Matt Sahadi - Halfway to Charlotte [Music Review]

“Matt Sahadi weaves a tale of lost love and a journey to rekindle the spark in the hauntingly beautiful track, ‘Halfway to Charlotte.’

Love is one of the the few things that can shake us up enough to rush headfirst into the last place you want to go. This song is about that leap of faith and facing your fears to chase after the thing you need the most.

The stripped down feel matches the emotions perfectly and you can feel the rubber meeting the road on this engaging song. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Madisyn Gifford - Die Happy [Music Review]

“We all go through some lulls in life and it is those dark places and times that lend to the good and hopeful times feeling all the more uplifting. Madisyn Gifford gives us a soundtrack for those transformative moments when the clouds lift and the sun finds its way to our smiling faces once again. ‘Die Happy’ is a Pop Folk track that feels like emerging from a heavy, emotional cocoon. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kurt Lee Wheeler - Hesitant Father [Music Review]

“Our views of our parents definitely change as we age and experience our own turn as the head of a family. Kurt Lee Wheeler captures that journey brilliantly with ‘Hesitant Father.’

The acoustical track is emotive and emotional. You can call it Folk or simply Singer/Songwriter but really the heart of this one is universal. The reflective and personal nature is one that we can all fall in and feel.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Caroline Romano - IDK These Days [Music Video Review]

“Life can get overwhelming and when it does even the small so-called inconsequential things can push us to the brink.

Caroline Romano utilizes her talents as a songwriter and emotive performer to make us feel that array of emotions. ‘IDK These Days’ is a track about life weighing us down and it hits with gut-wrenching precision.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mezna - Out In The Hall [Music Review]

“Mezna hooks the listener from the very first note with an emotive and honest performance that mirrors the strong writing. ‘Out In The Hall’ is the kind of track that transcends genre and simply speak to the heart and soul.

A Singer/Songwriter pouring out all he has to deliver an emotive and heartfelt song. This is what art sounds like.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Frances Whitney- You Left Me For Jesus [Music Video Review]

“Silent Visual, Powerful Message!!! This visual may be silent, but it carries its own meaning. I admire the artistry in how the artist lets the music and lyrical video speak without uttering a word. True creativity doesn’t always need to be verbal.”

— Kreadive Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Tom Mackell - Where the Wild Things Go [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tom Mackell is a songwriter with a country sound though not that Mainstream pablum that comes out of corporate Nashville. Mackell fits in the Alt Country/Americana scene that is ripe with good music. ‘Where The Wild Things Go’ has sort of a Flatland Cavalry vibe for fans looking for a comparison.

This is an emotive, strongly written track performed with an emotive style that pulls the listener along for the full ride.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Remy Reilly - Dirty Work [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Nothing is quite as dark and gritty as love, or at least love gone awry. Remy Reilly does the ‘Dirty Work’ of unraveling not only the emotions, but the aftermath and toll on self worth when a relationship goes wrong.

The track has an Indie Pop songwriter vibe that almost hits the Americana/Folk realm in tone and style. The talent of the vocals, and an arrangement that dials in and sets the vibe, meshes so perfectly to form a complete well-rendreddsong that hits as hard with subsequent listens as it does the first.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dave Murphy - Josephine [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Few things stir the emotions like a lonely night in a dive bar. Dave Murphy captures that brand of isolation with his Americana track ‘Josephine.’

Utilizing the dynamics of last call to rely the end of a relationship, Murphy perfectly captures the raw emotion of both and how the sand slips through the hourglass even faster at the end as the final grains settle down.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kailaya - To Be Loved By You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Unfurling smooth R&B vocals with a hint of Pop sensibility, Kailaya invites the listener in to her intimate world. ‘To Be Loved By You,’ brings some old school sultriness to the contemporary world with a heartfelt build of emotion and vulnerability.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Hannah Larkin - Girls Like Me (Radio Edit) [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Hannah Larkin escaped a religious cult only to find herself on the streets of LA. Music is therapy of a sorts for the exotic dancer turned Pop songstress, and this track, ‘Girls Like Me.’ highlights her journey as much as it does Larkin’s talent.

The songwriting and performance is tender and vulnerable and still manages to also be gritty and genuine.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Natalie Clark - Nothing Left To Lose [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Natalie Clark takes fear and anxiety head on with her heartfelt track, ‘Nothing Left To Lose.’ The Scottish born, but LA based artist lets her vulnerability shine in the soft and tender track. Well written and performed with an emotive quality that escapes most singers, Clark showcases her versatility and emotional depth on the track quite well.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

SJae - Paper Hearts [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“SJae is a talented musician that you have probably heard on some of your favorite TV shows without realizing. Now with ‘Paper Hearts’ SJae offers a tender healing song about the divisiveness of society and how fragile we all are. Humanity has been suffering and this track does its part to help heal the wounds. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Party Nails - Same Old Song [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“PArty Nails conjured memories of vintage Sheryl Crow for me on this track. Warm glowing vocals tell the story of looking for your former self out among the treesa nd coming to grips with who you are in the here and now.

The track rides the line between Indie Rock and more of a Songwriter/Americana vibe. The emion is nostalgic and poignant enough to hold the listener from the first listen, but there is certainly the depth to keep them coming back time and time again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Dillon - Winner [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Raw and emotional, Jake Dillon delivers this track alongside talented vocalists Giavanna. This track has an Indie Rock Singer/Songwriter vibe, but is also right at home in the the world of Americana. Well-written and delivered by both parties with an emotive force, ‘Winner’ is indeed exactly that.

Stripped down and spare in the best of ways, this is a song to both feel and listen to over and over again.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ben Chase - Bad Day To Be A Beer [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ben Chase delivers a memorable country track with “A Cold Beer in the Summer,” capturing the essence of summer in a unique and relatable way. The song explores the dual nature of summer—joyful and vibrant, yet sometimes sweltering and intense—through the metaphor of being a cold beer in the heat. Chase’s storytelling paints a vivid picture of how summer can be both a refreshing escape and a time of introspection. The track is catchy and easy to rock to, with an infectious beat that will have listeners tapping along before they fully absorb the depth of the lyrics. It’s a song that effortlessly blends a fun, laid-back vibe with a more reflective undertone, making it a perfect addition to any summer playlist. Whether you’re in the mood to relax or reflect, “A Cold Beer in the Summer” offers a refreshing take on the season.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

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Ethan Buckner - Wavering [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LA troubadour Ethan Buckner comes with a smooth Indie Pop Folk vibe on ‘Wavering.’ The musical side has a tasty and evocative feel that ranges from smooth oceanscapes to a mor theatrical brand of brooding and though that build the lyrical progression pulls the listener along for the ride.

This is a track to listen to on repeat to pick up on all the emotions and nuance and I am here for it.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

John Calvin - Saint Innocent [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“John Calvin has just enough gravel and grit in his vocals to keep things interesting without that being all you can hear. ‘Saint Innocent’ is a heartfelt and well-written Americana track and the emotions are tangible in a way few songs manage to pull off.

This is a song to feel as much as hear and I am eager to experience more offerings from this talented artist. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lila Holler - Not Mad [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“True love is often found in the sweet everyday moments and Lila Holler captures that magic with her single, ‘Not Mad.’
Delivered in a Dreamy Folk Pop sort of vibe, Holler highlights all the little things that reinforce the love she feels. The moments that define a relationship far more than the grand gestures and purposeful actions. Simply a sweet track, dripping with sentiment and emotion. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Liv Miraldi - Unfinished Business [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Liv Miralidi now calls LA home, but hails from Ohio originally. ‘Unfinished Business’ is a personal song for her.

Inspired by the death of music business powerhouse busbee, the track details the emotions of having a mission interrupted by a sudden death and how hard it can be to carry on alone. The song touches on grief and the fact the real world is not a movie where everything comes with a nice tidy ending.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger