Lo Kloza

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LO KLOZA...
I find her music very engaging. She can obviously sing her a** off and Lo's stage presence is confident and fun. There is a funkiness, jazzy soul to her project that sets her apart. I for one sure did not feel like I was seeing another in the endless parade of female singer song writers that are out there in every village and hamlet. Kloza's backing band is killer, again, not run of the mill, but mature and interesting. Lo Kloza has done what is hardest in this market, set herself apart from the "others", and that is a huge victory. All the best as Lo Kloza movse forward with what I feel is a true talent, and a solid artistic vision of what she wants to be.
Hartson Poland - H.Poland

“Lo Kloza is a freshman artist in the burgeoning class of acoustic singer-songwriters. Her latest self-titled EP consists of six songs of fresh sound and from what I’ve heard so far, Kloza is going to be another good addition to an area that boasts some of the best performers in the country. Lo’s soulful style has had the prestigious grooming guidance of Don Lawrence and her R&B style gives influential nods to artists such as Pink, Sara Bareilles and Adele. Produced by Michael Ghegan, Kloza takes listeners on a funky and enjoyable journey through her recollections and musings of life immersed in pop culture and traditional old school style. Her voice is immediately loveable and she has the seasoned insight of an artist that’s been around the block more than once. Kloza has also been known to mix things up with one or two of her carefully chosen covers by artists such as Grace Potter or Amy Winehouse. If you like Jessie J, Alanis Morissette and Katy Perry, you’re going to love Lo.
John Pfeiffer - The Aquarian

“Songs like “Powerless” and “Skin and Bones,” which are clearly about heartbreak, and are the most emotional on the EP, truly connect Lo to her fans. Her voice shines on all the songs on the EP, and it the real highlight of the album. I am certain that she is destined for much bigger and better things.”
Jessica Schwahl - The Examiner

“Lo Kloza, a singer song-writer from New Jersey blew away the crowd and sta? at Mexicali Live in November. She opened up with a cover of "Paris" by Grace Potter. The high points of the night included her originals as well as her heart wrenching cover of "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse. Lo's energy and stellar vocal performance is un-deniable. Lo Kloza has pure talent, hitting every note with more enthusiasm than the last. From the second she hits the stage to the last note she sings, the audience is hypnotized by her. Lo Kloza represents the dream every venue holds, to have a true performer as a part of their show.”

Lindsey Chait - Mexicali Live Review - The Aquarin, The Examiner, Mexicali Live Review

2012 LadyLake Music Indie Awards ~ Winners Announced
LadyLake Music is a seven year strong international indie music A&R promotions company representing only the finest in indie talent. Winners of the LadyLake Music Indie Awards are artists or bands we feel have extreme potential.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Jan. 7, 2013 - We are excited to announce the winners for the 3rd annual LadyLake Music Indie Awards!

Each year we receive music from indie artists from all over the world and this year was no exception. A special thank you goes out to all the talented bands and artists for participating again this year.

The big moment you have been waiting for is finally here!

And the winners are...

Best Pop Single: Lo Kloza for ‘Hot Air Balloon’
Best Female Vocalist: Naomi Psalm for ‘Stare’
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album: LAW for ‘Tha Planet 12 Syndrome’
Best Rap/HipHop Single: B Funk for ‘Me Kno Rap’
Best Video: Ilona for ‘It’s 1966’
Best Folk Female: Loretta Hagen for ‘Mud and Stone’
Best Folk Male: Dan Whitehouse for ‘Dan Whitehouse’
Best Classic Rock: Ivory Tower Project for ‘Red Hot’
Best RnB Album: Tali ‘Icepack’ Jackson for ‘Icepack Jackson and Klyph Black’
Best Import Single: Lilyphone for ‘No One Loves Me Like You Do’

Discovery of the Year: American Beauties for ‘Too Worn to Mend’

CD of the Year: Jellybricks for ‘Suckers’

All of these bands are worth a listen and we highly suggest you do so. Coming up will be special features on each of the winners which will give you an inside scoop on who they really are. Stay tuned!

--- End --- - PRLOG

Lo Kloza is a freshman artist in the burgeoning class of acoustic singer-songwriters. Her latest self-titled EP consists of six songs of fresh sound and from what I’ve heard so far, Kloza is going to be another good addition to an area that boasts some of the best performers in the country.

Lo’s soulful style has had the prestigious grooming guidance of Don Lawrence (Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga) and her R&B style gives influential nods to artists such as Pink, Sara Bareilles and Adele.

Produced by Michael Ghegan (Bluetone Studios), Kloza and her full band take listeners on a funky and enjoyable journey through her recollections and musings of life immersed in pop culture and traditional old school style. Her voice is immediately loveable and she has the seasoned insight of an artist that’s been around the block more than once. Kloza has also been known to mix things up with one or two of her carefully chosen covers by artists such as Grace Potter or Amy Winehouse. If you like Jessie J, Alanis Morissette and Katy Perry, you’re going to love Lo Kloza.
- The Aquarian Weekly by John Pfiffer

Lo Kloza is a local pop singer and songwriter from the Jersey shore area. She is about to release her first EP, which is self-titled and features six original songs written and sung by herself. She cites influences for her music such as Lady Gaga and Adele, stating that when she was young she “was always obsessed with pop culture and would follow all of the big name artists like Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, and anyone on top 40 radio and would try to aspire to be like them” and you can see this in her music, which is sugary pop with a bit of R&B. It is a strong first effort from a rising star in the Jersey music scene.

She started really writing her own music in 2010 after a heartbreak, and told me that “Many of the songs on the EP are a part of the healing process.” This can be seen in songs like “Powerless” and “Skin and Bones,” which are clearly about heartbreak, and are the most emotional on the EP. Her voice shines on all the songs on the EP, and it the real highlight of the album. Even though she said, “the real struggle now will be taking it all to the next level, doing bigger and bigger things” I am certain that she is destined for much bigger and better things. - The Examiner

Shoreworld: Lo Kloza – Rising Into Her Own On Phoenix Shoreworld: Lo Kloza – Rising Into Her Own On Phoenix

—by John Pfeiffer, March 11, 2015




03-11 Shoreworld - Lo Kloza

Lo Kloza was first introduced to me a few years back with the head-turning sound of her eponymous 2012 EP, Lo Kloza. Combining the vocal powerhouse of Sara Bareilles and the compositional know-how of No Doubt and Katy Perry, Lo Kloza scored big with a packed release and an ongoing procession of ardent fans. Kloza learned several important lessons from that release, including the use of said music to push her development into different genres and influential styles.

The one thing I always liked about Kloza is that she never approached her project with the frivolous concern of being part of local rock royalty. With a style that promotes soul, R&B and pop-flavored composition, Kloza cared more about finding a way to soar into her future than she did about fitting in. In a scene filled with bands that second guess out of a fear of getting the “thumbs down” from self-imposed Lord Fauntleroy’s, she gladly embraced her pop idols and transferred that enthusiasm to her own special craft.

Another lesson learned is the important action of working with a producer that emulates and builds on the true vision of an artist. Lo Kloza was a very good production that featured several good songs, but I always felt that she was trying to find her way through the tough roadblocks of communication with her choice of production team.

Those roadblocks are gone on her new EP, Phoenix. Featuring several strong songs that explore commercial pop and a bit of new country, Kloza flies high into a succinct atmosphere of original and catchy songwriting. Lo tells us on her website, “Phoenix is me, the real me. It’s honest. I wasn’t writing to fit a certain sound; I was writing off of what I felt, and wherever that took me. I experimented with more rock melodies this time around, and the product is more than I could have hoped. I cannot wait to share this with everyone!”

This time around, Kloza opted for the production and co-writing guidance of Gordon Brown and John Harvey. Brown is the right choice for many reasons, but the most important is that he acts as psychological catalyst, nurturing the artist instead of dictating terms. That style creates an enthusiasm and confidence that explodes onto a record. John Harvey is best known for his four-string work with artists such as California’s own Second Serenade and new country princess Jessie James and co-wrote most of this interesting record with Kloza.

Phoenix feels like rebellious joy. Gone are the trepidations of doubt and holding back. In the wake of those frustrating issues are the jubilant sounds of a singer experiencing artistic freedom for the first time in quite a while, and you can hear it in each song she rules on. The production Kung Fu of Brown/Harvey is strong and unfettered. Electric guitars growl on top of keys, bass and drums in an organically hewn construction that comes together like the perfect storm for each and every song on the disc.

But this is so much more than just a pop record. Phoenix explores the light at the end of the tunnel. The story of coming into your own and realizing that this is the right time and the right place for the rest of your life. Phoenix enhances the rising up into something new and good. I’ve taken a few swipes to bring you highlights of this celebratory disc.

The first song that stuck out is the raw, rock and roll voracity of “Paranoid.” Kloza’s voice swerves into Nashville’s “new country” genre as she burns with all the sizzling moxie of a Kacey Musgraves. Guitars chuck out rhythmic, muffled chord barrages as bass and drum work pound the unhinged message of neurotic angst. Kloza is a pitch master, rising into mezzo soprano stratospheres before dropping into the sultry, contralto range of Amy Winehouse.

The choruses are Top 40 addictive, but the best part of this song is the surprise bridge that kicks in at 1:45. Guitars spin complex loops of tube-blazing riffage as bass drum guidance pounds straight through the heart. As the middle-eight begins to build to its fever pitch, you can hear Kloza seething into the piece. At 2:01, the culmination of Kloza’s release comes with a raw and savagely guttural scream. “Paranoid” is a fiery tune that spares no expense when building intimate, lyrical confession on a granite foundation of songwriting continuity.

Another surefire gem is “Mallory.” “Mallory” has that Golden Eighties vibe made famous by artists like Pat Benatar and Rindy Ross from Quarterflash. Thick snare hits pop as melodic guitars and synthed-out keys float through a plethora of catchy passages. When the song kicks in for the second verse, you can hear the compositional elevator move up to the next furious floor. Quirky, poppy and filled with unencumbered rock and roll expression, “Mallory” has Kloza beaming her elation through the speakers as she powers this attention-grabbing single straight into our hearts.

“Empty-Handed” is an intricate and well-written song that exits onto that long-haul Nash Vegas blacktop. Here, as on most of the record, Kloza demonstrates a mature and satisfying understanding of the message she delivers. Bursting with emotional empathy and tough earned love for new beginnings, Kloza assures the listener that she’s experienced their pain, and it’s not the end of the world. “Let’s not forget I’ve been there before, I’ve walked right through that same dark door, yeah I’ve used every damn broken excuse.” The bridges on “Empty-Handed” are a strong pathway to some of the disc’s best choruses, and everything builds into a rhythmic, melodic movement of memorable music. The ending percussive and piano flourishes remind me of “All That Heaven Will Allow” from Springsteen’s Tunnel Of Love.

Another highlight is the song “Monsters.” “Monsters” spins an Adele-like vibe on this story of survival. But Kloza goes even farther, exorcising personal demons, extinguishing capitulation in favor of “putting up a fight” for one’s future. Pristine pianos chime the introduction like a music box as Kloza lays her smoky vocal across the anthemic soundscape. Organs seep through, mixing with pianos and percussive elements before drums roll this into the second verse. Brown and Harvey are masters of the build, using tempo like a throttled funny car, bringing it down before flooring it into the catchiest of choruses. Dynamically stated, “Monsters” reveals a scary talent by all involved.

Other notables are the disc namesake, “Phoenix.” “Phoenix” is the hopeful hit that Kloza has been searching for, and it’s a song that is in that ballpark. At first, you think this is some kind of ode to Bon Jovi, as the kick in is a brazen, crunching heap of guitar rock supremacy. Kloza and crew know what they are doing, and quickly spin the song into a throbbing, accent-filled bar chord blitzkrieg that dances joyously with the pop sensibilities of that Perry girl. The modulation change at 2:00 is a smart and savvy addition, taking a song with a great level of compositional buoyancy and lifting it even further into the feverish zone of a religious experience. Think Miranda Lambert meets Carly Rae Jepsen and you’re there. Now THAT’S a production.

Phoenix is a fun-filled celebration that champions the breaking free from the past, and knowing that the future is an open playing field of promise for both the writer and the fans that will be lining up to watch this emotional coming of age unfold live.

For more information on Lo Kloza and Phoenix, head over to lokloza.com.


Tags: john pfeiffer, lo kloza, phoenix, shoreworld - The Aquarian Weekly