Veldor- Bat Shit Crazy [Review] September 18, 2020 by Kreadiv Kesh in Neo-Soul, Commercial, Contemporary R&B Rating: 4 out of 5 “This year has been filled with many deaths and tears. Veldor’s new single ‘Bat Shit Crazy’ pretty much sums the year up. He sings about living right, being alive and getting through the bad days. Some people get lost in their pain and discover their own gate way to take the pain away. This may cause pain to others as they drift away to the other side.” — Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)
Cristina Hart - Bad Girlfriend [Review] September 18, 2020 by Kreadiv Kesh in Electro Pop, Commercial Rating: 3.5 out of 5 “Are you a good or bad girlfriend? Christina Hart’s new single points out that sometimes we have flaws and baggage but its ok. In her new electro- pop single ‘Bad Girlfriend’ she points out the pros and cons of being with her. This is the opposite of crushing but more of a heads up of what type of person you are loving.” — Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)
Scott Luka - In the Club [Review] September 17, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Hip-Hop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “It is the rare song that can come with a tongue-in-cheek set of lyrics and still mange to pull of a meaningful track. Scott Luka has done it here with ‘In The Club,’ which originally was meant as a sarcastic condemnation on the often cliched tropes prevalent in a lot of popular music, but along the way the track became a bit more nostalgic for me and that left me feeling sort of caught in between musical worlds and times. Reminiscent for the past, and reluctant but hopeful for that next great thing. In this music is like life and here all of it felt very tangible for me.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Wax Owls - Set it Free [Review] September 16, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Folk, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “In what is the debut single for Wax Owls, ‘Set It Free’ is a big soaring brand of Commercial Folk. Falling into a stratosphere somewhere between Mumford & Sons and Tom Petty the band’s sound feels lively and emotional on this track. Lyrically, the song is about moving back and sort of facing your past while acknowledging the roads you’ve traveled. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Khamari - That Girl [Review] September 12, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, R&B, Contemporary R&B, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Khamari perfectly captures that moment when you spot her, the one that you will do anything to spark a conversation with ... all in the hope that from there a relationship will bloom and blossom. ’That Girl’ has a definite Frank Ocean vibe to it and the track is one that just feels like the euphoric triumvirate of love, lust, and hope.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Biz Colletti- Trust Myself [Review] September 11, 2020 by Kreadiv Kesh in Commercial, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 3.5 out of 5 “We all have some sort of fear. For Biz Colletti its the fear of being alone with someone. When she saw the true colors of someone she lost herself. Now she doesn’t trust herself to be alone with that person. We all have been there before. Her vocals are soft spoken but the delivery will draw you in emotionally.” — Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger) Written by biz colletti and Matt Kass
Adrian Gamboa x Kiara Simone' - How I Need It [Review] September 05, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Rap, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “It hasn’t been easy to party as of late, but Adrian Gamboa isn’t letting that stop him from dropping this up beat track on us in our time of need. ’How I need It’ is pure party in song form. The back and forth flow with Kiara Simone’ a shameless simulation of male/female flirtation as they both try to stake their role in what is sure to be a wild, fun-filled night for both.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Olivia Grasso - Every Room [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Electro Pop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “A big, boisterous track that at times reminded me of Kelly Clarkson, ‘Every Room’ is a triumph for Olivia Grasso. Grasso has an energy about her vocals, and an uplifting spirit behind her songwriting, which combine to make this energetic track come alive. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Abby J Hall - All I Wanted [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5 “You get what you give ... is an expression we’ve all heard. Taking that idea a bit deeper than most usages of the expression, Abby J Hall uses the lyrics of ‘All I Wanted’ to express the idea that we all need to lower our walls in order to form the intense connections that make any relationships truly meaningful and strong. Within the song, she sings .. I hate being vulnerable,’ but ironically, Hall does exactly that on both her stellar songwriting and the emotive performance of this track.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
LACES - worship [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Pop, Rock, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “LACES once performed to success under the name Charlotte Sometimes, but a series of life events and personal decisions have led to her burying that name, both literally and figuratively. In more ways than one, ‘worship’ represents a rebirth, and in the dark moodiness of a stellar vocal performance, lurks an emotion and depth that breaths life into this track, as well as the new direction of LACES renewed career.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
