Christian Cherry - Die Before I'm Famous [Music Review]

“Christian Cherry offers an emotive bit of vulnerability on his Alt Pop track, ‘Die Before I’m Famous.’

Calling Cyprus home, this artist offers an unflinching look at the anxiety of life slipping by and the fears that you won’t be the person you want or reach the goals you’ve set before your time comes to an end. Th premise is one we’ve all pondered and here the track feels gritty and real without diving to deep into the anxiety of such heavy thoughts.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jack & Jack - All On You [Music Review]

“Jack & Jack is the collective effort of childhood best friends Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson. The pair first showcased their artistic efforts on Vine with comedic videos and today they put much of their creativity into their music.

’All On You’ is a synth heavy, Indie Pop track about supporting the one you love through good times and bad. The beat is infectious and the vocal performance keeps the listener engaged start to finish. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Money Shots - Rise Up! [Music Review]

“The Money Shots are an anonymous music collective who are currently underground for safety concerns. They are advocating for radical democracy.

It says a lot about the world we are living in that a collective of talented musical artists have to hide their identity when advocating for people to stand up and fight for their rights. Transcending genre, the track is a talented array of artists and styles that combine to form and engaging protest song.

’Rise Up’ is an anthem to the fed up and the pissed off and I am here for it.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Phynxxx - Jah Arms

“Phynxxx is sending good vibes into the world with his Dancehall/Reggae track, ‘Jah Arms.’

Uplifting and energetic the track is a self affirming track that reminds us everything will be alright despite the many storms we all must weather along the way.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Cherry-Ilex - 5th of Liquor [Music Review]

“We aren’t always honest with ourselves much les others, but sometimes we have one of those reflective moments when we truly look deep inside ourselves. And on occasion it takes a bit of liquid courage to get there. That is exactly what Cherry-Ilex’s track, ‘5th of Liquor’ is about.

The artist called this ... “Late-night R&B out of Long Beach. A man alone with a glass, being honest with himself in a way he wouldn’t be sober.”

The smooth, unhurried groove is one you can feel as much as hear, and the lyrical honesty speaks to universal truths we often run from.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Moon Age - Sunrise [Music Review]

“Indie Pop covers a lot of ground stylewise but ‘Sunrise’ from Moon Age, is a dreamy nu-disco track. The smooth vocals of Tallija Perrett are backed by a funky, synth dreamscape. Lyrically, the track dives itno those middle of the night yearnings to reconnect with an ex, but being savvy enough to wait for sunrise before making any move.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sarah Smith - Point of No Return [Music Review]

“IF you like your Electro Pop with a hint of danger and anxiety then Sarah Smith’s new single, ‘Point of No Return’ will likely speak directly to you.

Tender and jaded might not seem like natural accomplices but human emotions are quite complex and talented artists like Smith do not run from such complexities. So this song about both wanted all while fearing those attachments is written with precision and delivered with raw intense honesty.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jessmin - Hyperfixated [Music Review]

“New love is often obsessive love and ‘Hyperfixated’ by Jessmin is a Pop song about that very phenomenon.

Delivered with the dazzling brightness you’d expect from a true Pop song the track feels as accessible as it does emotionally true. Talent and passion meet to give listeners a song to feel and sing along to when mired in their own newfound romance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Cade Hoppe - Flatearther [Music Video Review]

“Willful ignorance has never sounded so good as it does on LA singer/songwriter, Cade Hoppe’s track, ‘Flatearther.’ And no, I am not describing Hoppe as ignorant. Quite the contrary. He has done a masterful job of capturing the emotions and spirit of believing what you want to believe despite overwhelming evidence proving otherwise.

Sure, .ost logical freethinkers mock the flat earthers and their unfounded beliefs but then we’ve all done the same with a love interest, good friend, or some other thing we badly want to believe in despite the evidence suggesting otherwise. This softly delivered Alt Pop track makes you stop and rethink your own perspectives. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

SENT - Hear Me Out [Music Review]

“We love debuting new music and new bands hear at LA on Lock. SENT is Swedish Soul-Rock band and ‘Haar Me Out’ is their first offering to the world.

