Cece Benz - End Us [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is about regret and love. Often, regrets over love come from not taking that shot, but this track is about not breaking up with you know the relationship is not for you. It is about the regret of fighting for something you don’t even want in the first place.

Cece Benz has artfully written every word to give this track a literary story feel that not many songwriters can pull off as effectively as ‘End Us’ does.

The great writing here makes the listener personally invested right form the beginning.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bex - Did I Do Something Wrong? [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Bex deliver the kind of vocal power and emotiveness that is rare individually but all the more so when found in tandem.

’Did I Do Something Wrong?’ offers a slow emotional build and conjured imagery all on its own. This lends the track a theatrical bent that cannot be ignored but here the drama does not feel manufactured simply real and genuine.

The track has a modern Stevie Nicks vibe and could have been a Fleetwood Mac track back in the day but that is not to say it feels dated or even particularly retro. More like timeless in this case. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Eleven Point Two - Out of the Noise [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The synth heavy intro and overall arrangement lends this track an 80’s vibe though the vocal edge and emotions feel decidedly contemporary. Eleven Point Two is the creative name for a pair of talented brothers originally from Michigan but now working out of the LA area.

THe track has that timeless sound that only Rock music can really find and the writing is sharp so each listen unveils a new nuance to ponder. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ships Have Sailed - Find My Way [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The track has that light energetic vibe of artists such as One Republic or Mumford & Sons. There is a Folksy brand of Pop to the sound that is uplifting in nature. The gist of ‘Find My Way’ is about living your best life and taking the opportunities as they come because you never truly know wha tthe future entails.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dover Lynn Fox - Winter Son [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Winter is a time of darkness both literallya nd figuratively with seasonal depression gripping many. But all dark times pass and Dover Lynn Fox gives a track of transition to take us fromt he dark bleakness to a time of light and understanding with her track ‘Winter Son.’

The emotive vocals soar and carryt he emotional burden of a lifetime as well as a season of darkness, but in the end this track is one of hope and brightness.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Limandi - Put The Blame On Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Limandi put her spin on toxic relationships with her track, ‘Put The Blame On Me.’

Emotional abuse comes in many forms and constantly blaming the other person is certainly one of those. Told anything often enough you just might start to believe it and shaking off that cloak of self-loathing can be tough. This exotic and intricate arrangement matches the sort of disarray or minds mist go through to emerge on the other side a new and stronger person.

Limandi delivers this track in a sort of subdued control that sells the emotions well. There are Pop and songwriter vibes with hints of a brooding brand of dark Folk as well but the song is a tough one to categorize as anything beyond a talented worthy effort well worth your time.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

CRIS STREETZ- Switchin Sides (feat. Shi Goonie) [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The talking in the beginning builds you up and gives you an idea of what to expect. Cris Streetz “Switchin Sides” is about people being down with you but then changing their ways. The Shi Goonie feature allows listeners to get a good perspective from both male and female. The beat is a vibe and the songwriting and hook is relatable. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Lauren Woo - Gold Plated [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“There are solid gold people and then there are the ‘Gold Plated’ among us that can but on a thin veneer for a short time before the truth beings to show through. Lauren Woo lifts the veil on these fakers with her new track which was inspired by wisdom gained from her grandmother.

Lauren Woo shared, ‘This song is a tribute to my incredible grandmother, a woman whose wisdom has been a guiding light in my life. She once told me that in life, you’ll encounter people who are ‘gold plated’ and not solid gold. It’s not always obvious, and you’ll experience highs and lows where true colors are revealed. In those moments, it’s crucial to stand firm in your morals and recognize when it’s okay to let go of relationships that aren’t meant to be.’

The overall sound is a melancholic Pop vibe with a slight theatrical edge.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock

Mary Middlefield - Atlantis [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Mary Middlefield has that deep bottomless kind of emotive voice that hooks a listener without theattrics or tricks. Like a deep inviting pool of cool blue water on a hot summer day, you can’t help but want to jump right in.

”Atlantis’ is a quiet, yet powerful track with well-written lyrics and the straightforward delivery of a confident songwriter. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Newport - Maybe I [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Newport is fast becoming one of my favorite contributors to LA on Lock. This is the second track we’ve featured and the emotive vocal delivery gripped me early on. The erratic beat and cadence is a perfect match to the lyrical build and emotions of the track, showcasing how deliberate and talented Newport is.

I’ll call this Alt Po for lack of a clear genre, but you’ll call it a great new find when you add it to your own playlists.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mia Humphrey - Newport [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The track is a story in itself, and really paints a picture. Starting slow, Mia Humphrey makes you feel every word and once the track takes an energetic shift it feels light and Pop-esque, but still there is that undertone of emotion lifting the track above the fray.

’Newport’ is a story of a relationship that takes an unexpected turn. I won’t spoil the fun by saying more but the twist is a surprise and makes a great metaphor for how life goes. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Aria Ohlsson - Someone Else [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Aria Ohlsson has that kind of emotive delivery that instantly pulls in listeners. Here in her track, “Someone Else’ Ohlsson reflects on love and the her personal experiences that have shaped who she is. I did at times wish for less production and a bit more straightforward delivery to better feel the emotions, but it is a solid track as is. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bree Rusev - Summer Memories [music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ever wonder what Jimmy Buffet would sound like as an Australian Pop Folk singer?

Okay, probably not, because that is a bit out there. However, that was my first thought while listening to Bree Rusev’s new track, ‘Summer Memories.’

Rusev is in no way derivative of Buffett, or even similar in style, though both are selling the same laid-back beach vibes and they do so with talent and emotion, the way few can.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

WEZ KING - We Were Young [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nothing is quite as nostalgia provoking as music. Be it the ability to instantly co jure the time and place you first heard the song, or in a more overt way such as ‘We Were Young,’ by WEZ KING. This Indie Rock vibe instantly has that feel but it also has a little twist and surprise to tie in those emotions with how you are feeling in the here and now.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Razor Braids - She [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Queer Garage Rock influenced by a blend of the 90s Indie sound, old school Punk, and a splash of contemporary Pop. If that sounds like a musical smoothie that you’d like to taste straight from from the blender then let me introduce you to the Razor Braids.

The band’s press release describes them as ... a Brooklyn-based, queer, female and non-binary identifying rock band that combines a heavy punk energy with an indie rock vulnerability culminating in passionate live shows and a dynamic sound anchored in a 90s alternative ethos.

That discriptionis apt but might play the soft Pop vocals that are a big part of the track ‘She,’ a song about being present and allowing yourself to die headfirst when you spot that person that you believe is perfect for you. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Andi Jane - Hide the Key [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“knowing when to walk away is important but few of us have that kind of self awareness. Andi Jane delivers this soulful Pop Ballad about that very thing. ‘Hide The Key’ utilizes her emotive vocals and a piano heavy melody to draw the listener into the right frame of mind for this track about moving on, despite nostalgia and a strong lingering love that isn’t quite meeting all the needs.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mae Krell - who we said we'd be [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Mae Krell unfurls this slow tempo track with an emotive and tender vocal delivery. A track that paints a picture and leaves the listener the mental space to conjure up their own emotional remembrances. This is the type f track best listened to alone when yo can simply allow your mind to fall back and reflect. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kat Cunning - Bedroom Angel [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Sometimes the creator of a track articulates their intent in a way I never could. That is the case with Kat Cunning and her single, ‘Bedroom Angel.’

”When I wrote Bedroom Angel I imagined being closeted in a small town and praying at the foot of my bed for some sapphic apparition to burst through the ceiling and show me the way. I hope this song serves as redemption and celebration bursting through your ceiling to give you that same nudge toward owning what you want and who you are. Queer people are angels, pleasure is political, and you are my favorite ghost.” - Kat

This track is delivered with smooth silky vocals that emote the passion behind the writing, creating a meaningful and entertaining song.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

HAHA - No Promises [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 put of 5

“A true 80’s throwback, HAHA delivers despite making, ‘No Promises.’

The smooth vocal harmonies and lyrical wordplay is fun and evocative at the same time. The 80s might be gone but the music continues to inspire and live on and this danceable track is full of nostalgia for that era but still works as a contemporary track lyrically.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Cloud House - Photographs [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written after the death of lead singer, Conor’s mother, ‘Photographs’ is part nostalgia and part motivational inspiration. Delivering a classic Indie Rock sound, Cloud House puts their energy and emotions into this track which serves as the Glasgow bands lead single on a brand new EP.

The vocal and musical talent allows the band to feel emotive and powerful and this track is but one that promises to deliver a punch straight to your gut. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger