Liz Longley - Finally High [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Liz Longley drops one of those highly personal tracks that feels like as much confession, or at least expression as it does entertainment. That is not to say the vocals and performance is any less entertaining because of that intimate nature. Longley raised more than $150,000 to buy the album back from her former label so it is a labor of love and passion from not only herself, but her fans and that spirit of determination shines through. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Alex Gibson - Dance With You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Alex Gibson gives us a soaring love song that elevates energetically as it progresses. Light and airy in a classic kind of way, ‘Dance With You’ delivers that John Mayer-esque vibe that sweeps you along with its upbeat emotion and outright honest fun.

Gibson is a rising talent from Australia, though his time in London has certainly influenced his sound as well.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Shawnee -Don't Go [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Don’t Go” is a new age pop song with a classic pop sound. Shawnee sings about a girl she has falling for and wants to explore the world with. As you listen to the song you can visualize being in a room and following someone you love from place to place in excitement.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Jess Chalker - West Hollywood [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“You can miss a person and you can miss a person. This singl hits on both with silky smooth vocals that remind of Fleetwood Mac while bringing in a bit of Florence and The Machine to the overall sound. ‘West Hollywood’ toes that line between nostalgia and contemporary with lyrics that resonate and feel modern and a performance that is simply timeless. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Joel Robertson - About the Truth [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The battle of the mind is a tough battle. When you look in the mirror you ask yourself what is wrong or what is going on in your mind. Artist Joel Robertson’s new single ‘About the Truth’ is about conversations with yourself. He delivers the song over a dance melody but this song is far from a dance song. It is a song of discovery.”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

A dark and brooding song that tells of my struggle with depression and anxiety. Often times the truth is harder to accept over a lie.

Kendra Kay - Steady [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“ Singer Songwriter Kendra Kay starts off ‘Steady’ in her new single. Her new visual is country meets soul as she is on a farm singing about how crazy love can be. Despite the things that can be thrown at love good or bad., things will go back to being steady. The interchangeable sky toward the end is an example of how life changes but it can be displayed that the light of love still shines. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Ulrik Munther - C’est La Vie [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a very well written song, made all the more special by the home movie clips of the video. Reconnecting with our inner child and finding the things that inspired us in our purest form is a a way to shake off the burdens adulthood straps to our backs. This song is all about that, and it comes with a joyful melody and a nice light, but emotionally engaging vocal performance.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Goldkimono - To Tomorrow [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Inspired by his time in Venice Beach California, the Netherland’s Goldkimono delivers a sound that hints at Red Hot Chili Peppers with an island pop style, and a crunch of a Dutch stroopwafel.

Known for writing the iconic Kygo - Firestone, Goldkimono describes his sound a lot like his clothing style, ‘Take a handful of sunshine and throw it into a boardwalk thrift shop, walk out with some comfy colorful pants and a Levi’s Sherpa jacket and don’t turn back.’

‘To Tomorrow’ brings the carefree spirit of youth with little regard to what happened yesterday, because you believe in the present and tomorrow so damn much.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Caity Krone - Thank You for the Sunday Paper [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There is no day quite as lonely as a Sunday. Something about the end of the weekend, and a the quiet stillness inherent in the day begets reflection and induces that Sunday Sadness.

Caity Krone taps into that with ‘Thank You for the Sunday Paper,’ a true songwriters lament of love gone away. The slow melodic build fits perfect with the emotion of the lyrics, and her performance brings it all home by making you truly feel this song in every word and note. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Tim Chou - Deep in the Ocean [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Tim Chou is a seventeen year old songwriter out of Melbourne with the talent to write emotionally laden lyrics that show a maturation beyond his years. This guitar driven track delivers an honest take on the relationship dynamic of one partner fighting on while the other gives up easily. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

RUNN - Better [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Recent times have us all wanting to feel — ‘Better,’ and RUNN’s vocal performance on this well-written song certainly helps us feel like we are not alone in these thoughts.

The soaring vocals deliver the emotions behind being fearful and anxious, and yet the track also brings a notable tinge of hope in the performance. The single has a borderline Pop/Singer Songwriter sound that is both entertaining and stimulating.

Solid!”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Dave Farah - Lone Rider [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The cost of chasing your dreams can exact a toll on the psyche and Dave Farah delivers the emotional tax that leaving behind your friends and family levees upon your mind in “Lone Rider.”

With a rising ballad type of feel, this is a track that is easy to connect to and feel to your core, even if you have never struck out alone to conquer the world.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lenkie - Trouble [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love and lust are tricky things, and if you are not careful, the chase is what you come to crave more than the actual act of being with someone.

Lenkie is a 17 year old South African artist living in New York City, and here she gives us track that feels wise beyond her years. Dark and brooding and intuitive, the mood feels as dangerous as the girl mentioned in “Trouble.””

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Chavis Chance - When We Sync Up [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Chavis Chance is a songwriter from Texas now living in Spain. This particular track he co-wrote remotely with his father who has a Rock and Roll pedigree of his own. I suppose you could label this track as Pop, but for me it is the kind of emotional song that feels like a gentle rain landing on the soul. The emotion drips down and soothes the mind letting you lose track of all else for a few minutes as you simply enjoy the moment. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sarah Barrios - Mourn The Living [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Mourning is accepted when it comes to those who have passed on, but it often seems like we as society tell people to get over it and move on when they are mourning anything else but the dead.

With ‘Mourn The Living,’ Sarah Barrios gives is a heart-wrenching Pop ballad to the loss of relationships, friends, and even times gone by. The vocals deliver the sense of loss with a tender almost ragged emotion that hits hard.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Anna Graceman - Night Follows [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Anna Graceman caught the eyes and ears of Ellen and America’s Got Talent at an early age, and she has only grown and matured as an artist since those appearances.

’Night Follows’ is a soaring ballad with rich vocal textures and tangible emotion. There is a big bold feel to this track that captivates and keeps you invested throughout, even as the track drops into its quieter moments.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brooke Alexx - Stole My Heart - Acoustic [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Brooke Alexx steps away from a big Pop production with this raw emotional track. ‘Stole My Heart’ is a tender love ballad of heartache, hope, and fear.

Lyrically the song is about that one person that you can’t forget even though both of you have moved on, proving time and distance are sometimes not enough to repair the cracks true love leaves behind. Sometimes the journey is not what we expect and this tack captures that realization with grace and talent.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Estella Dawn - Wonderlust [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Estella Dawn is fed up with the added scrutiny women face. Too think? Too thick? To sensual. Not alluring enough? ‘Wonderlust’ is an intricately delivered revolt to the idea the opinions of others should get in the way of who you are and how you feel.

Dawn’s vocals are lush and rich and brimming with seething attitude, though you get the sense there is even more power lurking there should she need to call upon it. This track makes a statement for a talented young artist.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Cobi - Don't Stop [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The soft piano melody invites you in, Cobi’s delicate yet emotive vocals makes you want to stay. Lyrically, this track will no doubt hold different meanings for different people, because this is that kind of artful songwriting that can deliver both intimacy and broad relevance.

’Don’t Stop” transcends genre, by falling into the power ballad spectrum of simply good music that speaks to a wide array of listener.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Maudlin - The Best Thing [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dark and dirty best describes the mood here. A song of emotional reflection on the suffering that our hearts can put us through.

Two lonely dirty souls ... is part of a line from these well-written lyrics, and if you think of human lust and love in those terms, you will be smack dab in the mindset of this single.

Maudlin is raw and real in the telling of “The Best Thing.’”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)