Many ones at different times..this particular album of songs:
Karen Larson on all VOCALS and ACOUSTIC RHYTHM GUITAR with Paul Cameron on 'Fire and Ice' and 'Rose', Pat Covernton on all KEYBOARDS AND ORGANS and some additional vocal harmonies, Rob Becker on all BASS GUITARS, Geoff Hicks on all DRUMS except for the songs 'Blue' and 'Soul Neglection' which was Mani Nassefat, Eric Reed on ELECTRIC GUITARS AND SLIDES as well as Paul Cameron. Paula Robertson additional backup vocals on 'Fire and Ice'
Influences
So so many...Everything from Willie Nelson, Billie Holiday, to Billy Talent, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leslie Alexander..a profound mentor and friend to me who has inspired alot of personal movement and musical independance for me just by her being exactly who she is...Pat Covernton, hugely talented and strong and.... any ounce of feeling that evokes a power and a need in me to voice it.
Sounds Like
A writer who saw Karen perform once quoted her as having a 'Soul to burn with a voice to match!' Ask anyone who has ever seen her perform, the passion of her voice, songs and body language can cut right through you and hang on long after the show is over.
People have compared her vocals and songwriting style along side with Cowboy junkies Margo Timmins, Natalie Merchant, Eva Cassidy, Tracy Chapman, Nora Jones...
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With the exception of Liza Minnelli, Weird Al Yankovic and Norwegian death-metal bands, musicians hate being “pigeonholed” — that is to say, lumped into a category with acts that may or may not have the slightest thing in common, aside from falling prey to a pithy catchphrase that describes their music based on hairstyles, wardrobe and footwear.
Vancouver singer/songwriter Karen Larson harbors no such concerns. She doesn’t mind being pigeonholed as a singer/songwriter, because that is exactly what she is.
“When I was 5 years old, I was singing in a Christmas concert and the guy playing Santa Claus put the mic in front of me,” says Larson, whose debut album Fire and Ice showcases both her rich, soulful vocals and gift for moving seamlessly between rootsy country-tinged pop and smoldering jazzy blues. “The moment I heard my voice projected from that stage, I knew there and then that I wanted to be a singer. For me, the songwriting part was just a logical extension of the singing process.”
As a songwriter, Larson turns the personal into the universal, using firsthand incidents as launch pads to an emotional realm familiar to all. “My tunes are born out of different experiences,” she says. “Intense moments I have in relationships with various people, family and friends. I dig deep for my lyrics to find the perfect words to describe what I am writing about — I don’t just rattle off anything because it happens to work or rhyme.”
The result is thoughtful rather than contrived, spun from real events instead of whole cloth. “When I'm writing about something,” she says, “it is something I have lived through, something I have experienced with my own eyes. My songs are 100 percent honest.”
Larson’s honesty translates well. Her performances, whether solo or with a band, attest to her ability to reach audiences. Not surprisingly, the release of Fire and Ice (the title track is the album’s first single) coincides with an ever-increasing number of club, concert and festival appearances.
“I've been performing live around Vancouver for about 10 years,” she says. “In that time, I’ve been invited to play many songwriter’s shows — Grrrls with Guitars, Afternoon of Music Festivals, Songwriters in the Round — as well as events like the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Manitoba Stampede, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and organized, hosted and performed at the twenty week concert series 'Music4Food' for the Vancouver Food Bank. In addition, she has hosted an ongoing series of songwriter nights at assorted venues throughout Vancouver.
“People have told me that they like my songs because they can empathize with them,” she says. “I don’t try and be preachy or tell people how to make things better. I just try to articulate the emotions that accompany the circumstances I’m describing.”
Those circumstances have found their way into the 10 songs featured on Fire and Ice, its title referencing two very different elements. Either of which can burn you.
I know... :-P As soon as I heard you'd be in Manitoba, I knew THIS show wouldn't quite be the one... No worries, there will be others! This isn't exactly a CD release party either (not sure when/where that'll happen) ;-)
hey girl!! how are you? did you ever check out JOHN GORKA? "night is a woman" - was my intro to him - then there was no turning back!! have a lovely week dahling... ~PAMELA
Hey Sweetie ... I'm In Sun Valley at the moment .... If I'm going to be on the Sunshine Coast I wouldn't miss the chance to hang/listen to your wonderful music I'll keep In touch .... Until then ... keep makin' magic! sue leonard ;-)
Came by to hear the new songs and to say hello of course!!! Absolutely loving them!!! Really love Blue!!!! Hope you have a fantastic weekend and great show at The Bean!!!!!!
Hello Karen, I grabbed the video from Dean Dyson's site... Very powerful Indeed. I watch It every day I'm mesmerized by It.... Hope you are doing well! Lots o love to ya! sue leonard ;-)
