stew - Diorama [Music Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Delivering a raw, singer /songwriter type track, ‘Diorama’ showcases stew’s talent and emotive power. The writing is sharp, and the performance drips with feeling.

This track is about those well-intentioned friends and family often think they know what’s best for us.

When you are an artist, chasing what can be viewed as an impossible dream to the nondreamers of the world, those manipulations and comments from others only intensify as they “suggest’ what you should be doing what your life more freely.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Lauren Minear- Chasing Daylight [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Lauren Minear takes us on a journey of discovery. She visually shows us how she wears multiple hats in this heartfelt track. Instead of being in a dark setting she chases daylight. This symbolically tells us she no longer wants to live her life in darkness.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

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

Dan Johnson - Along the Way [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Dan Johnson boldly sings the line ... I’d rather be a fool tomorrow, than a coward any day ... in his new single, ‘Along The Way,’ and in that simple brilliance, can be found both an idea and an ideal on how to live life.

Putting yourself out there, risking yourself in the name of love is dangerous and leaves us all vulnerable. Though of course not doing so, not allowing others to truly know who and what we are, leaves us isolated and alone. This uplifting track is a reminder to us all — you can’t truly live without taking some risks along the way.

The earmark of a great song is playability. A good song you can listen to a few times and be content, but a great song soars to life and compels you to listen time and time again. And with each listen you feel the emotion and come to a personal understanding that very well may transcend beyond the artist’s original intent as you layer in your own experience with the sentiments being sung. This is that type of song.

The genre is tricky here ,as the track defiantly and artistically straddles a many different lines. Big and theatrical. the single comes with elements of Indie Rock, Americana, and Gospel. At times it conjured thoughts of the Lion King with the chants and uplifting mantra that would be right at home on any Broadway stage or musical soundtrack.

But gerne is a marketers game anyway. For we consumers the lines are simple ... not for me, good, or outstanding.

And this track lands square in the latter category for me. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

LVRBOY - 16 [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“LVRBOY takes us on a nostalgic ride back in time with ‘16.’ All those first magical experiences are impossible to duplicate and the further we get from them the more we romanticize such memories. This track delivers that gut punch of remembrance and my only real critique is I wanted so much more as the track felt super short barely cracking the two minute mark. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dayna Reid - This House [Music Video Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“This track from Canadian artist, Dyna Reid leans more into the Mainstream Country sound than I usually connect with, though her rich vocal tone and earnest lyrics kept me invested in the build. ‘This House’ doesn’t break a ton of new ground, though it is delivered with solid talent and rises above the fray by feeling genuine and honest which has long been the bastion of good Country music.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mezna - Bullets [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Emotive passion is the earmark of the vocal delivery on ‘Bullets.’ There are hints of Ed Sheeran and John Legend early on here here as the emotionally charged track offers strong instrumentation. The addition of a second set of vocals elevates the song to new heights and her tender delivery drives home to longing anguish of this track. The back and forth dialogue is heart wrenching and oh so captivating. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kurt Lee Wheeler - Girl From California (Acoustic) [Music Review]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Starting over is never easy and in this track about losing yourself for the purpose of reinviting who you are, Kurt Lee Wheeler tell the story of a girl running from her past. The emotion and pain is evident in the delivery and this Folksy track tell a tale we can all relate to on some level. Stripepd downa dn bare this one resonates best as a solo endeavor to allow your brain to truly listen and process.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Mantocliff- Centuries [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The flow of the song has a peaceful yet tranquil sound to it. If you was looking for something to listen to and relax this would be it. Mantocliff carries a subtle emotion through out the song that doesn’t drift a listener away but allows them to build an emotional connection.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Teigen Gayse -Sleeping With Her [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Teigen Gayse delivers a classic country track. She dives into the restlessness of heartache, in a beautifully shot, introspective video for her “Sleeping With Her”. This is a track where you are torn with sadness, disappointment, loneliness, and being angry all in one. As Teigen tosses and turns in her sleep she manages to stay consistent with her emotions in each verse.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

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

JP Saxe - Anywhere (with Carla Morrison) [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This is an interesting duet. With one set of vocals delivered in English, and the other in Spanish. I do not personally speak Spanish, so the lyrics on that side eluded me though I still felt the emotional power through that section.

A piano ballad of love and commitment, this track simply carried me along despite the language barrier.

Tender and emotional “Anywhere’ by JP Saxe and Carla Morrison hits right in the heart.”

— 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

Bryce Drew - That Dress [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A disintegrating relationship is brought into focus through this track by shining a spotlight on ‘That Dress.’

The ups and downs of love and the writing on the wall of the end is tinged blue by a spectacular dress that Bryce Drew sings about with passion and heart. The unique perspective, and Drew’s vocal power carries the day and makes the song stand out from the crowd of other tracks covering the same set of emotions. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kevin Quigley -Summer's End [Review]

Rating: 3 out of 5

“ I like the pace the artist has. The song “Summer’s End” takes you on a journey of memories but also makes you excited to what will happen when summer is over.

Kevin Quigley speeds up the tempo creating a more rock oriented sound in what would at first come off as folklore or country.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]

Ruby J -Home [Review]

Rating: 2 out of 5

“Ruby J has an Elvis like delivery with her retro soul tempo. She walks us through the process of leaving. The guitar speeds up to reveal her fast paced delivery. The only take away I have from this song is that I struggled to make out some of the lyrics.”

— Kreadiv Kesh [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

Rob Giles - Some Stars [Music Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“After almost a decade break from the scene, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Rob Giles is back with a mediative and tranquil track to lead off things for his 5th studio album.

’Some Stars’ is about shining for yourself and those and not letting others demand you illuminate the path for theme or that you simply shine brighter. It is a track about the beauty of humanity and recognizing we each are but a small part of that puzzle. ”

— 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

Will Conn - Marathon [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love is a marathon that often causes you to fall off track. Will Conn’s single “Marathon” builds up a storyline and guides you through relationship issues. The tempo stays consistent which allows us to follow his determination and emotion to mend his relationship. As a singer songwriter he truly knows how to express hisself through each verse. ”

— Kreadiv Kesh [LA On Lock Blogger]