Sarpa Salpa - Your House [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Coming to SXSW in March 2022, Sarpa Salpa is a British band that has one foot in the synth heavy sound of the 80s, and another firmly panted in the contemporary world of Indie Pop. ‘Your House’ has a nice Indietronica vibe to it even though lyrically the track is heavier and darker than the arrangement might first suggest. I liked this emotional juxtaposition and in it found my own groove to stay invested and connected for the entire build and duration.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Confetti - Emo [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Confetti gives us a track that speaks to the age when you are caught between the free spirit of your early 20s and the stage where responsibility and obligation leave you wondering when and why life went wrong. The lyrics are wryly poignant in their humor but they land with deliberate emotion as well. ‘Emo’ is that song that feels like it was written specifically for you when in fact, it delivers a near universal appeal. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Marian Hill - omg [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Sexy and sultry and funny are not always bed partners, but here on this track from famed Alt-Pop duo, Marian Hill, you will find all three.

This track offers a fun little romp with a hint of French allure and an Urban Electro sensuality that feels like the anticipation of a fun night on the town when anything is possible. The track gets you moving and keeps you smiling.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Tyra Jutai - Frida [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Tyra Jutai knows how to tell a story, and tell it well. Here that story comes in the form of an Electro Pop Murder Ballad and beyond the strong storytelling and sultry emotive delivery is an eerie delivery that conjured strong thoughts of Amy Winehouse for me.

The track is bold and in your face both musically and visually with the delightfully sinister imagery of the video.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock blogger

Oscar and the Wolf - James [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Oscar and the Wolf brings a shimmering fusion of contemporary R&B and melancholy electro-pop straight out of Belgium. There are definite Drake and Weeknd vibes through there is an added softness that gives the this track a distant vulnerability that allows the emotions to land and dissolve into a smooth progression that keeps you invested in the mood of the piece. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Estella Dawn - Trolls [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“I was fully invested from the opening line. The vocal delivery spoke to me a great deal. I did struggle a bit with the melody of the chorus as it is strikingly close to Katy Perry’s “Part Of Me,’ and while I do love this track, the similarities between the two gave me an initial pause. The emotion of this track carried me through and that is what I am hanging my hat on here.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Ladysse - To Kill A Narcissist [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A twisty little track with enough attitude and confidence to make it all work. Musically, I was reminded of Jack White a good bit, though vocally the track brings a Pop Punk kind of edge that hits just right. Lyrically, this track could have gone deeper, but the tone and tempo make work well giving the song solid footing. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Filous - Trying Not to Think About You [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There is an uplifting lightness to the production and performance of ‘Trying Not to Think About You.’ The work of producer Filous, and featuring the vocal talents of Nina Chuba, this track comes with a sultry Pop vibe that keeps you feeling good as it progresses along.

The energy and build will put a smile on your face and a bit of extra spring in your step. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Wallace Tallman - The Madness [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This administration, and all the conflict and turmoil that has come with it, has led to a proliferation of political songs. These tracks run the gamut of styles and emotions and Wallace Tallman’s single, ‘The Madness,’ makes its statement in clear precise terms that come in a soft singer/songwriter fashion. That is not to say the track lacks an edge or punch, because it brings both with the emotionally laden vocals and stellar songwriting.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sir Winston - Hollywood Hills [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A bit of Indie Electro Punk that does not fall far from the tree of Jack White. A warbling vocal style emotes the emotion and disarray after a night of hedonistic fun. ‘Hollywood Hills’ from Sir Winston is a mood and a tangible vibe for anyone that has ever woken up in that state of confused delirium. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Stevie wolf - Ink [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The honest genuine emotion of this track comes through immediately. Ink is a softly delivered ode to the scars we all bear, but to truly get a sense of the songs heart I defer to the artist ...

Stevie shares, “This song is kind of a mix between a love song and a fear song: afraid of falling in love, afraid of being too emotionally scarred for someone to love, thinking about the different kinds of marks and scars that we carry with us from the past. My ex was all tatted up, and it got me thinking about how maybe we’re all tattooed, but some of us on the inside. To me, this song was kind of written in an act of self-care and confession. Like I was in this relationship and carrying around these anxious thoughts in my head, and the song just came out in a flit of inspiration.”

The quiet guitar backing and the vocals style combine to be a tranquil elixir for the soul on this single.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Alara - Demons [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The soft inviting voice of Alara bechon you in on this track. Like a warm hug for you ears and soul the warmth of this track is soothing in ways music rarely is.

The well-written lyrics of ‘Demons,’ incluses lines such as ... ‘the world may not be kind, but open up your mind- Come to me like I come to you,’ reminding us to be good to each other during heavy times.

The vocal performance is astounding and the timeliness of this message makes it all the more powerful.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Mia Vaile - Chasing California [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“California has long been associated with the idea of chasing Golden Dreams, but for anyone eager to take that leap, there comes an underlying fear of failure.

Mia Vaile captures that trepidation with her dark and gritty track, ‘Chasing California.’ The vocal performance is haunting and beautiful, and a touch sorrowful, while the beat and production qualities of the track bring out the emotion with build perfectly instep with Indie Electronic genre. ”

— 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)

Le Boeuf x Tema Siegel - Last Night [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This high energy track delivers the same euphoria as that perfect one night stand. And given that is exactly the subject matter of this Electro Pop tune, I’d say that Le Boeuf was spot in in the production of this track.

Tema Siegal delivers the vocals here with a bouncy energy that sells the lyrics perfectly. This is a track you can dance to but be careful you just might catch the feels with this one and we all know what happens then. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Half Waif - Ordinary Talk [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“From the outset here, the hauntingly beautiful vocals are captivating and left me almost trance like. The track has a definite avant-garde vibe, and the imagery of the video hits in much the same way.

The lyrics are alluring, in a voyeuristic kind of way that allows you deep into the conscious of another. Placing this track in a category is tough as there are POP influences, and songwriter vibes along with a bit of electronic beats and melody. The song is a ride through the subconscious and maybe because no one human can truly be put in a box, neither can a song such as this that feels so human. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

FARR - Heal Me [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“FARR is a multi-national duo with the talent to demand you sit up and pay attention to anything they release. ‘Heal Me’ hits like a soulful prayer for the pained and lonely.

Written after a night of London libation, the track was written by the Los Angeles based half of the group, and rarely has a hangover combined with a case of the heartache from missing someone resulted in something so gripping.

Hard to put this in any genre, but Electronic Pop Blues will somewhat point you the right direction. No matter what you call it, you will want to listen over and over again, as the emotions settle on and around you.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Changeling - Holy Water [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The misty, ethereal vibe to the vocals lends a mysterious vibe to this track about self-discovery.

Haunting and alluring at the same time, the performance unfolds to perfectly articulate these subtle lyrics.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The chainsmokers x Kygo - Family [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This video is a USO tribute to those who make a sacrifice with unflinching support of the ones they love. The lyrics and single itself certainly fits that bill too, but there is a universal appeal and emotion to this track as well.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Marrius - Easy Fix [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Marrius drops ‘Easy Fix,’ a track that feels dark and alluring in a modern Noir sort of way.

The track basically asks ... How far are you willing to go, for what you’re not even supposed to have? ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)