Amane Mist - Paradise [Music Review]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

“This is a track that technically has little to critic, but that said there is also not a lot to get excited about. The talent is obvious both in the performance and production but for me this track had more of a ‘all in a day’s work’ feel than it it did a passionate creation. The end result had a paint by numbers feel for me.

Here at LA on Lock we are trying to feature more songs with our opinions to showcase what our inbox looks like and this is one of those middle of the road track with talent, but lacking the spark to truly inspire us with something we haven’t heard before.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kenny Sharp - Smooth [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kenny Sharp cuts us up with the gleaming blade that is ‘Smooth.’ This Retro Funk/ Soul number has a bit of Bruno, but also some Hip-Hop-esque verve that reminded me of Yung Grvy.

This is a one of those tracks that lodges in your gut and reverborates out to your bones with the groove. I dare you to listen to this and not be persuaded to move to the Funk.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jasper The Scary Ghost - Let Me Just (Vibe) [Music Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“The intro felt more like something out of a 1950s spy movie than it did a hype track for a Hip-Hop song.

The flow has talent and a nice energy, though that beat and backing struck me as an odd choice to pair up with. The writing here did not give me a lot new. so the hook ground me out with its repetition and while I like the passion of these performances, this one never had the lyrical punch to truly get me going.

Let us know if the track hit differently for you.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Quiz - The Conversation [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The world today is full of anger, hate, a and unwarranted entitlement. Quiz takes the road less travelled with the track ‘ The Conversation’ part of an album titled ‘Grateful.’

The album titles comes though in the conversation of this song as Quiz sows good vibes and gratitude. The flow here is one of humanity and healing and it’s time we all turned our focus to such pursuits as we try our best to tune out the hate and dissent so many feed on in these times.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kidd Dryden - Life We Chose [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kidd Dryden wrote this track while enduring a rough patch of life, and yet he chose to remain optimistic and focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. The flow is delivered in a low-key straightforward way, but you can feel the earnest hope and vulnerability in the words.

This is a track to listen to alone when you too are struggling and need a reminder that few things are permanent and how we get back up is what usually defines us.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dax - Lonely Dirt Road [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dax is a versatile artist adept at conveying emotion via a variety of genres, but you can always hear and feel the passion fueling his artistry.

’Lonely Dirt Road’ straddles that line between the Rock and the Nashville style of modern Pop Country. The delivery is deliberate and emotive. A few times I craved a touch less production on the vocal side because I have faith Dax could have delivered these emotional words straight up with quite so much production coloring the sound. That said, this is a track that is accessible to all and one easy to feel as much as you hear.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lisa Heller - LOSER! [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lisa Heller is anything but a ‘Loser!!’ Though she sings that refrain with ease and kill. Delivery a Pop Punk brand of high-energy, Heller straddles the line of Pop Princess and Punk Girl Bad-Ass quite ably.

It’s hard to imagine her losing anything she wants to keep but this tracks has punch and you can’t help but believe in the performance and the artist.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Caroline Romano - Pretty Boys [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Caroline Romano always delivers with a strong emotive performance and this latest single, ‘Pretty Boys,’ delivers on those expectations.

’Pretty Boys is my honest recount of heartbreak,’ Caroline shares. ‘It’s like reading straight from my diary—a dramatic story with a terribly disappointing ending. The song is a cautionary tale about the blurry line between friendship and something more. Just because you’ve kissed him doesn’t mean you should do it again, and just because he looks at you that way doesn’t mean you’re the only one.’

Romano knows how to tap into her own experiences and emotions to give listeners a full spectrum of artistry. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jet Vesper - Golden Day [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Jet Vesper sets the mood and vibe with ‘Golden Day.’ The smooth easy beat and groove is infectious and the vocal build is light and airy giving this track a uplifting tone that simply makes the world feel like a better place.

Jet Vesper brings the joy from down under as this Aussie artist unleashes a bit of the carefree attitude that we all need in this day and time of anger, hate, and stress.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ananya - Happy [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written with Mental Health Day in mind, Ananya unleashes this Electro pop ode to taking care of yourself and cutting out the things that drag you down. The Zimbabwean pop star delivers the sharp writing with a steady, almost defiant brand of confidence despite the honest vulnerability of the writing and that combination brings this track to life.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lil Savage - They Don't Even Know [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lil Savage wrote this song a week after losing the love of his life to suicide. The emotion and heavy impact of that tragic events can be felt in the heavy brooding build and emotion of the track.

I do wish the vocal side had a touch more vibrancy within the mix but then again, the heavy sadness does come through so perhaps the track is meant to feel subdued. A track with grit, vulnerability, and genuine emotion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tungevaag - Without You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tungevaag is no stranger to success with more than ten million streams. “Without You’ is the kind of Big Room EDM you’ve come to expect from Tungevaag who is fast becoming one of Norway’s biggest imports.

The build here is smooth and the production clean and despite the sort of calm tranquility you still can feel the compulsion to move to this beat and build. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mt. Misery - Sunday Song [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Mt. Misery delivers a sound that harkens to a simpler time on their latest single ‘Sunday Song.’

Nostalgic is how I’d best describe this track that feels like a cross between an Indep Pop track and a theme song from a 80’s sitcom. It’s the kind of track that simply puts a smile on your lips and you can’t help but sing along to as soon as you know the words.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

MINASTA SCRUGE - INTEGRITY [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Minasta Scruge brings an old-school type flow with his track ‘Integrity.’ Clever wordplay marks the lyrical flow and the rhymes play off each other with a simple brilliance that keeps you leaning in eager for the next line. Snoop Dogg joins in to deliver his only brand of cool smooth relaxation. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Shriya - Her

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A big soaring Alt Pop track with singer/songwriter vibes, ‘Her’ offers a smooth and emotional build that speaks to the insecurities and fears many of us possess. WIth that said, this track avoids a wallowing kind of despair, delving instead onto an honest vulnerability that makes the lyrics feel real and of course the talented performance hooks the listener in from the very beginning.”

— 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

Estella Dawn - Julian [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“If you don’t know Estella Dawn by now then you clearly haven’t been reading my blogs and reviews. Dawn is a talented Pop artists from the San Diego area and I have featured a number of her tracks. ‘Julian is but the latest from this talented artist that continues to create and perform talented songs that entertain while delivering emotional depth and intelligence.

Dawn is one of my favorite Southern California artists and really has proven her place in the So Cal musical landscape. Now the rest of the world needs to catch up.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kylie Rothfield - Never Loved Somebody [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kylie Rothfield is one of those talented vocalists that transcends genre to simply deliver an emotive and powerful performance no matter the style they choose.

’Never Loved Somebody’ is an Indie Rock Singer/songwriter vibe, but it would be a huge stretch to compare the song to some of the big hits delivered by women that dominated 90s Country.

And in the end, genre doesn’t matter much when the audience connect in a meaningful way. Genre is the market the business side, but good music is about art and emotion and that can’t be put in a box.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

IzyBeats x Stonebwoy - LOVE [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Izybeats and Stonebwoy collaborate here to bring this Afrobeat Reggae track alive. There is a Pop vibe to go with the track making ‘LOVE’ a genre bending success that should resonate with Commercial audience quite well.

The air of sultry mystery, and an infectious beat are hard to turn away from. This is the kind of track you can hit repeat and listen to over and over again .”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Richard Tyler Epperson - Dream [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The wordplay is cleverly and intelligently rendered on this Indie Rock gem from Richard Tyler Epperson. ‘Dream’ is an ode to taking care of you own mental space, the dance between reality and escapism because let’s face it we all need a break from all that life hits us with. But of course you can’t let the mind wander to far or you never really get where you want to go.”

— Quote Source