Lauren Aquilina - Bad People [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Giving up takes many different looks and this track is a heartbreaking example of that. With hauntingly beautiful vocals, Lauren Aquilina delivers ‘Bad People,” and ode to giving up on trying to be nice after being burnt and hurt.

The lyrics to this single slice like a rusty knife, and while the track was written after a bad personal breakup, the song has a resonance to society as a whole, because in these decisive times, it often feels like the assholes of the world are the only ones getting ahead.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Andrew Cushin - It's Gonna Get Better [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The guitar melody captured my intrigue from the very first note, and Andrew Cushin has one of those unique vocal tones that hooks the listener just as fast.

The emotion behind the track shines, and despite the title, ‘It’s Gonna Get Better,’ you will be hard pressed to find a sound any better or richer than this. The imagery of the video fits quite well with the words and emotions.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rico Loma - [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“As Valentine’s Day is approaching ‘Warm’ would be a good song to add to your playlist. Imagine yourself laying near the fire place surrounded by wine and candles. ‘Warm’ creates a romantic yet seductive mood that will have you dancing and caressing your significant other. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Anna Sophia - "Self Aware Bitch" [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“John Hughes is gone, but his spirit is alive and well in this single from Ann Sophia. ‘Self Aware Bitch’ has that twisted high school vibe that was the trademark of the 80’s films, only this time it is created by a 16 year old actually living the material she writes.

The track is fun, but don’t let that takeaway from the musical merit of both Sophia’s performance and her songwriting.

The imagery of the video brings out the mood all the more and this track is yet but more fuel to launch the career of Anna Sophia into stardom.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

OLGA - Kiss My Sadness Away [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The writing here is spot on perfection. Vocally, the first few lines felt a touch dated for me, but then the track took a turn and felt purely modern from then on. The beat and melody add to the whip-smart lyrics and make this track so sharp you simply cannot escape the hook.

The tale of a jaded lover considering a reconciliation, but only after the gets the damn answers she needs. Attitude prevails and pulls you deep into this relationship even if you’ve never been there yourself.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

JP Saxe - Sad Corny Fuck [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track puts into words the vibe many a dude has been faced with after falling in love. None of us set out to become a ‘Sad Corny Fuck,’ but when those emotions stat to boil up and out of us, that is what happens.

This tracks was produced by recent GRAMMY darling FINNEAS, and it does carry the same emotional impact that his work with Billie Eilish, but JP SAXE’s masterful vocals carry the day here and I can’t wait to hear more music from SAXE.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brandon Hunt - Don't You Call Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“When the bridge is torched and left to burn, there are people standing on both sides. Sometimes we are holding the match, and sometimes we are left staring in disbelief at the embers.

This tracks is about the latter, except for the bridge was torched long ago and now the person wants to come back over to your side. Brandon Hunt delivers vocals that express the emotion quite well in a singer/songwriter style. With a touch of rawness and vulnerability, the performance isn’t pitch perfect but in the broken notes we truly feel the pain, and that’s where this track truly comes alive.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Gina Livia - in my head [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The musical vibe of this single is light and airy, but lyrically the song delivers a mood much darker. Over a nice Pop groove, Gina Livia lays down her lyrics of feeling isolated and alone. Being stuck ‘in her head’ and not willing to put herself out there. The track feels real and her vulnerability comes across in the performance as she longs to overcome these feelings in order to live life to its fullest. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Helena Mayer - Headspace [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Helena Mayer delivers a Pop track dealing with the jumble of thoughts, emotions, fears, and doubts, that fill all of our heads. The track is about taking charge and not becoming overwhelmed by our own memories. The vocals are talented and engaging and the beat keeps the track moving forward with precision and bounce. A track that feels right for your workout playlist, or any other time when you are working toward a better you.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brandon Colbein - Mess [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“With a bit of gravel to his voice, Brandon Colbein drops the emotional verses of ‘Mess’ on us and we can feel the disoriented pain of a bad a breakup. Then the chorus hits and Colbein’s voice smooths out into a higher pitched tone of emotional disbelief. The melody and the beat here deliver that same juxtaposition giving the song a back and forth feel that is exactly how most of us a feel when we are an emotional mess. The arrangement of the track shows as much talent as the vocals and songwriting making this a track with legs enough to become a lasting standard. Can’t wait to hear more from this talented artist. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Josie Dunne - Back To It [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There were times that these vocals reminded me of Lorde, and then there were elements that conjured thoughts of Katy Perry. Then again, the songwriting had that Taylor Swift feel. The common link here is that all of those women are extremely talented and that too is the case with Josie Dunne.

Dunne is not a simulator, but rather an innovator, and this song stands tall on its own merits. Matter of fact, the entire project shines so bright that you find yourself thinking ... The last time I heard something this good it was from a well established star. Thus the inexplicable need to draw comparisons.

Well-established or not, Josie Dunne is a star. Catch her while shooting to the top and thank me for it later when you look like the cool music explorer than you are for telling all of your friends about Josie Dunne first.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

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)

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)

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)

Vana Blu - Scarred [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track has a bit of a Retro feel with hints of George Michael, and even Prince, in the in vocal delivery. And yet, it also feels very contemporary in the musical arrangement and vibe.

A single that is easy to focus on so the lyrics really shine and come to life. We have all been ‘Scarred’ in one way or another and this track makes no bones about the scars, but it also lets us know that those scars are a part of who we are so it is important to acknowledge them and build a better tomorrow as a result.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Dylan Rockoff - Out Of Season [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Dylan Rockoff is a talented singer/songwriter that we have featured here on LA on Lock before. Smooth emotional vocals deliver this track about the reflection of a past love that did not last. The emotion of the track captures the mixed bag of feelings that comes with a mix of fond memories and the fact things came to an end.

Falling between a soft Pop ballad and a stripped down coffee house vibe ‘Out of Season,’ is a highly relatable single that tugs all the right strings.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Krystle Dos Santos - Buried Alive [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Bluesy and soulful, Krystle Dos Santos lays down a heartfelt track highlighting the emotions of trying to escape an abusive relationship. The song has a theatrical feel, building as the tension escalates.

The storytelling behind the song is purposeful and carries the worthwhile intent of bringing a dark problem out into the open. This is an entertaining track, but the message is just as worthwhile. Domestic Abuse is not a problem to look away from so perhaps this track will help someone in need. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Casey Sana - Madelaine's Secret [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“I have come to the conclusion that I really like this . I love the cadence of the melody as he tells ‘Madelaine’s Secret’. He describes how she walks , her spirited mind and interaction with others. Its like she is mysterious but you can also tell so much about her how she lights up the room or even by what she wears. Its also like the melody is her walking because it aligns with the verses.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Running Lights - Next Year (Acoustic) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The end of the years tends to bring out reflections in all of us ... where we are, as opposed to where we hoped we’d find ourselves. The New Year then turns those feeling into resolutions and goals.

This track captures the emotions of all of that in a few minutes and entertains us with a calm melody and emotional performance as it does so. There is a sort of a Pop/Coffee house vibe to the track making it not truly fit in any genre. But good music is good music, and it rarely needs a definition.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

LILYAN. - HAUNTED [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The writing here cuts like a knife, and the resulting wound feels raw, fresh, and wonderful because the emotional truth is palpable. And sometimes a good emotional blood letting is needed for a full recovery.

The eighteen year old LILYAN. is talented for any age, but the songwriting is not her only asset as the vocal performance is alive and passionate as well. In this case, the vocal tone unfurls the words with precision and variance making it hard to escape the hold this track puts on you. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)