Courtney Farren - I Must Like It [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Courtney Farren has the rare combination of songwriting talent, and emotive vocal power to convey the words she’s written. ‘I Must Like It’ is a thought or idea we’ve all had as we find ourselves repeating mistakes or at least find ourselves back in familiar situations that we had not exactly been planning for ... leading us to wonder if maybe this is what we want despite ourselves. The writing is nuanced and is the kind of song you can glean something new from with each listen.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ashley Elle - Death of Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ashley Elle proudly uses the term Sad Girl Pop and she just might be the Queen of the genre. Her emotive delivery and vulnerable lyrics pull the listener right into the heart of this track but she expresses the song’s intent well herself ...

’I moved to Los Angeles four years ago to attend college and pursue music,” explains Ashley Elle. “While I love it out here, there are many moments where I wish I could run home to my small town in Wisconsin. ‘Death of Me’ is a song to LA - a place full of dreams and possibilities wrapped in competition and insecurities.’

Truer words have never been said about Los Angeles and all that emotions she gives those who come here in search of something new and different.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Landon Keller - Bloom [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Landon Keller brings the roadhouse gospel to yo your ears with ‘Bloom.’ Singer/Songwriter, Blues, Americana ... no matter what you call it the sound here is timeless and emotive and simply sings to the human condition.

You can draw comparisons to Nathaniel Rateliff or Charley Crocket perhaps if you need a musical reference but Keller infuses a bit of the deep South that makes me crave a Mint Julep and a plate of fried shrimp to ingest while I contemplate the emotions of life.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Paul Cook & The Chronicles - Passing Fad [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“It has been said ... that all good things must end, but for songwriters sometimes it is these ending that pave the way for the best material.

Distilling emotions into an intoxicating outlet is a talent, and Paul Cook & The Chronicles are certainly able to do that, but the band also has the musical and vocal chops to tell their stories in an engaging way. There is a touch of Lennon here for me and I was invested from the very beginning. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jake Minch - Strip Mall [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This song is both comical and thought provoking. The songwriter takes you through his experiences of losing his loser and both dealing with seeing her after the breakup. This song is a story that most all can relate to. A tale of young love gained and lost. Simple acoustic guitar riffs and smooth vocals. Well written. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

MER - Maybe I'm The Same [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Mer’s unorthodox delivery and stacked vocals is a wonderful sound all on its own. Crowded, messed production filled with live instruments and multiple layers of tracks gives the track a full sound not often found in today’s music. This song is a free flow of composition, cadence and arrangement. Then all of a sudden it’s just Mer, her guitar and her vocals. At that moment you are drawn into a one on one performance that feels as intimate as if it were being performed right in front of your eyes. Then boom, the mesh of layers and hard instrumentation come back in to give the raw ending to a masterfully put together song. Mer is genius.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Blogger]

Ollie Wade -Breathe [Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Life can be stressful. We take on anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. Some experience this more than others and Ollie sings about loving someone who is suffers from panic attacks. He walks her through breathing and encourages her but he also explains her experience. Hoping love will allow her to be free. This song is truly beautiful. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Ariana Fig - Cherry Coke [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“I love the use of good imagery to set a scene and convey the world in a tangible way. Ariana Fig uses ‘Cherry Coke’ as a substitute for alcohol and addiction the way those in recovery find a new fixation but these new infatuations rarely fulfill the user in the same way leading to a constant struggle and this song highlights that so well both in the writing and emotive delivery. Fog’s tone is talented but also vulnerable and genuine and you can feel every word. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Alex McArtor - Oxygen Thief [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Alex McArtor has a vocal richness and emotes an emotional depth that lends this track a wisdom beyond her twenty-one years. Which goes to show when artists tap into their inner-self and infuse those emotions that nothing is impossible or off the table regardless of age or circumstances. Written in Laurel Canyon, this is a perfect addition to the rich history of music born from the Southern California hotspot. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Diane Gentile and the Gentle Men - Walk With Me featuring Alejandro Escovedo [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Americana can be a tough genre to pin down but this track from Diane Gentile and Austin songwriting stalwart, Alejandro Escoveda might very well set the bar for the genre. Poetic and emotional lyrics over a steady heartfelt delivery that hook the listener in every way. ‘Walk with Me’ offers timeless sound and talent with perfectly matched imagery for the video.

The track offers hints of Emmylou and Springsteen with an ode to Dylan on the side.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Madisyn Gifford - For Shaughnessy [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written for her best friend, ‘For Shaughnessy’ is a tribute to friendship, empathy, and the power of emotional connection. Madisyn Gifford never meant this track to be released but when she shared it with her friend they decided together that this was a song that needed to be shared and heard by others.

The power of friendship is clear and so is the humanity of the writing as well as Gifford’s incredible vocal talent.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

The Sweeplings - Just Like That [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Light airy vocals deliver The Sweeplings ode to love, ‘Just Like That.’ The duo delivers tangible emotion both vocally and with a carefully created arrangement that pairs perfectly. The track has a slight theatrical edge that adds an almost brooding haunting quality and instills the intensity and fragility of love to the mix. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Vilhelm Buchaus - Nothing At All [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Breakups are complex and hard, no matter the circumstances and often the wounded parties pretend as if they never knew each other to cope and move on.

Vilhelm Buchaus tackles this dynamic with the powerful lyrics of ‘Nothing At All.’ A soaring ode to heartbreak and resiliency and trying to pick up the pieces. This Commercial leaning singer/songwriter vibe has an Ed Shereen meets Taylor Swift kind of vibe and is universal enough to reach anyone who has suffered through the grief of a breakup.. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Estella Dawn - Didn't Occur To You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Estella Dawn is a favorite of ours here at LA on Lock. Hailing from San Diego this Southern California Pop star never fails to impress with her thoughtful lyrics and emotional delivery. ‘Didn’t Occur To You’ lands in-between a songwriter/country vibe and a Pop diva standard with soaring vocals to showcase Dawn’s talent and range.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Prismala - "Breathe" [Review]

Rating 4 out of 5

“Life gets weird sometimes. It can feel like free-falling and Prismala is right there to catch you tonight. He might not have the answers but ‘Breathe’ makes it feel better. Soaring vocals intertwining like ballet, this song is the hug you get when you don’t even know you need it. Just close your eyes, lay back on your bed and breathe.”

— Andrew Amoah (LA On Lock Blogger)

Wax Owls - The Appetite [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Chasing a dream comes with some sacrifices and tough decision but when you have true passion and follow your heart those decisions are almost a relief. This song is about Wax Owls vocalist, Gerry Hirschfeld given in to his creative hunger and transitioning from a career as a lawyer to full-time songwriter and performer.

’The Appetite’ is an Indie folk ode to passion and faith that things will work out when you allow yourself to be free and chase your dreams.. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Leroy From The North - Push [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Leroy From The North gives us a track that feels a bit like sitting on a bar stool and having a beer while listening to your buddy tell you about the girl he just met. You could call this Southern Rock or Americana as it has both Petty and Sturgill vibes for sure. Easy to listen to and find your own emotional relevance ‘Push’ is a track I will be adding to several of my personal playlists. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Social Drag - Remind Me [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track from Social Drag feels a bit like a 90s throwback. Could have been released then as Country with an edge, or a Sheryl Crow-esque track about the emotions of failed relationships, but that is not to say the single is dated. It’s not.

And while ‘Remind Me’ doesn’t quite fit the Outlaw or Americana sound of today’s Alt-Country, labels are not what good music is about anyway, and neither are timestamps. This track simply conveys the emotions it was intended with solid talent behind it so for me or anyone to place it in a strict category is a waste of time.

Listen and enjoy, or feel and wallow if you prefer, but either way the intent of the song was established and delivered, and in the the end ... that’s all that matters in the subjective world of expressive art. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Someone Else's Rain - Cry Them For You [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Reemerging after a difficult breakup is tough, and comes on a unique timeline for everyone, though the magical realization that suddenly you are going to be okay is a true revelation and that is exactly what this track captures.

Someone Else’s Rain delivers the song with a smooth easy groove and ‘Cry Them For You,’ is a timeless emotional jam as a result. Heartfelt and genuine this is a song that will have lasting power as it transcends both time and genre. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Will Solomon - Crazy Kid [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track is an ode the dreamers, the chasers, the ones that defy the odds and achieve their goals despite the odds and the critics.

Will Solomon hails from Kentucky, but now calls Seattle home, and you can almost hear the influence of both places. There is a rustic Americana vibe that John Prine would be proud of, as well as an attitude and defiance that could be found in the 90s in the grunge sound. This track certainly isn’t grunge, but there is a subtle edge and bold resistance to what others say that is certainly Rock and Roll at its heart. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger