Aiden Myers - Help Me [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Aiden Myers drops a a lyrically vulnerable track that captures the fragile meant state of one suffering from anxiety and doubt. This well-produced tracks strikes a balance between commercial appeal within the beat and melody and a tender dark side to the songwrting. Performance wise Myers lays his emotions out there and this gives the single a strong allure that engages and makes you empathize as well as reflect on your own times when you need something, anything to ‘Help Me.’

The chorus offers a nice hook without growing overly repetitive.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mikey - Too Young [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The lyrics of ‘Too Young’ take a reminiscent and reflective look at a love that wasn’t meant to be. The engaging Pop vocals delivers a nice balance of energy and emotion and the song is very relatable for anyone who saw a worthwhile love crumble because of the stage of life they were in when it came along. The track feels honest and brings a nice mix of regret and hopeful forgiveness. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

DYLYN - Something To Lose [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track was a slow burn for me. The vocal talent shines early, but I did not immediately connect with the emotion of the track and I expected the chorus to explode. But, ‘Something To Lose’ surprised me by going the other direction and suddenly that down shift in tempo brought home the emotion of the track.

Lyrically the single imparts the feeling of that gut punch when this time, perhaps for the first time, you are invested in a relationship, and fear that it could disappear.

One is left with the sense that normally the narrator is the aloof one, all to eager to drift away after a casual hook-up but this time, she is the one trying to hold on. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

SHADES - Carousel (ft. Mister Blonde) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“An engaging Electro Pop sound about the highs and lows of relationships, especially the extremes of a toxic pairing that clearly isn’t going to last. The lyrics are well-written and the production aids in bringing the emotion and mood forward so that you can not only hear it in the words, but feel it in the beat. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Fickle Friends - Pretty Great [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track captured my attention with honest lyrics that are easy to follow and with strong imagery of the video. I did find myself wishing for a bit more variation to both the performance and the melody, but I was entertained from start to finish and that in itself makes for a ‘Pretty Great’ song.

The Pop tone shines bright here and you won’t mind the time you spend watching and listening to the Fickle Friends. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lola Scott - Take Me Back [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is a moment on this track, right about the :40 second mark where Lola Scott elevates the vocals from a talented chill vibe to a raw, passionate allure that didn’t just pull me deeper in, but yanked me there thorough the sheer emoting of her feelings.

Lyrically the track is calling for a return to those early euphoric days of a new relationship, but for me it was that extra quiver and quake in Scott’s voice that connected the dots and gave this track such a strong emotional resonance. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Tourist Club - The Now [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Tourist Club give us a chill, Electro Pop ode inspired by trips to the desert. There is something ethereal and epic about the vast stillness of the American Southwest’s deserts, so it makes perfect sense that this track about letting go of the past, and letting in ‘The Now’ would be inspired by such a place of stark beauty.

There is a hint of the 80’s to the melody, and yet this track feels like a contemporary track that will speak to many right here in ‘The Now.’ ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Rachel Croft - We Are [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a dark heavy track with brooding lyrics calling for a change to the word ‘We Are’ living in.

Written before the proliferation of the virus and our current situation, the track feels almost prophetic now.

Heavy emotional vocals unfurl and underneath them intermingled with the powerful lyrics is an air of hope and faith, though this song is still a hard punch to the senses.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sam Creighton - Go to Hell [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Can I get an hallelujah for this Sinful Pop sermon?

Sam Creighton combines an edgy attitude with sharp, and at times witty, lyrics to create this track preaching against the judgmental and righteously indignant.

The imagery of the video adds to the attitude of the track and the overall experience is a fun one ... unless perhaps you are one of the pious critics of others people’s brand of fun.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Jade Hilton - I Would [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is a no frills track, but don’t take that to mean the single does not deliver an emotional impact. Jade Hilton stands alone with her guitar, and pours her soul into the delivery of the lyrics. You can feel this fact in every last note and her soft, genuine vocals pull you in and hold your attention. Lyrically the single is a plea not to take her or their relationship for granted.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Chelsea Collins - Used to be (L.O.V.E.) [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Coming in with an almost childlike tone, Chelsea Collins delivers a vocal uniqueness that catches you off-guard. And just when you have made your peace with this surprise, she takes it to another level with an energetic Pop fused interlude.

This is an artist with the power to captivate with a single line, and this is a track that manages to do exactly that over and over again. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

UPSAHL - 12345SEX [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sometimes it is best to defer to the artist when trying to talk about the origins of a song. And UPSAHL says it best when she wrote about her thoughts behind ‘12345SEX’ ... ‘fuck it, I’m going to make a song simply about being horny and living your best life with no apologies.’

Evocative and alluring, ‘12345SEX’ lures you like a siren’s song with its sexy beat and tantalizing vocals. This is pure hedonist Pop that works because it is sultry and seductive in all the best ways. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

MOLTENO - Tripping Up [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“MOLTENO is not an easy artist to categorize and this latest single, ‘Tripping Up,’ is no different in that regard. Warm and smooth vocals bring us lyrics that are cool and aloof — yet emotionally engaging.

There are R&B elements to the arrangement and performance as well as a contemporary Pop vibe throughout.

The imagery of the video matches the single in that it is both dark and distant and yet somehow manages to make you lean forward and immerse yourself in the feeling behind the music. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

PLS&TY - High [Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track has a nice Commercial groove and energy about it lyrically. The beat and melody are pure Electro Pop and the vocal talent holds it all together with a smooth flow that is easy to follow and song along with. This song establishes a mood and vibe that will resonate well across genres.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Lune - Wi-Fi [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This tracks bare and stripped back vocals hooked me early on. I listened in the way you watch a story unfold on the street, that you perhaps are not supposed to see, because the nature of this track is slightly voyeuristic in that it feels like an intimate conversation between friends.

The Electro Pop vibe is subdued and the track progresses with that one single voice doing the heavy, emotional lifting. Though the track does have enough splashes production wise, to elevate it above the artsy status and give it just a hint of commercial flair.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Andrey Pitkin x Christina Novelli - Talking to You (Remix by Filatov & Karas) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Just because you’re stuck at home, it doesn’t mean you can’t get up and dance!

Yeah, I am ‘Talking To You.’

This remix is a track that delivers both engaging vocals and an energetic production to get you moving. So grab the one you are sequestered with; the cat, the dog, hell grab the broom if you must, but toss you hair back and move to the music because it is important to get up and groove. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Andrey Azizov x Mauwe - Take Me Down [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Andrey Azizov joins forced with Mauwe on this Electro Pop track which is a nice balance of light and dark both lyrically and melodically. The soft emotional resonance of her voice bring forth the sullen rain sodden vibe that is perfect for anyone feeling reminiscent or a touch melancholy. The track feel like a dark stormy night in that the world is quiet and still, yet the mind moves on. There too is a freshness and scent of hope that only rain and receding trouble can bring. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

R3HAB x Clara Mae x Frank Walker - "More Than OK (Acoustic)" [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This is a BIG, quiet song. That might sound like a contradiction, but the emotions behind the lyrics and performance are huge while the quiet production perfectly brought them forth.

Clara Mae delivers passion and tenderness in her vocal ode to wanting more out of life than just being okay. Her inflection is perfect and it is easy to feel her investment in the message.

This multi-national collaboration between Mae, R3HAB, and Frank Walker has created a track that speaks loud to the hearts and souls of everyone and it does so with spot on production and a timeless feel. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ryan Hemsworth x Ricky Lake x WADE08 - What I'm On Tonight [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ryan Hemsworth drops the official remix of ‘What I’m On Tonight’ from Ricky Lake’s new album ‘Last Summer Sucked!’

The track has energy and life and is engaging from the drop. The vocal mix is intriguing throughout , and this is a song that defy’s you not to pop into the groove and sway along to the rhythm. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

golda - Dear Los Angeles [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This is not the first single from golda that I have shared here in LA on Lock, so the name should not be a stranger to our followers, but ‘Dear Los Angeles’ is her best yet. And that is saying something, given the powerful tracks we’ve already shared.

This single is a slow ballad of raw emotion. There is a retro quality in the simplicity of the melody and the vocal style, but the single is also very much a modern tale of not dashed dreams, but rather delayed dreams. And of the vulnerability it takes to admit it is time to reassess and gear up for another try.

We have all been there and the emotions are tangible, though the talent behind the track singles out golda as a one of a kind artist headed to a plane most of us will never get to. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)