Delivering a smooth vocal groove, the band rides a tranquil vibe musically as they unleash the spiritual freedom and good vibes we all need more of in our lives.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kingsland - Follow Me [Music Review]

“We are on a Retro Spul kick it would seem and here is another great offering from the Brooklyn based band, Kingsland. ‘Follow Me’ is a take ont he New York dating scene but the ideas and principals fit most anywhere because people tend to be universal int he way they hold back and play games while trying to find love.

The world would be better place if we all said what we mean and mean what we say, but hey, in the meantime we can enjoy a tasty groove with a side of funk which is exactly what this track offers.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Matty Frank Myrtle-Wyckoff Blues (Live at Nightsound Studios) {Music Review]

“Retro Soul with a rootsy side of Americana. That’s the best way to describe, ‘Wyckoff Blues’ from Matty Frank Myrtle. The North Carolina artist said the final arrangement was influenced by Cowboy Carter as well as the Americana scene in the Tar Heel state and you can feel the geography as well as the raw emotion in this heartfelt and gritty live performance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ice Meez - I Been [Music Review]

“Recording at the legendary Royal House Recording Studio, ‘I Been,’ just might be Ice Meez’s best work yet. The Northern Californian rapper has caught the ear of Platinum artist Tee Grizzley who flew Meez to Detroit to record this track.

Riding a confident mid-tempo bounce, the track has a commercial edge making it accessible to all without sacrificing the West Coast vibes or edge that has defines California’s scene for decades.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Born Runner - Be Ok [Music Review]

“Ready for an energetic Pop lift me up? ‘Be Ok’ is a song about facing down your doubts and finding some positivity even when you don’t feel it initially. The band, Born Runner (by their own admission terrible runners in reality) offer some hope among the hopelessness witht he track which is delivered with a hint of homage to the Retro Pop sound of the 80s.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kieran Phillips - Houston [Music Review]

“A Country-Blues song about Houston, Texas from a Liverpool artist might not have been on your bingo card but here it is just the same. ‘Houston’ is a road song about new beginnings and perhap a little redemption too. The growl and gravel does have a hint of Uk influence and that adds to the uniqueness as does the funky guitar groove driving it all.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Steve Maggiora - Echoes of Us [Music Review]

“A nostalgic look at love that once was can be a powerful thing and the emotion really depend on how things ended as well as our own outlook on life. ‘Echoes of Us’ from Steve Maggiora is a track that chooses a positive bit of reflection on love lost.

Delivered in a classic Indie Rock style, the song feels rather timeless and could have been right at home from almost any modern musical era. The perfect song to fondly remember what once was and smile.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Avery Cochrane - Toy Gun [Music Video Review]

“Don;t let the sugary Pop vibe fool you, ‘Toy Gun’ from Avery Cochrane packs a lot of kick. The simple, yet wryly delicious video adds to the sharp edge of these lyrics and Cochran’s spot on delivery makes damn certain you feel every pointed innuendo and assertion.

This is an Alt Pop track that hits every mark, the light fun build and singalong lyrics are what you’d expect, but not every songwriter can deliver such a direct and pointed message and make it all entertaining at the same time.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Chi Rose - 6 AM [Music Review]

“Born and raised in New York, but now based in Los Angeles, Chi Rose is an independent Alternative R&B and Pop artist.

Tender, vulnerable vocals highlight her performance in ‘6 AM,’ adding to Chi Rose’s reputation as a soulful and cinematic artist that never shies away from emotional storytelling.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Albert Kass - fallin' off [Music Review]

“Nothing fuels art like misery. Suffering is part of being a human so it is often comforting to get the pain out or to hear that you are not alone in your pain. Albert Kass wrote ‘fallin’off’ after what he calls the darkest, deepest part of his life and that is tangible in the song.

You can call this Alternative Rock or probably it would more accurately fit in the Americana genre alongside the likes of Jason Isbell or Tyler Childers.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ira Ellison - Call Sign [Music Review]

“Singer/Songwriter Ira Ellison’s objective was to write an honest, open, and vulnerable track.

”Call Sign’ certainly hits that mark. Delivered in a growling whisper you can feel the emotion in every line and while fairly languid in its arrangement the track still delivers a strong build and emotional payoff along the way.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger