- Bryon Harris
Michelle Lockey Featuring Steve Collom - 'Don’t Want It To Be A Bad Christmas'
Reviewed by Aaron Cloutier
Award winning singer/songwriter Michelle Lockey spins tales of longing and nostalgia on “Don’t Want It To Be A Bad Christmas.” You will fall in love with this tender Christmas ballad that touches on themes of lost love, finding the way to forgiveness and the search to recapture that old spark during the holiday season.
There is a wholesome quality to Lockey’s voice. She sings with a profound authenticity and alluring vulnerability as she pilots through the song’s reflective narrative. Joined by guest vocalist Steve Collom, the two make for a potent vocal duo as verses are exchanged back and forth in a conversational manner. What stands out as a real strength is when Lockey and Collom come together, blending their voices to create rich harmonies that are equally warm and enveloping.
The music itself is incredibly conversational as well. I was pleasantly surprised at the stark rhythmic contrast between the union of vocals, bass, and piano all swaying together in what feels like a 12/8 swing and the half time feel of the drums. Initially when I started listening back before the drums came in, I thought this was going to be an upbeat number but, as it turns out, the half time feel fits the theme and subject matter perfectly. The lyrics are a little sweet and a little somber. “Should we even dare to try and clear the air. It seems that we are tried out. I know that we are all cried out.”
Listeners will immediately conjure up images in their minds of sitting by the fire while looking outside the window at a snow covered landscape as soon as they push play. 'Don’t Want It To Be A Bad Christmas' is a nostalgic and reflective piano-based ballad that has the ability to rekindle that lost spark with it's warm and genuine spirit.
About Michelle Lockey
Michelle is a multi-award winning recording artist and performing singer- songwriter/producer from Maryland. She is a Hollywood Music in Media nominee and also a three-time Washington Area Music Award Nominee. Michelle has multiple album releases and many single releases including two singles released by Black Toast Records. Michelle has become well respected in the industry of composing for Film & TV. Her long placement list includes: the theme song for Gear Heads, A feature song in Hallmark’s Hope at Christmas, Young & The Restless, Speed Kills film starring John Travolta, Young Sheldon First Look trailer, a song in Netflix’s Locke & Key, a prominent placement in Amazon Prime’s Good Girls Revolt & The Path, The Voice, Harry, Reign, The Fosters, USA's Benched & No Tomorrow, Netflix’s Longmire, CBS Inside the PGA, the CW Fall Promo, CBS Fall Promos and much more.
One of her most notable accomplishments was to be able to have a concert/Fundraiser to help raise awareness and funds for Pulmonary Hypertension, which her niece suffers from. The concert featured some of the songs she has written over the last 10 years and the stories behind the songs. The concert replay can now be seen on her website along side information about Pulmonary Hypertension. Michelle was also a winner of the Grand Prize in the Folk category of the 2013 John Lennon Song Contest for her song, “Your Footprints” written with fellow songwriter Paul Otten.
She gives back to the community by mentoring musicians, holding workshops & teaching courses on how to build a business in Music Licensing. She also holds workshops for women to help them face fears, find their self worth, passions and achieve their dreams.
Michelle’s music and Indie/Alternative Folk sound is influenced by Alvvays, Warpaint, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Hope Sandoval, London Grammar, Lykke Li, The XX, Daughter, Ingrid Michaelson, Sheryl Crow, Tristan Prettyman, Meiko, Birdy, The Lumineers, The Head & The Heart, The Civil Wars, Colbie Caillat, and Oh Honey. ). She performs at corporate events & venues such as Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club, Signature Theatre, and in Concert series such as Focus Music and Stone Room Concerts, Festivals at Leesburg Flower Festival, Main Street Music Fest, Frederick, Maryland’s First Saturdays and more.
For more information about Michelle Lockey, please visit her website.