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Growing up in a large family, raised on family singalongs and playing a homemade guitar, Karen's love of music has always been an integral part of her life. Her understanding that dreams come true only with hard work, dedication and determination, has led Karen to a successful and rewarding professional career. Karen's music comes directly from the heart, speaking about love, Australia and it's people. There is a special, haunting quality in Karen's voice and this is combined with a mixture of great songs including her own original compositions and collaborations with some leading writers such as Heather Field and Pat Drummond and Mark Selby (USA). As a soloist, Karen performs predominantly Country and Australian Folk music accompanying herself on the twelve-string guitar with midi files (where applicable). Her versatility extends to various duo formats; Traditional "old time" and country music with keyboards/singer Barry Thompson, and with other talented male singers for a variety of Country/ Country Rock/ Contemporary covers from the 50s to the 90s. She also works with Sydney's best bluegrass band "Acoustic Shock". Karen has previously spent time songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee, both prior to and since the release of her startling debut CD, "Labour of Love", an impressive blend of traditional and contemporary country, Australian Folk and Bluegrass styles. The album features 3 of Karen's original compositions and also includes a haunting version of Henry Lawson's poem "Water Lilly" and an exceptional version of Enda Kenny's "Colours Of Australia".
Karen's achievements include: Top 5 Finalist "New Talent" and Top 10 Nominations for "Vocal Collaboration" (with Pat Drummond) & "APRA Song of the Year" in the 1999 & 2001 Australian Country Music "Golden Guitar" Awards and Top 4 Grand Finalist in the "Album of the Year" Category and Top 4 Grandfinalist in both the 1999 & 2000 "Female Rising Star" Category in the Mildura Independent Country Music Awards. One track from her album also picked up a Top 5 Finalist in the "Stan Coster Heritage" Category of the 1999 "TIARA (Independent Recording) Awards". The year 2000 however proving to be more successful with 4 Finalist nominations in the "Duo", "Songwriting", "Heritage" & "Female Vocal" Categories of the 2001 Tiara Awards. So, impressed with her talent, UK Promoter - Alan Cackett invited her to tour the UK for a number of weeks in October/November 1999 which she did to rave reviews! This followed her success in July 1999 when she was the first Australian to enter the Top 10 of the Nashville "International Country Music Association" - Non Major Label Chart (at the same time she also made it to No. 28 in the mixed Major/Non Major Label chart). Karen has once again spent a number of weeks songwriting in Nashville, Tennessee, this time with a number of very well known Nashville writers including Mark Selby ("There's Your Trouble" - as performed by the Dixie Chicks).
Following her success in the Australian Country Music Awards Karen's performance of her debut single "Half the Moon" has been featured on EMI's "Winners 7" compilation featuring Australian Country Music Awards winners & finalists. Her performance of acclaimed Australian Folk Singer/songwriter, Enda Kenny's song "Colours of Australia" is featured on the National Folk Festival's CD and her version of Pat Drummonds "Song of the Quilt" features on the Illawarra Folk Festivals CD. Download
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In 1999 Karen entered into an exciting new
partnership with noted Australian Singer/Songwriter, Pat Drummond.
This show now features songs from Pat & Karen's higly acclaimed
Duet Album "
Karen has also been a Grand finalist
in the prestigious Tamworth Festival "Starmaker" quest,
and has won the "Tamworth Songwriters National Songwriting
Competition" with the song "Grandma Used to Say"
(Co-written with Heather Field and James Gillard and featured
on the ABC compilation album "Open Road Two - Unexplored
Country"). Other songwriting credits include a third placing
in the 1998 Tasmanian TSA Songwriting Competition for "Country
Home" (co-written with Michael King and Becky Lynn), Finalist
positions in the "Spectacular Progress" and "Most
Popular Female" Categories in the Spirit of Tamworth Association,
Independent Artists Country Music Awards and a number of Capital
Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards for performance including
twice "Female Vocalist", twice "Best Performance
of an Australian Composition", and "Best Band"
(with her former band Shades of Grey), and a number of appearances
at various Australian and British Country and Folk Music Festivals.
