Leo Sawikin - Am I Ever Going To Fly Again [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“We are all chasing something, happiness, contentment, a thrill maybe? Leo Sawiken is no different and his track, ‘Am I Ever Going To Fly Again’ is all about trying to recapture one of the life’s magic moments.

The song starts slow, with a melancholy vibe that replicates the disappointment we feel when we realize that despite our best efforts, this time we failed to find that sparkle and shine. This is a cerebral song that leaves you thinking about your own life and experiences in a meaningful way. Style wise it falls into the Indie Rock plate with a side of human angst. The emotions are real and tangible and highly applicable to most of us have shared the same sentiments. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jon Vinyl - Feels Good [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Hailing from Toronto, Jon Vinyl blends Pop and Cotemporary R&B vibes to create a soothing sound heavy on emotion and talent. ‘Feels Good’ hits like something Ed Sheeran might create after taking a trip to Motown. The song has a nice tranquility that feels like a warm embrace from a dear friend or cherished love one.

My biggest critique is I wish it was longer and had at least one more verse.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Wisoff - Every 6 Years [Music Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“This is a matter of outhinking yourself as an artist. There are great moments to this performance and the premise was rock solid.

The problems were all in the production dynamics and arrangement. Had Wiseoff simply unleashed this track with a steady flow and build I’d have been all in, but the embellishment and add-ons got in the way emotionally for me and left the overall track feeling disjointed and needlessly chaotic. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Shannon Dooley - Make Some Noise [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Shannon Dooley has the vocal chops to do whatever she wants and while this track doesn’t showcase all of her range it does offer a nice emotive experience. Perhaps darker than most Indie Pop, ‘Make Some Noise,’ is a grittier ode track that gets in your mind and makes you think as it entertains.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart - Sins [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart have a sound that blends roots rock, soul, and Americana. Their latest release ‘Sins,’ is a powerful, grungy blues track that highlights Rebecca’s raw vocals and the band’s gritty, NYC-inspired sound.

There are plenty of things to like here and the talent is undeniable. The production dynamics could have left a more pleasing finish to the tone, but instead they leaned in on that raw grit a bit more than I would have liked and I do wish the song had stronger sense of build or escalation. That said, I would love to hear more music from this collection of talented performers.”

— 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

Sehou - Falling Through the Air [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Peace and tranquility rule the day on this track from Sehou. ‘Falling Through The Air’ is one of those tracks that could fit the musical landscape over the last twenty years or so.

The Electro/Dance Pop track is smooth and uplifting and will carry you along when you need that pick me up or recharge.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Super Massive - Caught In A Web [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Super Massive unleashes a high energy summer time track with their latest single, ‘Caught in A Web.’

Wait, what? Summertime? Yep, you read it right. Super Massive is an Aussie based dance/rock band that blends electro, electro-pop, dance-pop, synthpop and EDM and while here in North America we are the cusp of winter they are ready to bask in some summertime fun down in the Southern Hemisphere.

Th track is a throwback of synth glory and a fun romp.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tiesto x Soaky Siren - Tantalizing [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Getting out on the dance floor and losing all sense of place and time is what we all need from time to time. ‘Tantalizing’ by Tiesto and Soaky Siren is the perfect track to do so.

Clean production and a tasty build keep you leaning in. No, this offering isn’t going to shatter expectations lyrically, but then again it doesn’t need to. It says and does enough to be perfect for just letting everything go and getting your body moving.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

deathbypeanuts x NanaBcool x Selassie x Dexter Francis Mason - Nightrider [Music Review]

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

“The groove is pleasing and I like that side of this track, but for me the vocals felt a bit melodramatic.

Overall this song was a case of trying to do and be too much. The talent is there and could have shined, but for all the world this one felt like a group of talented people saying ... Hey let’s throw everything we got up against the wall and see what sticks.

The end result felt like an unorganized mess lyrically, and the varying performance style felt at odds rather than complementary to each other.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lil Primo - STARBURST [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Lil Primo feels anything but lil on this big bold track. ‘Starburst’ has that old school, in-your-face vibe, and Primo infuses that hard flow with fresh linds and a crisp delivery that lands the lyrical punches with skill and precision.

This LA are rapper brings the perfect verve to his flow and the writing hits with grit and emotion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Nicki Knightz - Step With Me (ft. JoeJas) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

“The video is simple but works well witht he lyrics and vibe. This track was a mixed bag for me overall. I dig the writing and the passion put into the delivery of these flows, thought he staccato beat and start and stop feel on that side left the build feeling chaotic in a disorganized kind of way for me.

Both Nicki Knightz and JoeJas convey the emotion well in their flow and I admire their talent but this arrangement felt like a bit of mess for me.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ames Harding & the Mirage - The Governor's Dead (Official Music Video) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This track might win the timeliness award, but hey is there ever a bad time for a good Murder Ballad with a nice Caribbean flair? I think not.

Add in the rising sense of rebellion given this countries current events and I this track is surely to resonate in a powerful, yet fun way. Macabre power at its best!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Eric Hagen - Accuse Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Eric Hagen gives off Nathaniel Rateliff vibes on the track ‘Accuse Me.’ The track has a Bluesy Soul vibe, with some Americana thrown in for good measure. The song feels like a sit at home drinking while pondering how it all went wrong vibes. But rather than wallowing in despair, the lyrics take on a bit of righteous indignation to create an IDGAF brand of attitude.”

— 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

Illiterate Light - Montauk [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Illiterate Light gives us a languid, thinking man kind of track with ‘Montauk.’

Inspired by the theme of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the song takes on the emotional and mental game of attempting what you suspect will ultimately go down as a failure.

The track has what I’d called an organized chaos feel and vibe. Which is apt given that is pretty much how our brains function.

The song is long for modern music, and that, along with the deeper subject matter, will probably keep it from reaching hit status. Though it is the kind of Alternative/Indie Rock release that is likely to develop a cult following of very dedicated fans.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Halo Kitsch - BETWEEN YOUR TEETH [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Halo Kitsch has some fun calling out the fake hypocrisy of those who work so damn hard to be perfect. Perfect and predictable is a manufactured illusion fed these days by social media likes and follows. ‘BETWEEN YOUR TEETH’ is an ode to the real ones, the true friends that will tell you not what you want to hear, but what you NEED to hear.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Luci - Loner [Music Review]

Rating: 3.0 out of 5

“Luci began her career as a an EDM producer and that influence is clear on this track, though the vocal side certainly has Pop sensibilities.

’Loner’ is an emotive and vulnerable track in its best moments, though for me the harder drops and production that turned toward a Future Bass/EDM style got in the way of the emotions at times.

For me this track shined the brightest with Luci’s emotive delivery and less production behind it clouding the song. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tamar Berk - That's Not a Lie [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Some songs simply grab hold and refuse to let go. Tamar Berk certainly has talent and a pleasing tone though I can’t fully explain why this one stuck to me so fiercely. The delivery and melody are nice, but the hook and lyrical refrain of the song is what grabbed me and refused to let go.

Like an ear worm in the best of ways!”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Estella Dawn - Detached

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I have probably featured Estella Dawn more than any other artis in my time here at LA on Lock. And this is perhaps my favorite track from the talented San Diego artist yet. ‘Detached’ is an in your face anthem of sorts. The vocal tone is emotive and layered and hits you right in the gut. The songwriting is just as rich and developed and the production as always is spot on.

The video is well rendered as well and the imagery help you feel the track that much more.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger