’ Written about her time at the Standing Rock Protest the track feels both personally evocative, and intimately inviting. Like an old friend opening the screen door with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, and asking you in for a cup. The vocals are soft and yet ragged at the edges, and in them, is empathy, emotion and a knowledge you can’t help but crave more of. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

FLYNN - One of Us [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The story behind FLYNN’s new single, ‘One of Us’ is not a new tale in that a dreamer leaves behind his family in friends in pursuit of something more only to miss the things that shaped them. However, Flynn’s incredible talents do make this a unique listening experience. From emotionally laden lyrics to the complexities of his voice, FLYNN uses all he has to give us a rich experience of coming back home. OF feeling that connection to not only who we once were but what made us who we now are as well.

The video was shot in various Dublin locations and showcases an ease that also comes through int he song itself. An ease of having gone out and grown as a person and artists and an ease that there is no true need to run from the past because you can go chase dreams, and still be in tough with the pierces of your past that make you ‘One of Us.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Stellar Ash - Watch Me Go [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Straight up Rock and Roll that comes at you with attitude and something to say. This track is well-written and the performance engaging. The single stood out for me not only for the talent behind it, but the sheer fact it did not go out of its way to replicate a sound that came before it. Far too often modern Rock music is heavily reliant on the ghosts of the past, but here I got the sense that Stellar Ash simply were expressing themselves as they saw fit. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Carmanah - Best Interests [Music Video Review]

“This track has a groovy little beat and melody that pools and mingles with your soul like cool water on a hot summer day. This soothing quality is not like a calm tranquility, but rather an infusion you didn’t even know you needed so badly.

But rather than trying to describe how the song came about and its meaning I am going to leave that to the band itself and defer to the words of lead singer Laura Mitic ... ‘People are living in a state of nature deprivation, whether conscious or not. The song tells of someone swooping in and pulling their person out of a city and running with them to the coastline. It is intended to be slightly satirical, but there’s a hint of seriousness as well since the song touches on mental health and the state of the world we live in: over consuming, lusty for capitalist greed and concrete (in the literal sense).”

On the timeliness of the track she adds, ‘We are all being encouraged to consider the health of “us” as a community, rather than “us” as an individual. Now is the time to push selfishness aside and have each other’s best interests in mind. Now is the time to be caring for each other and to learn from this experience so we can move forward with our collective planet’s best interests in mind as well.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Emanuel - Need You [Music Video Review]

“Normally I use this space to review the songs and videos that speak to me but these are unprecedented times so I am calling an audible and simply sharing this one without my commentary. The information below is simply that, information. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

After releasing his debut single, “Need You”, last week, emerging Canadian R&B artist Emanuel suddenly found himself in global headlines. Only hours after its release, Golden Globe-winning actor, musician and producer Idris Elba OBE, started the collaborative social media campaign #NeedYou2020. In his Instagram post, Elba encouraged people to submit photos or videos for an “inspirational collage” he was creating to Emanuel’s brand-new single that would document how the world was coping with self-isolation.

Idris is very passionate about Emanuel’s talent - his involvement comes from a very sincere place (as a fan of Emanuel's music). The video is made up of footage sent in by members of the public. The single itself is absolutely beautiful, a really emotional song that pairs perfectly with Idris's message of hope. It is a testament to the power of the Canadian-Ethiopian artist's sumptuous vocal. During these testing times whilst people are confronted with challenging circumstances, the video for 'Need You' seeks to provide comfort and connectedness. 

See Idris’ call out on Twitter and Instagram.

Within 24 hours, over 3,000 submissions for the collaborative video had been sent in from people around the globe with a final total of over 4,500 entries from over 20 countries. By creating this collaborative call to action, Elba and Emanuel let the world direct the video we all need right now; a moving, honest expression of humanity’s deep need for connection. Emanuel’s stirring vocals unify the compelling images and create a sense of connection in a self-isolated world. 

Anthony Profits - Pen Chances [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“An old school flow is the focus of the performance, though there is also a soulful interlude that adds to the melancholy vibe.

Anthony Profits delivers genuine sound on this strongly written track with the East Side of Indianapolis in mind, though these lyrics deliver a universal relevance. The pace is slow, but impactful, and the beat stays out of the way to let the mood unfold on this rainy day kind of track. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Promoe - Snabb Bil [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Snabb Bil-Fast Car”

”Promoe is a Swedish rapper and its hard to believe by looking and listening to him that he is in the classic 40 club. His age has nothing to do with his sound other than the fact it explains the wisdom that he gives through his music. Even though I could not interpret what he was saying I felt it through his sound. His sound and the beat took over me in a natural way that kept me hooked in as I pressed replay ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Hello Victim - Out of It Alive [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“I thought about the movie ‘Get Out’ when I saw the tea. Hello Victim name describes their new visual. With a wicked situation and gothic like vocals ‘Out Of It Alive’ is giving meaning to until death do us part.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

CIAN DUCROT - FUCKED UP ALL THE TIME [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“The feeling that you are failing others is a hard one to take, but when you feel like you are failing yourself, that pain is all the worse. And sometimes you can’t escape one of those facts, without intensifying the other. This single by Cian Ducrot is all about the demands of expectations others put on you and balancing them with the things that make you happy.

The haunting and emotional vocals here are a huge part of the story, but lyrically this track emotes from the very beginning. And the imagery of the video, of one man trying to do it all, proves very effectual as well. This is a piece of music that will truly make you stop and think about your own direction. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Joey Bread - I Love Quarantine [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If you are looking for a laugh to get you through this current state of the world then Joey Bread has a sliced you off a track full of self-deprecating humor.

Catchy and funny in the same way ‘Pretty Fly For A White Guy’ was, ‘I Love Quarantine’ is a hearty offering complete with Bread spreading on the fun side of being isolated at home nice and thick.

The video adds another layer to the lyrics and will help keep that smile on your face as you listen to the silver lining of our new lifestyle.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

MOLI - So Jealous [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The envy of others via social media, and social stalking fueled by jealousy. These are the twin emotions MOLI calls upon in ‘So Jealous,’ and both come through in every word. At times the vocal flow has a ZZ Ward meets Elle King vibe, but at other times it feels more like a pure Pop refrain. Either way the track is quite entertaining and engaging. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

JST FRNDS - Long Nights [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track has a fun light vibe to it though lyrically there is a heavier emotional underbelly that makes it even more interesting.

The video brings an ever darker tone, though not without its own bit of wry humor. The video is a short film in its own right and the track could be taken several different ways depending on the listeners own emotions and experiences. This is a project that surprises you with its many nuances and complexities and is well worth your time to listen and watch.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)