Rhys - Thanks a lot now I can't smile [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Rhys was born in Portland but moved to Sweden when she was only ten years old. The influence of both American and Swedish Pop can be found in her sound and the tender emotion is palpable in every single line. This particular track reminded me of Pink a great deal but that is not to say Rhys doesn’t have her own unique spin and delivery. The writing is also strong and in it you can truly lose yourself into the world of the singer. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

C'Nyle - Just Do It [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Truth is a powerful force in all art, and when you can distill it down into a consumable good you have hit your mark. C’Nyle is able to do just that here on this low key flow that allows the writing to land with every single line.

The beat is mellow and that allows the emotion and message to stick without getting covered up or lost. California vibes with a little mix of Louisiana love.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Yung Gravy - Steppin On The Beat [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Yung Gravy always brings the verve and energy and ‘Steppin On The Beats’ is no exception. Gravy hits me like a cross of Macklemore, and Timberlake because he has that goofy side yet still manages to come off as cool and engaging in an original way. The beat here grabs and holds you and you can’t help but smile and move along.

This track is simply pure fun.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Charlie Curtis-Beard - Anime & Chardonnay ft. Akintoye [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This collaboration between LA based Charlie Curtis-Beard and Akintoye, is a Tik Tok forged explosion of fun.

’Anime & Chardonnay’ sets the vibe right from the start, and the party continues from there. Riding an infectious groove and snappy hook the track has only one flaw — it’s too short. Give it a listen and you too can enjoy the ear candy of a raucous good time.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Zola Simone - Sideways Ft. STL GLD [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Subtle, understated brilliance! That is how I’d categorize this track from Zola Simone.

The arrangement and build isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel but simply relies on an engaging performance of intelligent and well-articulated writing. Both sets of vocals, Simone’s and STLE GLD’s, make their points in entertaining fashion. The writing lands with precision and the track has a nice build and groove musically giving it a very polished feel that hit me right in the gut.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Belle Roscoe - Soho Shoes [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Sometimes as a curator and reviewer it is best to get out of the way and let the band tell you what they want you to know about their art. This is one of those times ...

From the band:

’We were inspired during London lockdown to film a music video. We wanted to capture the dystopian landscape we were all suddenly catapulted into and it felt like the perfect marriage for SOHO SHOES.

It was a “gorilla” style mission, 4am starts most mornings for about a month. No traffic, no pollution, not a person in sight...

We were arrested one time but it didn’t deter us. We were on a mission. It became an obsession going out every morning to discover London like never before. It also galvanised a creative outlet during a time when we couldn’t play music.

We were armed with an iphone, a gimbal and a dancing walrus.’”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ghandiii x John$on - Gang With Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ghandiii lays his thoughts and emotions out there with this banging flow and beat. ‘Gang With Me’ stays on the ragged edge and that passion is what hooked me in and kept me leaning in for the entire build. The verve and attitude come with pop and intent and holds the listener for the ride. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ice Meez - Huh [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Simplicity is not a bad thing when done right, but so many artists today go over the top trying to create something new that they lose the message and meaning of their work. Ice Meez avoided that trap and gives us a straight forward, and yes simple, flow while bring his track, ‘Huh,’ to life. But don’t confuse simple for easy or shallow, because Ice Meez packs a lot of emotion into his words and delivery.

The video is the perfect patch to his delivery and this Northern Californian artist is one to keep tabs on.”

— 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

Ease The Don - Stay Safe [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ease The Don and Jerry West team up to capture the West Coast Vibes on ‘Stay Safe.’ The groove has a definite Pop element to it, and the Cali Hip-Hop aura grabs hold as well as this one unfurls.

Shot in So Cal, the video matches the mood of the song and both are all about finding your fun no matter what is going on around you. A perfect track for the jacked up world we all live in so add this one to you chill vibes playlist and enjoy the ride. ”

— 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

JonPaul Wallace - Here We Go [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“JonPaul Wallace is all about energy and personality and that comes across in both this song and his bio. JonPaul, don’t call him plain old Jon, is having fun delivering ‘Here We Go’ and you will hav jsut as much fun listening. It is the kind of track that will lift you up, and propel you forward to take on whatever you face. That said, lyrically the track does a great job of motivation, but does not offer a lot in the way of deep insights beyond the infectious rhythm and energy.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

maticulous - Close Range (feat. Kev Brown & J Scienide) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Give it to maticulous — for creating this beat and producing the track in such a way to maximize the talents of Kev Brown and J Scienide.

’Close Range’ has that easy roll that put me in mind of Tupac, and the groove is one you can ride while cruising solo or chilling with your people. An easy rhythm and fall to flow into and feel as it unfurls pulling you along with it. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Andi - Money [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Andi infuses passion and attitude in every line of her performance of ‘Money.’ The keys add a brooding beat to this sultry track about the lure and dark side of money. The track has a clear message, but makes said point with a dark, siren-like tone and Electro Pop vibes so that the message does not feel like a warning or lecture as much as simply a statement of observance that the listener can take or leave as they see fit. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jack Blair - One for Me [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We all need to take time to do stuff simply for our own pleasure, and this track is an uplifting reminder of that. The chorus has a Mumford & Son vibe and the verses are a bit more lowkey, but overall the track is a clear pick me up and is the perfect add to your motivational playlists.

Jack Blair is clearly feeling the words he wrote and that comes out in this engaging performance. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mike Taveira x Allie X - Sex for Breakfast [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The clever word play and use of overlapping lyrics really hooked me in early. Both voices do a great job of selling the sultry emotion and lyrical build keeping the listener leaning in from start to finish. The overall tempo makes you want to move in a nice sultry groove.

This a nice addition to that playlist you use when the lights go off and the action heats up.”

— 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

Tedious & Brief - Not That Deep [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“It is easy to write those breakup songs when the heartache is fresh and real, but what happens once the artist gets over the breakup and is then forced to relive it by performing the slate of songs over and over. The artistic struggle is a complex one and this song has a bit of fun with that by bringing to the forefront the meaning behind such tracks. Tedious & Brief do a masterful job of putting a unique twist on a well-worn subject. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

SANNIA - Sad Rich Girls [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“SANNIA describes her single ‘Sad Rich Girls’ as ‘ ... pure catfight energy.’ Using the Paris Hilton era of reality TV as inspiration, SANNIA calls out the superficial bullshit and manufactured drama others use to elevate themselves while stepping on the back and throats of those around them.

This track might feel like a niche type of message, but in reality everyone has been both guilty and a victim of the kind of behavior called out in this song.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Confetti - Emo [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Confetti gives us a track that speaks to the age when you are caught between the free spirit of your early 20s and the stage where responsibility and obligation leave you wondering when and why life went wrong. The lyrics are wryly poignant in their humor but they land with deliberate emotion as well. ‘Emo’ is that song that feels like it was written specifically for you when in fact, it delivers a near universal appeal. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger