Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart - Sins [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart have a sound that blends roots rock, soul, and Americana. Their latest release ‘Sins,’ is a powerful, grungy blues track that highlights Rebecca’s raw vocals and the band’s gritty, NYC-inspired sound.

There are plenty of things to like here and the talent is undeniable. The production dynamics could have left a more pleasing finish to the tone, but instead they leaned in on that raw grit a bit more than I would have liked and I do wish the song had stronger sense of build or escalation. That said, I would love to hear more music from this collection of talented performers.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Halo Kitsch - BETWEEN YOUR TEETH [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Halo Kitsch has some fun calling out the fake hypocrisy of those who work so damn hard to be perfect. Perfect and predictable is a manufactured illusion fed these days by social media likes and follows. ‘BETWEEN YOUR TEETH’ is an ode to the real ones, the true friends that will tell you not what you want to hear, but what you NEED to hear.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Vilhelm Buchaus - My Mistake [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sometimes the painful truth is plain as day and yet we choose to ignore it. Vilhelm Buchaus is all about this dynamic on his new single, ‘My Mistake.’

The track has a 90’s Indie Rock vibe as it showcases a relationship that is doomed from the start even though he is diving in head first with the realization it won’t end well.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Richard Tyler Epperson - All My Life [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Richard Tyler Epperson taps into his personal history with the track, ‘All My LIfe.’

The talented songwriter has taken a song that his father first recorded as a, acoustic demo and put his own spin on it to create a link and legacy with his father. Motivated by the recent passing of his father, Epperson utilizes the emotion and meaning to give us a song that is personally meaningful to him that also has the ability to resonate with others in an impactful way.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dax - Lonely Dirt Road [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dax is a versatile artist adept at conveying emotion via a variety of genres, but you can always hear and feel the passion fueling his artistry.

’Lonely Dirt Road’ straddles that line between the Rock and the Nashville style of modern Pop Country. The delivery is deliberate and emotive. A few times I craved a touch less production on the vocal side because I have faith Dax could have delivered these emotional words straight up with quite so much production coloring the sound. That said, this is a track that is accessible to all and one easy to feel as much as you hear.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lisa Heller - LOSER! [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lisa Heller is anything but a ‘Loser!!’ Though she sings that refrain with ease and kill. Delivery a Pop Punk brand of high-energy, Heller straddles the line of Pop Princess and Punk Girl Bad-Ass quite ably.

It’s hard to imagine her losing anything she wants to keep but this tracks has punch and you can’t help but believe in the performance and the artist.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Caroline Romano - Pretty Boys [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Caroline Romano always delivers with a strong emotive performance and this latest single, ‘Pretty Boys,’ delivers on those expectations.

’Pretty Boys is my honest recount of heartbreak,’ Caroline shares. ‘It’s like reading straight from my diary—a dramatic story with a terribly disappointing ending. The song is a cautionary tale about the blurry line between friendship and something more. Just because you’ve kissed him doesn’t mean you should do it again, and just because he looks at you that way doesn’t mean you’re the only one.’

Romano knows how to tap into her own experiences and emotions to give listeners a full spectrum of artistry. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Richard Tyler Epperson - Dream [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The wordplay is cleverly and intelligently rendered on this Indie Rock gem from Richard Tyler Epperson. ‘Dream’ is an ode to taking care of you own mental space, the dance between reality and escapism because let’s face it we all need a break from all that life hits us with. But of course you can’t let the mind wander to far or you never really get where you want to go.”

— Quote Source

JJ Wilde - I'm Not Crazy You're Just an Asshole (Toxic) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“This track features a straightforward video, but the strength lies in its lyrics. JJ Wilde delivers a powerful and direct message about dealing with someone toxic. The alternative rock sound adds a burst of energy, making the song both playful and serious—a perfect blend of intensity and fun”

— Kreadiv KesH [LA On Lock Blogger]

Nadia Vaeh - Rewind [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nadia Vaeh belts out this ode to living in the moment and taking nothing for granted. The hard guitar and her classic Rock style vocals are the earmarks of the track but ‘Rewind’ is also a deeply meaningful and personal song for Vaeh.

Written as a response to her mother’s death, Vaeh took her time to properly express the emotions and the result is a song that will resonate for many. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lisa Crawley - Hey You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lisa Crawley deliver a sultry soundtrack to the complexities of our mind. The overall sound has an almost spaghetti western vibe that adds a mysterious air to the build. The mix of her sensual delivery and that grittier melody makes for an engaging multi-dimensional track that keeps the listener on their toes. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lily Kershaw - Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex) [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“LA singer-songwriter Lily Kershaw offers a poignant reminder to connect with the important people in our lives on her new single, ‘Call Whoever This Makes You Think Of (Except Your Narcissist Ex).’

The vocal style is reminiscent of Brandi Carlile and the two talented artists share an impressive range as wella s emotive delivery that hooks the heart.

Kershaw’s upcoming album, Pain & More, will be released September 13th. and promises to be dripping in the emotions of humanity. ‘I’ve been struggling for so long,’ says Kershaw, who wrote and recorded it over two years. ‘This record is like a new cycle of my life.’”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tamar Berk - Good Impression [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“It is always important to make a ‘Good Impression,’ but then again sometimes you just have to be yourself and let the truth land. Tamar Berk plays around with this idea with a lot of fun and energy on her latest single. The San Diego native has a throwback sound that would be right at home in the Pop landscape of the late 80’s. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Kulak - Animals [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This guitar heavy track from Jake Kulak brings the timeless INdir Rock sound that could be from any recent decade. ‘Animals’ is the kind of song music lovers can dig in on and feel to the core. Simply a rock solid track musically, vocally, and in the lyrical build. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

44Phantom - Kansas [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“44Phantom doesn’t mention ‘Kansas’ anymore. To find out why you will have to take this emotional journey with the Grunge influenced Alternative Rocker out of Oklahoma.

The song unfurls like a well-written short story in that you will deeply connect with the emotional plight as wella s the musical build.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Fake Dad - Crybaby [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Fake Dad is an LA based Pop Synth duo that has an Indie Rock vibe with just enough Pop Punk influence to add a razor edge to the sound.

’Crybaby’ is about the pursuit of fleeting fame and how desperate society has become to snatch their fifteen minutes. The track delivers a nice energy and spark and I can’t wait to hear more from this talented duo. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Greyson Chance - Haymaker [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Greyson Chance straddles the line between Rock, Pop, and Folk on this track. The Oklahoma native can be compared to acts sucha s Mumford or the Lumineers, but ‘Haymaker’ also feels in line emotionally with Americana in the vein of Jason Isbell, or even a more traditional Country sound such as Tyler Childers.

Emotionally raw and vulnerable, the track is masterfully written and performed. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mike SB -Family Business [Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“Mike SB is a good song writer. His track has solid story lines however, the song falls short in the arrangement. The vocal tone in the chorus is a little off tempo from the other parts of the song. This makes it hard to really grasp a vibe.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA OnLock Blogger]

Trees and Timber - All the Best [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Trees and Timber are a vibe. Pinning a style on the sound of this track is tough, but call it Indie Rock if you must have one.

I hear Punk, Folk, Rock vibes throughout and the vocals have sort of a wry reverence to really bring them home. “All The Best’ is a glimmer of hope in a darkening world. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

August Echoes - Lucky You [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Fake it until you make it is a way to get ahead professionally, but it is a poor method for finding internal happiness. And yet we all plaster on that fake smile at times and pretend we are doing just fine when we’re not.

August Echoes does a magnificent job of utilizing an upbeat musical arrangement and heavier, darker lyrics to showcase this dynamic. In a track that at first glance feels bright and cheerful, the true meaning and vibe is one of despair and uncertainty. This mirrors how many of us go through our days.

’Lucky You’ is a track with intelligence and foresight ,and if you truly listen a bit of insight into our humanity. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger