February 11, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Lakin Delights Strangers With Singing As A Mainstay On Third Street Promenade:

By Frank Malfitano

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon at the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade, a small crowd of strangers has gathered in a shared attitude of unexpected delight as they listen to a lovely young singer named Lakin.

Folks on their way to stores, restaurants or movies have put their plans aside to bask in the glow of a woman who is able to connect with total strangers through the sheer force of her artistry and charm.

Never mind the skateboarding teens, barking dogs, chatty tourists, or local loonies who may waltz before her sidewalk stage – the crowd is with her, and all distractions fade away.

I’ve had the joy of watching Lakin many times over the last couple of years, not just solo at the Promenade, but also at clubs with a full band.

I’m honored to call her a friend. Lakin is both one of the coolest chicks and the warmest woman I know. She is the rare artist who is (almost) completely sane. I’ve told her that if she ever gets bored with music, she could be a Senator or a CEO, and I’m only half kidding. A serious Christian, she would certainly make a great preacher. You should hear her gospel songs.

Occasionally, she’ll perform one of her gospel songs on the Promenade, winning over even the ubersecular, if not downright hedonistic, Santa Monica crowd. When I suggest to her she could make good money in the contemporary gospel field, Lakin carefully informs me that whatever money she would make in religious recordings she would donate to charity. She’s even thinking of starting her own nonprofit to aid third world children. “My secular music is all about connecting with people; my gospel songs are my attempt to connect with God.” In a town full of painted glass aspiring to be cubic zirconia, Lakin is the Hope Diamond.

Lakin even has the temerity to come from a happy family, with a lovely school teacher (and part time backup singer) mom and a dad who has been a successful percussionist with George Benson, Stevie Wonder and others; and is now a sports psychologist as well.

Lakin herself was a scrappy 5’6” basketball walk on for Long Beach State a few years ago, while earning her degree in jazz studies.

Lakin delivers crowd pleasing covers like “Let’s Stay Together”, “Put Your Records On”, “Meet Virginia” and a tender and touching “When You Wish Upon Star”, but it’s her own compositions that confirm her true gifts. A melodic mélange of pop, jazz, folk, R&B and an occasional touch of country, her songs feature lyrics as intelligent and heartfelt as the woman herself atop often harmonically complex, yet always accessible tunes.

Songs like “Unsure”, “Love Is Gravity”, “The World In Its Song”, “Shooting Stars”, “I Choose You”, “Kiss Me Goodbye” and a couple of dozen other gems waft through the afternoon haze with a genuinely touching purity. It’s a rare joy to see any master this close in the throes of creation.

Lakin is a perfectionist, so it’s not surprising that her self-produced CD “If Night Turns to Daylight” features over 20 top musicians and the strings from the Prague Philharmonic. It’s also a beautifully packaged product, and oh yeah, the songs are all great too.

The Promenade boasts a number of other talented musical regulars including two other great young female singer songwriters: the reggaeish veteran of “The Voice” Naia Kete and the ever delightful country folk queen Chelsea Williams. Yet, as popular and talented as they are even Naia and Chelsea can’t quite manage to turn the boisterous Promenade into an intimate and elegant nightclub like Lakin can.

Seeing her in actual clubs with a large band including horns and strings is where the full richness and complexity of her arrangements can truly flower. Though Lakin has played large venues opening for Cheryl Crow, Gladys Knight, Colbie Caillat and Sheila E., the way the L.A. club scene works, it’s often more profitable to play on the streets. Of course, these days the entire music industry is in a state of flux with no one quite sure in the post record store, post MTV, post dominant radio; reality shows, downloads and You Tube world, if even signing a record deal itself is still the answer.

Lakin has told me she wants a deal, but only if it’s the right one for her. I’ve told her the things working against her in the music business are her ethics, morality, thoughtfulness, and decency. Let’s hope her talent, charisma, beauty and charm can cancel out these negatives.

Meanwhile, back on the Promenade, a few dozen strangers unite in cheers to support a young woman only a few had ever seen before. Some offer favorable comparisons to Sade, Tracy Chapman, Meshell Ndegeocello, Corinne Bailey Rae, India Arie, and singers of another era like Roberta Flack, Minnie Ripperton and Joan Armatrading. There are occasional elements of accuracy in all, but in the end Lakin is Lakin. Still developing, still getting better. Hey, she’s only in her 20s.

After seeing me talk with her, a middle-aged man said to me “I’ve been a recording engineer for 30 years – why isn’t she a superstar?” I shrugged and told him he’s asking the wrong guy. Then I closed my eyes and listened to Lakin holding the afternoon rush spellbound with a wispy ballad called “This Road” and realized she already is.

in News
<>Related Posts

Retailers Impose Purchase Restrictions as Supply Chain Disruptions Cause Concern

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Egg Limits Are Back – What’s Causing the Shortage? Retailers across the United States, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have...

Community Protest and Petition Against Controversial EPA Plan For Hazardous Waste Site

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

CD 11 City Councilmember Park to Hold Community Town Hall on Will Rogers Site Protesters marched against the Environmental Protection...

New Bill Targets Crime in Disaster Zones – Here’s What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties To Protect Vulnerable Communities California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down...

Mysterious Death Near Santa Monica Shoreline, Police Investigating

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

SMPD Seeks Information About Victim With Facial Trauma  The Santa Monica Police Department is investigating the death of a woman...

Burned Palisades Lot Sells for Nearly $1M: REPORT

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Aerial images show the property was among several homes in the neighborhood destroyed by the fire A vacant lot in...

Palisades Symphony to Host Benefit Concert to Support Displaced Musicians

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Several members of the Palisades Symphony lost their homes in the fires, making this concert a deeply personal effort The...

What about are you protected from future wildfires?

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the recent wildfires and Santa Ana windstorms in Southern California. We...

Shore Hotel Remains Sustainability Leader

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

By Susan Payne On track to open its new coastal-inspired restaurant, Shore Hotel has excited new offerings and initiatives this...

Rescheduled 2024 Homeless Count Needs More Volunteers on the Westside

February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

Not Enough Volunteers to Successfully Count Unhoused Angelenos This Year With the rescheduled dates for the 2025 Greater Los Angeles...

Student Protest Over Immigration Policies Leads to Walkouts Across the Westside

February 7, 2025

February 7, 2025

Walkout Turns Tense as Counter-Protester Confronts Teen in Video From Venice Students from Santa Monica High School (SAMOHI), Culver City...

10-Year-Old Palisades Girl Wins Martial Arts Medals Weeks After Losing Home to Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Savoian, a green belt in Yoshukai karate, trained at Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center in Pacific Palisades Just weeks after...

Open Arms Art Show Runs Through Mar. 22 in Burbank

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Opening Exhibition Saturday Feb. 8 from 12 to 8p.m. More than an art show, the Open Arms Exhibition is an...

Quiet Luxury: What’s Inside the New Regent Boutique and Sweet July

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

The Regent Santa Monica Beach, known for its perfect Santa Monica getaways, or local dining at its Mediterranean-based restaurant Orla...

Santa Monica Waives Outdoor Dining Fees After Wildfires

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

101 businesses participate in Santa Monica’s outdoor dining programs, which began as a temporary measure during COVID-19 In an effort...

(Photos) Kamala Harris Visits Destruction of Palisades Fire

February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

Harris spoke with first responders, service providers, and evacuees about recovery efforts and resources Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined...