Kate Yeager - Are You Sure We Just Met? [Review] May 27, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Written and inspired over Zoom calls amid the pandemic this track is about that instant connection and falling in love fast. Sometimes the spark is too bright to ignore and this track does a great job of capturing that in a diary kind of candid openness that feels natural and true. Just like the way it feels when you know without a doubt how you feel about someone else. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Estella Dawn - Orange [Review] May 20, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Lyric Video, Music, Indie Pop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “Online dating can be an ugly mess but ‘Orange’ is all about a Tinder date going right. The writing and emotion shine making you feel as if you are right there feeling that spark of instant chemistry and Estella Dan’s vocals are the perfect vessel to let you sail away on these rare waters.Magic can and does till happen for those patient and brave enough to wait it out. Both in the dating world, and in discovering new music. This song offers hope for both. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Jenny Kern - Feel It Again [Review] May 06, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “We all experience our emotional ups and downs and music plays a huge role in allowing us to feel we are not alone. Sometimes we even feel inspired to move and dance and that act is enough to shake off what is weighing us down. Sometimes we fall in and wallow in the heaviness of our thoughts. Either way music plays a part for many of us and Jenny Kern’s new single ‘Feel It Again’ is all about how music and moving takes us back to those emotional moments. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Billingsley - Long Shot [Music Video Review] May 06, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Pop, Punk, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Billingsley is compromised of three brothers from North Carolina. The sound and style is Green Day meets Offspring and ‘Long Shot’ is the kind of tongue in cheek song that never goes out of style. The emotions behind the track are ones we’ve all felt and experienced and the wry humor helps make the odds that are stacked against us easier to laugh off. A fun song that you will want to listen to over and over again to get all the lyrics. Pure fun and energy!” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
lodet - Smile [Review] May 06, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “A long time fan of the Laurel Canyon sound, lodet drops a new track, ‘Smile,’ which delivers a bit of that sound, as well as a bit of Dylan, and a splash of Lennon to complete a nuanced and energetic ode the past. All without sacrificing contemporary relevancy. lodet’s Swedish home is a long way, both in time and distance from the height of the Laurel Canyon scene, but this track bridges the gap with ease and talent and is a nice modern spin of that sound. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Kelaska - Tightrope [Review] April 29, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Commercial Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “The need to fit in and conform overcomes us all at times, but it is easy to lose yourself while trying to please the world around us. Kelaska offers an emotional track about that very struggle. Walking that ‘Tightrope’ is a dicey proposition but falling in on this track is anything but as the build and emotional vulnerability sell the track early before the tempo shift and a sort of fierce determination takes hold. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
LVRBOY - when you love someone [Review] April 29, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop, Electro Pop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “Despite our best efforts some relationships simply do not work. This is especially tough when there isn’t one great reason just a simple parting of the hearts. LVRBOY takes on this very kind of ending with ‘when you love someone’ and that is not enough to salvage a future together. Coming with a smooth grove and emotional build, this Electro Pop track speaks to and from the heart. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Lorelei Marcell - Need Me [Review] April 22, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Electro Pop, Indie Pop, Commercial Rating: 4 out of 5 “Loralei Marcell has the kind of emotive voice that instantly pulls a listener in and holds them tight to the lyrical build. This track is about the power of love and how complex walking away can be np matter how much it needs to be done. ‘Need Me’ mirrors the mind and our need t be loved as well as our need to escape at times even when there are plenty of reasons to stay. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Natalie Shay - Two Sparks [Music Video Review] April 13, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Commercial, Indie Pop, Pop Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “From the very first note, Natalie Shay emotes the passion and emotion and those elements combined with the theatrical build of this track truly lends to hook and hold the listener for the duration.. The writing is power as is the performance, making this a single hit all the right notes both literally and figuratively. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
SEKI - Need A Moment [Review] March 18, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “SEKI delivers a soft emotive set of vocals to usher in the track, ‘Need A Moment.’ there is a hint of the 80s in the build but the vocal delivery feels entirely contemporary and the track has that calming inspirational vibe that leaves the listener feeling positive and and uplifted. A track to celebrate the ones you love and the joys of this world. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
hanna ögonsten - bang my head [Review] March 11, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Delivering her vocal with Punk laced Pop sound, hanna ögonsten captures the emotional energy of the writing very well. Hailing from Sweden, the artist has a powerful and emotive delivery that keeps the listener leaning in for the duration, but don’t sleep on the songwriting as lyrically the track packs a punch as well. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
REAVEN - Ordinary Heroes [Music Video Review] March 04, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Indie Pop, Indie Rock Rating : 4 out of 5 “Have we all lost control of our own lives? Has social media taken over and pushed our dark sides to the forefront? Or are there some ‘Ordinary Heroes’ left that are not slaves to public perception? These are the questions posed by REAVEN on their latest track and they are worthy ones to ask. This is an Indie Rock anthem that feels like both a protest and a wakeup call all the while offering solid entertainment and talent to back it up.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Anna Bates - Last Man On Earth [Music Video Review] March 04, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Inspired the unfinished TV of the same title, ‘Last Man on Earth’ is a wryly sharp track about the end of times and the few people that remain left behind. The imagery of the video is as entertaining as the actual song. Anna Bates is a talented songwriter and here she delivers an emotive track that comes with humor and emotion — a rare combination to get right. The track has a folksy vibe at times, and feels light and airy, but lyrically the song covers a realm of emotions.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Jackson Guthy - Like I Did [Review] March 04, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Indie Pop, Singer/Songwriter Rating: 4.5 out of 5 “There is an inherent sadness to this track but given that Jackson Guthy is singing about the waning days days of a relationship that is almost a given. ‘Like I Did’ is a last ditch question to a lover in a final effort to get back to the former happiness and euphoria the couple once felt. Delivered with an emotive rasp and a building piano melody the track feels timeless in both its sound, and emotions. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Sahara Beck - Stillness [Review] March 04, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Sahara Beck delivers a haunting yet tender set of vocals on this track. ‘Stillness’ is sort of the calm before the storm with fear and anxiety looming on the horizon, the track’s lyrics and vocal style bring out the rising dread you feel when you realize the world is about to tip and become less stable. Deliver in nuanced fashion, the impact is all the stronger. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Hotel Mira - Speaking Off the Record [Music Video Review] March 01, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music Videos, Pop, Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “The road to stardom is fraught with all manner of stress and pitfalls as is life itself, and Hotel Mira captures that with ‘Speaking off The Record.’ Any artist worth their salt has experienced hard times as most often the tough times are the creative fuel that inspires great art. This track is candid and raw and taps into the pain and turmoil that we all feel and experience, but are often too afraid to share with the world.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Limón Limón - Weird Vibes [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “LA duo Limón Limón offers up this intriguing bop about the ‘Weird Vibes’ of our times. History has definitely taken an odd turn and this track captures the sentiments of most of us as we try to navigate our way through the mud and muck. A steady beat and tight vocals keep the track running straight and the strong writing brings home the points as well as the emotions of the track. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Attics - Comic Sans [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Rating: 4 out of 5 “Unreliable narrators are tough to pull off in literature and even more song in song form but the Attics do exactly that with ‘Comic Sans.’ Channeling the voice of their braggadocios and self-described dishonest grandfather, the band has a Tom Petty kind of vibe as it unfolds the wisdom of a misguided man. This unique perspective lends the song a uniqueness that carries the listener along wondering what to expect.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Kelaska - Long Way Home [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Pop, Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Going out of your way to avoid running into that person that broke your heart or hurt you in some other way is something we have all done, and Kelaska expresses those emotions with heartfelt clarity on the track, ‘Long Way Home.’A Pop track that is comparable to emotion of a Taylor Swift song, the lyrics tell a story but he vocal performance makes you truly feel it.” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger
Peaceful James - Love Like Vegas [Review] February 25, 2022 by Travis Erwin in Music, Commercial, Indie Rock, Indie Pop Rating: 4 out of 5 “Peaceful James captures a nice blend of Funk, Rock and Roll, and energy with the track ‘Love Like Vegas’ This is the genre bending kind of sound that you’d expect from The Black Keys or Jack White and the energy is as palpable as your heartbeat. For all its sinful brand of fun Vegas is a hard place to walk away from as a winner and love can feel that same way way at times. This track brings that point to musical life very well. ” — Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger