Merlaku Ra - Heaven [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

Merlaku Ra is a multi-talented artist, producer, songwriter, and rapper. Born in Atlanta, raised predominantly in South Carolina, now in Los Angeles. He has been singing his whole life as he was raised apart of a church choir. He wrote his first song at 13 years old. He has always explored his love for Hip-hop , Blues, Gospel & Trap given his deep southern roots.

“Do you believe in heaven? Delivered in a deep undertone Merlaku reveals to us the dynamics of his vocals in this poetic yet emotional track. “Heaven” is about going beyond the clouds and spiritual energy. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [ LA On Lock Blogger]

JC Stewart - Don't Say You Love Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“JC Stewart hits on a simple yet complex theme. “Don’t Say You Love Me’ ... just to keep me from leaving is a brilliant line, and comes with a set of emotions that most of us have felt at one time or another. The performance from this Norther Ireland native emotes the passion behind the writing and comes with a blend of anger, resentment, and dismay. All of which is the exact mix such a false declaration instills when tossed out in desperation.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Gregory Ackerman - All This Thinking [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Born and raised in LA, Gregory Ackerman delivers a timeless Indie Folk sound. “All This Thinking’ is rich in emotion and it wraps around you warming the soul like a nice heavy blanket. The groove and melody are easy to fall in on and the performance makes the song feel as if you are listening to an old friend’s advice. The guitar captured my and held me as tightly as the vocals.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Leeroy Stagger - More Love Than Money [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Leeroy Stagger sounds like what I imagine the Grateful Dead would be with Jason Isbell fronting them. ‘More Love Than Money’ is a groove and a mood, but the writing delivers more emotion than you’d expect from such a fun and light melody. A song that makes you want to shout amen as you sing along and feel every word.

Stagger is one voice I’d love to see perform in person as I have now featured a few tracks from the talented Canadian. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Nic Darwin - Fit [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nic Darwin wrote ‘Fit’ about the struggle of trying to fit in with the so-called norms when you are the kid others have labeled as weird. Of course we all know the creative and imaginative side that pushes people to the outside of society are the very same traits that make them creative artists. And once they find success there, then suddenly those who mocked the same attributes are their biggest fans. It is an odd dynamic and this track captures all of that very well. ”

— Quote Source

Toby Johnson - California [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Toby Johnson offers up a track revealing his daydreams and desires over getting out and exploring the world once again. Maybe he’ll find love and maybe he’ll simply find a warm stretch of beach under the brilliant sunshine, but either way ‘California’ is calling.

This track does a good job of capturing the wonderment of our fantasies as we all long to take off and explore the world once again. This is all the more true after a rough 18 months or so that has kept us all closer to home than we would like. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lazer Lloyd - Real [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“When art is genuine and heartfelt it rarely disappoints and Lazer Lloyd delivers both with his single, ‘Real.’

Lazer’s comment on what is behind the song, ‘What do you think it means to be real? What’s your version of reality? Are you controlling your mind or is your mind controlling you? Keep it real to feel the pure manifestation living through you without adding the past, future, like or dislike. I’m a this or a that. Just be truly real beyond description and concepts, completely awake in this very moment which is the only real thing that ever exists...’

This is the kind of track that sticks with you and makes you think long after after the last note. Classic, timeless, and heartfelt! ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ryan Cassata - Mattress [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Regualr readers of LA on Lock will realize we have featured several tracks from LA artist Ryan Cassata, but this track certainly has a different vibe than those other songs. Cassata is talented and that fact shows in the diverse sounds and styles we have heard, though one constant is the strong writing and this track again offers that.

This track has an Emo Hip-Hop vibe that underscores the Pop sensibilities.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lexi Berg - Lonely World [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Life is forever changing. We often let it pass us by because we are not paying attention to our surroundings. In some aspect we are all connected and there are many strangers there willing to lend a helping hand. In Lexi Berg’s new single we discovered even though they say it’s a “Lonely World” the world actually is filled with hope and hearts.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

John Adams - Ripcord [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Skydivers pull their ‘Ripcord’ to stop their freefall and open the parachute to safely land. This song is about falling in love and how their is no ripcord or safety device to make falling in love gentle and easy.

John Adams offers a timeless vocal style that is both emotive and heartfelt. This is a track to add to your relationship playlists or to share with the one you are falling for. The track offers a big bold progression that easily carries you along.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

R3HAB x Sigala x JP Cooper -Runaway [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“The way life has been going this past year “the music is getting louder and the drinks are getting stronger”. R3HAB x Sigala x JP Cooper “Runaway” visually focuses on making memories instead of running away from your feelings. We must not let life get the best of us to where we are no longer enjoying it.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Only Bricks - Antisocial [Review]

Review: 4 out of 5

“Only Bricks’s new single “Antisocial” takes you from party mode to not wanting to be around anyone but yourself. The song is less party more pity party. It explains the thoughts of an introvert and someone who tries to be social but always find a way to hide. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

Chloe Lilac - 10 Things [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Chloe Lilac does not pull any punches in her latest single, ‘10 Things.’ Never piss of a writer and especially a songwriter as they can and will use those emotions to fight back. The writing here is strong and the emotion behind the delivery works well in this revenge track of sorts. There is a Pop, almost Punk vibe that hooks the listener in and keep them invested in the lyrical build. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Signe - Kerosene Stars [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Finding a connection in a rushed and hurried world is tough no matter if that desired connection is romantic of nature or not. Signe drops this single which takes those emotions and distills them into a glimmering track that connects with its tender vulnerability. ‘Kerosene Stars’ comes with an emotive delivery and meaningful lyrics and an overall epic feel to the build. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tom Mackell - Gone [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tom Mackell honors his mother and all of those who touch our lives and are ‘Gone’ far too early. The emotive track serves as a good reminder without dipping into the morose or forced sentimentality. The track has an Americana vibe and for those not familiar of with the genre think of Springsteen and Petty with a dash of bluesy country to the overall sound. This is simply a well-written and meaningful song delivered with heart.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Rett Madison - Emily [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Rett Madison delivers the rare combination of power and emotion in her vocal delivery of ‘Emily,’ and the raw strains of a broken or breaking heart are evident in every single line.

Lyrically, the track wades the same water as ‘Jolene,’ but from a different angle. Genre wise the track feels like a Pop/Americana tweener. Both the writing and the performance shine, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of Madison’s album due out in September.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Brandon Birdwell - Wasted Days [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If Elton John and Ed Sheeran teamed up to write an Americana track, the resulting song would surely sound a lot like this. Luckily for us we don’t have to wait for such a collaboration, because Brandon Birdwell already possess the talent and skill to create that exact sound. And here it is — ‘Wasted Days,’ is no waste of your time or energy so give it a listen and add it to your playlists.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sofia Lainovic - I Will Not Bother Anymore [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sofia Lainovic infuses a sultry rasp into her vocals that reminds me some of ZZ Ward. ‘I Will Not Bother Anymore’ is about moving on from that person that hurt you and no longer allowing them to occupy your headspace or emotions.

The track has a Rock vibe to the melody and build though it uses elements of Blues, and Pop to blend the overall sound into an engaging ode to moving on.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Gillian Heidi - flowers [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There are a lot of breakup songs out there, and many of them are angry or jaded, and often both. This track is a bit different, as it is more of a retrospective and simply chronicles the slow unraveling of realizing the person you are with isn’t the one, even though there isn’t anything wring with them or yourself. Just a simple understanding that there is something more out there than this person can give you.

Gillian Heidi conveys all of this with stellar writing and a perfect performance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Freddie Long - Addicted To Your Love {Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Freddie Long is ‘Addicted To Your Love.’ Maybe not you specifically, but he’s addicted to someone’s love and he’s belting out this up-tempo Pop track for both them and you and because the track is entertaining and easy to fall in and sing along with that is a very good thing.

Revel in both his love and talent, by adding this track to you summer, or energetic playlists to feel the vibes.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger