Lauren Rintoul - Lost Art [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Lauren Rintoul takes us on a breakup journey though this isn’t necessarily a track about heart break and the ache afterward as much as it is the guilt and uncertainty of being the one to end it and wondering if you did the right thing.

’Lost Art’ is an emotive and honest look at knowing you aren’t in love but also wanting to be a good decent person and handle the break up in the right way. Delivered in a tender, singer/songwriter kind of way the song is easily relatable.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Filippa Borgman - Broken Man & A Shoe [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Written in the height of Covid lockdowns amid a landscape of widespread global depression, Filippa Borgamn gives us a story of sorrow that rings not only as plausible, but outright believable.

’Broken Man & A Shoe’ takes elements from Elton John, Folk, and Pop to create a track that is as full of life as it is sadness. This is a song of the human condition created by a talented artist that transcends any one genre or style to create an artful and meaningful emotional response.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Omar Rudberg - She Fell In Love In The Summer [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“ Swedish songsmith, Omar Rudberg might not be on your radar yet, but he should be. ‘She Fell In Love That Summer’ is songwriting at its best, an emotional movie unfurled in under three minutes.

The delivery is emotive and powerful and sweeps the listener up and along. There are a million love inspired songs, so it is never easy to create another that takes you for the same up and down ride relationships often do, but Rudberg has certainly delivered on this track.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Amelie Patterson - The War [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I suppose it is rather ironic, but there is a lot of great Americana music being created by Canadians these days, and Amelie Patterson certainly joins that select group. ‘The War’ has Folk and Indie Rock elements and is tough to categorize like a lot of Americana.

No doubt there will Brandi Carlile comparisons, and that is an apt similarity, but no mistake, no matter what artists served as her inspiration, Patterson is a talented and capable artist creating her own sound. Deeply emotional and brooding in the build, this is a track that I will listen to over and over again to extract every last drop of nuance and meaning.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Annie Bartholomew - White Chapel Woman [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“I was immediately intrigued by the subject matter and writing of this traditional Folk tune. Alaskan folksinger Annie Bartholomew spins a track detailing the hardships and survival of a frontier era sex worker.

In case you missed that, let me repeat it— we are talking about traditional Folk detailing the life of a Victorian era sex worker.

Originality points aside, Bartholomew unfurls her emotive vocal talent along with a lively musical build that really does tell a complete story in a short few minutes. And she does it with an engaging flair that will have me listening on repeat and digging in to hear more from this talented artist.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Chris Kläfford - Maybe It’s Just Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“If you wonder what Chris Kläfford sounds like, imagine an Adult Contemporary hit sung by Chris Stapleton and you will have a petty good idea. I am very intrigued by this Swedish artist and can’t wait to hear other works by him.

Emotive and vocal strength are the first attributes that caught my attention, though this is also a very well-written track delivered with power and an emotive touch that rises above the fray. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Grayson Foster - Like a Fire [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A strong emotive track perfect for the Singer/Songwriter genre. Grayson Foster delivers this song with passioned, emotive strength and the end result is a timeless sound that will appeal to fans of artists ranging from the rock flavor of Springsteen to the Folk of John Craigie and the the Pop style of Harry Styles. That said Foster hasn’t created a derivative track, but rather one simply rooted in genuine artistry utilizing his own sound. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dylan Dunlap - Right [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dylan Dunlap delivers his single, ‘Right,’ with emotional precision and a delicate, yet deliberate build that highlights his vocal range and talent. Diving in on his own vulnerability and longing, Dunlap gives us a song we can all relate to as we struggle to find solid ground after a rough breakup.

A beautiful track that makes sense of what can be a disorienting experience. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dot. - Indigo [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Dot. has the kind of vocal tone that simply invites the listener in. Soft and tranquil and rich in tone much like Norah Jones, Dot. takes us an a smooth easy vocal journey through being proud and happy with your work and not succumbing to the outside pressure of bending your art to the needs and wants of others. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Hayley Warner - Breakups Ain't Goodbye [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Can you end a relationship and still be friends? ‘Breakups Ain’t Goodbye’ addresses the emotions when the other person wants a clean break, but you hope to hold on for a while longer even if it is in a different capacity. The vocal delivery is emotive and heartfelt.

The track has a Bedroom singer/songwriter vibe and lands somewhere between Brandi Carlile and Harry Styles on the musical scope. ”

— Travis Erin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Courtney Govan - at least [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A painful heartfelt ode to the end. In this case it was a friendship that abruptly ended via text without much of an explanation. But the emotions are the same for any relationship, and here, Courtney Govan offers them up in singer/songwriter perfection.

The track feels a touch theatrical at times, but never at the sacrifice of the emotional pain that is tangible from the first note of this soaring number.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ava Della Pietra - Happy For You [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Ava Della Pietra has the kind of talent that immediately commands your attention. Of course her stellar vocals are not Ava’s only talent, as this Broadway actress is no stranger to the spotlight. The theatrical influence does come through in her vocal style, though not at the sacrifice of the Indie Pop vibe that also conjures thoughts of Taylor Swift at times.

’Happy For You’ is an emotional journey well worth taking. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Bright Kelly - Shake Til the Fever is Gone [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Bright Kelly offers up an emotive Indi Folk track that has hints of Springsteen, John Prine, and a more obscure but equally talented Tom Russell. ‘Shake Til the Fever is Gone’ is not the kind of Commercial track we generally feature but is the kind of song that is honest and genuine and speak to the heart. A songwriter’s ode to acceptance I guess you might say, the track is one that delivers on its emotions with purpose. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jenn Howard - Microphone [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Jenn Howard offers up a bit of New Orleans flair on this track that falls between a funky Jazz sound and a singer/songwriter vibe. Maybe you could call this Americana if hard-pressed to place the track within a single genre, but either way the song has soul and heart and comes with one of those melodies that gets down in your bones and makes you move. Joined by Ivan Neville, this one reminds me of my nights down on Frenchman Street in NOLA.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Collection - Love at the End of the World [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“The Collection brings a fresh new approach to the world of love songs. ‘Love at the End of the World’ is about finding love in a world that is falling apart and how we all need to keep living as best we can in the face of conflict and turmoil. The emotive vocals hooked me the writing is smart and intelligent while maintaining an emotional relevance.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Paul Cook & The Chronicles - Somebody Else [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Memories often start benign enough but if we have regrets and pain associated those same memories can make our mind fall into chaos and anxiety. This track follows that same path with a nice gentle entry before building into a bit of ordered madness. And in doing so, the writing perfectly captures how many pf us deal with this sorts of mental trips. I was left craving more which is both good and bad I suppose.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Natalie Prauser - East Texas [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“If you think Country Music is defined by the glossy, superficial pablum cranked out of Mainstream Nashville then you probably have no idea of the wide ranging talent that is keeping the traditional sound alive all across the country. Texas is no doubt the hub for Independent artists to not only honor the traditional sound but push it forward and Natalie Prauser is one of those genuine voices doing exactly that.

’East Texas’ offers a lonesome, down on your heels vibe. A classic drinking, or thinking, or simply living in reality song that resonates with heartfelt emotion.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alex Marzejon - Songs About Girls [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“From Jolene to Roxanne, and of course California Girls in general there are plenty of songs about feminine charm and their effect on those who know them. This track is a bit of an ode to all of them. Delivered in an emotive singer/songwriter style reminiscent of Ed Sheeran, but Alex Marzejon stand on his own talent and delivery style giving him a unique and talented voice in the musical landscape. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Thistle - Ghosted Road [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“There is a haunting loneliness to Jake Thistle’s single, ‘Ghosted Road’ and the emotive delivery brings that element out very well. That said, the writing is every bit as strong and the entre track paints a scene and mood as well as anything I’ve heard recently. Roads and loneliness certainly are not new fodder for songwriters, but Thistle manages to put his own stamp on the sound and themes and I can’t wait to hear more from this talented artist.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Nate Amor - Beautiful [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Nate Amor drops this ode to love and appreciation. The timeless sound and arrangement combines with finely crafted songwriting to deliver the message in perfection step with the emotional build. There are Americana tones and a soft Southern Rock feel but really this is one of those tracks that transcends gerne and simply speaks straight to the soul. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger