Ramond x Champ x Sydnie Battie - Bright Side [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“As part of a recent virtual graduation, Ramond performed ‘Bright Side’ for the Colorado State University graduating class of 2020. And the track delivers the perfect vibe of hope and determination and optimism in the face of challenges. The chill vibe is tranquil, yet brings an undeniable energy that pulls you along.

Ramond was hand-selected to Executive Produce a soundtrack based on the popular Black Sands comic book series. The 13-track soundtrack accompanies the animated DVD.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

floeticVandros - Feel Me (feat. Rowlan & DJ Pain 1) [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The track opens with a nice groove hovering between R&B and Pop, before delving into an engaging Hip-Hop flow. Both sets of vocal are intriguing in their own right, and they mesh very well to elevate the track into something truly special. The production of the track adds to the emotion with a smooth steady groove that is easy to ride with. ‘Feel Me’ is one you that you truly can feel all the way through.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Elina - Blue [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Swedish Singer/songwriter, Elina offers us a tender ballad that comes in with a soft guitar melody before her touching vocal take over as the primary the focus. There is a Joni Mitchell comparison that is easy to make though Elina certainly brings her own contemporary vibe to the sound. ‘Blue’ is a tranquil slowly unfolding track that was over far too son for me.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

TWO - Phoenix [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The raw emotion of the vocals comes in with the first word and the build continues until you can almost feel the explosion to come. And when the rebirth of the namesake ‘Phoenix’ from the ashes comes up in a big bold chorus, it is hard not to feel the chill of dogged determination.

The track feels sensual and bare in the most vulnerable of ways, and yet it conveys strength and resolve that rings loud and true. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

VENNA - Cross My Heart [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dark and brooding, ‘Cross My Heart’ is a foreboding track from Canadian Electro Pop star VENNA. If Edgar Allen Poe wrote a song with Billie Eilish, the track might sound a lot like this.

The emotional hook is strong and the build intriguing. I found the verses a bit more enthralling than the actual chorus, but that could be my own dark side showing because the chorus brings more of a Pop vibe than the rest of the track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rett Madison - Shame is a River [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Rett Madison has invited you deep into her psyche and personal vault of memories and emotions. Invite really isn’t a strong enough word, as she has more welcomed you with open arms thanks to her immense talent. The lyrics wrap around you tight and her emotive vocal performance offers the same level of warmth and understanding. All of that is possible because through sheer honest sharing, she has giving us a track with a strong relevance for us all. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sam Calver - River [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A beautiful contemporary track about the pure and immediate love of a father for his new born son.

Sam Calver delivers a varied and rich vocal performance to express the emotion of fatherhood. Lyrically, the track flows fluidly to bring forth the pride and wonder and hope of the moment quite well.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kane Miller - Something New [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kane Miller is an artist we have featured before, and again he has given us a single that I am compelled to share. A song of hope and rebirth, ‘Something New’ delivers an energy that feels like the first bright rays of warm sunshine after a long chilly night. The hope is tangible in both the lyrics and performance, giving this track a light airy vibe of optimism that we can all feed off of.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Digrasso - Make It Last [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Inspired by the unlikely source material of Mötley Crue’s track, ‘Wild Side,’ this big bright Electro Pop single comes alive instantly with its own bit of wildness.

Digrasso is a 24 year old POP/EDM music producer from Stockholm and on this track his talent shines through. ‘Make It Last’ simply feels like sunshine and energy and we all need a bit of that. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers - Never Thought [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Mel Bryant & the Mercy Makers comes with an attitude and edge that feels like both Punk, and Rock, and generational in all the best ways.

Per the band’s description ... ‘Never Thought’ is a quarter-life-crisis, a coming-of-age and a breakup song, squeezed into two, angsty minutes.

That definition fits, proving this band knows not only what they want to say, but also has the talent to achieve exactly that. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Little Sister - Money, Jeans, Sex & Guns [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Little Sister delivers an almost timeless sound on ‘Money, Jeans, Sex, & Guns.’ This is a track that would be at home in any decade from the 80’s forward, but that is not to say it feels dated or retro, because it is just as fitting here in 2020.

There is a hint of Springsteen in the vocals, and a bit of The Killers in the sound as well. The melody offers as much emotion as the well-written lyrics.

Straight up low key rock and roll that speaks loudly. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Kieran Sid - Roll The Dice (Feat. Sam Jackson) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kieran Sid is more than ready to ‘Roll The Dice’ and with this single, he has bet on a winner. The track has a varied and unique sound that kept me at the table with every gambit. There is a vulnerability that is soft as the felt of your favorite craps table, but an energy that comes in with the chorus and feels like the pure adrenaline of hitting your roll on the Vegas strip.

How many dice references can I cram into one review? As many as it takes to get you to listen to this fantastic track.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sevi Ettinger - Dear Me [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Sevi Ettinger is a 17 year old singer songwriter from the United States now living in Shanghai. With vocal maturity beyond her years, Ettinger’s vocal talent may only be surpassed by her songwriting intuition. This track has a sophisticated Pop vibe without sacrificing the heart of the singer/songwriter sound.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

somegirlnamedanna - kitchen table [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“somegirlnamedanna is a mouthful, but this track establishes that same girl as a big force to be reckoned with so perhaps they two are perfectly matched. Emotion laid bare, such as this song gives us, speaks loudly far beyond the actual decimal level or style. The vocal tone of yearning vulnerability on the track only adds to the punch of this track.

’Kitchen Table’ is as true a song as you are likely to hear this year, or any other, and the homespun vibe of the video is the perfect accompaniment.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

danny G - best friend [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A fun upbeat ode to the friendship side of love. danny G offers up a nice blend of vocal styles on this track, which is earmarked to help fellow musicians impacted by Covid-19 with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

So, consider downloading this one to add a fun energetic Pop style Hip-Hop track to your personal playlists, and to help musicians struggling through these tough times.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Pink Elefants - Blame On Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Pink Elefants are a trio of talented vocalists each with their own sound and flow. This diverse talent gives the band a varied and rich sound that is engaging and hard to pin down genre wise. There is a vibe reminiscent to The Weeknd, as well a smooth Pop feel to ‘Blame On Me,’ which lyrically is about the burden of bearing the brunt of blame in a breakup.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Infamous Mobb - "Like a Dream" (prod. by Havoc) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Infamous Mobb is back after a lengthy hiatus to give us a new single. ‘Like a Dream’ comes in with a laid-back, bluesy production from longtime collaborator, Havoc. That bit of grit sets the tone for the Mobb’s Big Twins, Ty Nitty, and Godfather Pt. III to spit their raw, realist bars about life as they know it in Queensbridge.

As the first single off their upcoming new album, ‘IM3,’ the track sets the bar high for Infamous Mobb’s return to the scene. The new album will include production from The Alchemist, DJ Muggs, Twiz The Beat Pro, DirtyDiggs, and more. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

David Redd - Say No More [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“David Redd brings a classic timeless Rock sound to his latest single, ‘Say No More.’ The art of songwriting is present in the lyrical structure of this track that conjures up thoughts of Springsteen, Isbell, Petty, and The Band.

Sitting somewhere between Rock and Americana this is a track that feels escapist somehow. A tune you would put on as you drive down a dark stretch of highway while trying to clear your mind or get away from something heavy and dark. There is enough emotional punch to make you feel but not so much that you can’t also feel free and alive as you listen.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Brilly Asher - Traumatized [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Brilly Asher drops this honest and unflinching track about the way our behavior hits others. Anytime a talented artist, truly lays bare his soul the result is an engaging song with relevance, because human nature leads us all to make the same mistakes, have the same dreams, share the same fears.

The flow here is slow and steady and carries a hint of an R&B vibe. The backing is fairly low-key and stays out of the way for the most part without adding a lot of punch on its own. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Miles Morrison - Go Out (feat. Yo Gotti, Stunna Girl) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Hard beats, and in your face lyrics over a pure party vibe. That is what Miles Morrison gives you with ‘Go Out.’

Course nobody has been allowed to go out for a while now, but imagine the free for all that will come once it is safe to do so. This song’s vibe comes close to the hedonistic urges lurking inside us all right now. There is an old school raunchy side to this and combined with the beat and various vocals it all comes together just like the best of parties.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)