cg - xoxoxo [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Conscious, Hip-Hop Rating: 4 out of 5 “This track is a perfect example of the beat and melody doing the heavy lifting in regard to the prevailing emotion of a song. The vocal delivery hints at a desperate yearning and almost pained morose, but at times choose a monotone delivery which works for the emotions involved. Such a track can lose its energy and feel flat, but the production behind the flow kept this track alive and tangible, allowing you to feel the lyrics in a way you might not have otherwise. The performance is spot on, but in a very subtle way.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Sleeping Lion x Sophia Gripari - Lonely In LA [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Being lonely is tough on the emotions no matter where you are, but in a vibrant setting like LA the feelings are all the more acute. This track utilizes universal emotions within settings familiar for those who know the City of Angels to create a lively track that toes the commercial line between Pop and more of a singer/songwriter vibe.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Hugo Valentine - Rule The World [Review] September 04, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rating: 4 out of 5 “Hugo Valentine gives us a bit of a throwback. With a track that builds in the arrangement in such a way that conjures vibes of classic hits of the 70’s and 80’s, while also having that big musical sound of a contemporary single, ‘Rule The World’ ends up sounding very much like a collaboration between Elton John and Coldplay. The energy here sweeps the listener up after a calm opening.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
JP Saxe - A Little Bit Yours [Review] September 02, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “Letting go is tough, especially when you are holding on a tighter than the other person. This track beautifully captures the emotions of realizing they are gone,even if you are not fully there. JP Saxe delivers a heartfelt performance over a stripped down melody and production that allows the emotions to rule above all else. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Emily Vu - Drifting [Review] August 29, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Electro Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Being caught in a relationship that isn’t truly going anywhere, can leave a person feeling a bit untethered, even when the times you spend together provide more good than bad. ‘Drifting,’ from Emily Vu, captures such feelings in Electro Pop glory. There is a bit of a Taylor Swift vibe both lyrically and in the performance, but Vu comes across a bit more tender and understanding in her honest assessment of where life has taken the relationship. ” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Holly Ouellette - One Time, Pt. IV [Review] August 29, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Folk, Indie Rock Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Holly Oullette fully embraced songwriting after a Hockey injury curtailed her athletic pursuits, and what the ice loses, the music world gains in a talented writer and emotive vocalist. Part of a larger project, ‘One Time’ is about trying to rekindle the spark and hope from a damaged relationship that once held great promise. The emotions shine through in both the writing and the delivery, making this an engaging track that simple refuses to let you go. Look for the complete project titles What I Can’t Take Back to hear more of Oullette’s talent.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Liam Mogan - Alone in the City [Review] August 28, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “This track has a sort of quiet desolate vibe in its production, and that feeling perfectly matches the spirit of the lyrics. The imagery of the songwriting is strong and the mood of the track well-established s come along and take a late night trip through the normally crowded streets with Liam Mogan while he is ‘Alone In The City.’” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Michelle Ray - Chasing Shadows [Review] August 28, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Electro Pop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “Michelle Ray incorporates a classic vocal sound while giving us a fresh contemporary Electro Pop single titled, ‘Chasing Shadows.’ The vocal talent shines bright here with hints of Timberlake, Bruno Mars, and even vintage Diana Ross. There is a definite throwback vibe with a Disco era energy to the overall arrangement. The track is groovy fun in all the best ways.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Dawson Gamble - I Don’t Care [Review] August 28, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 4 out of 5 “I found it wryly ironic that Dawson Gamble infused so much emotion and feeling into a track titled — ‘I Don’t Care,’ and in that contradiction I discovered the beauty of this performance. This singer/songwriter has a raw yearning, and emotive style that comes through not only in the vocal performance, but the songwriting as well. Every note seems to add to the layers of the song.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)
Gillian Heidi - desperate [Review] August 26, 2020 by Travis Erwin in Music, Electro Pop, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “Gillian Heidi delivers a desperate and angst-filled vibe in the yearning allure of ‘desperate.’ Unexpected attraction to someone new while inside a relationship is a mixed bag of emotions, and while the thrill of the taboo can make a person feel alive, the guilt of cheating even emotionally is a burden that can weigh one down. The uncertainty and misgivings come across lyrically and in the performance of this track.” — Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)