Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)

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Penelope

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Released: Jan 11, 2007

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Penelope
5:49
485 plays
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Amanda Dances On
4:41
400 plays
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Four Days a Year
3:34
374 plays
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Outside Looking In
5:01
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Sister of the Northland
6:04
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Total Plays: 1,827 / Plays Today: 5See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Acoustic / Celtic / Folk
Location SEATTLE, Un
Profile Views: 15030
Last Login: 1/26/2013
Member Since 1/11/2007
Website http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFuZ2VsZmlyZS5jb20vZm9say9rYXJpdm94
Record Label Unsigned
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
.. ......Myspace Profile Tracker World Visitor Map.. ......*****...... Born in Bethesda, Maryland in 1964. Grew up in Rockville, Maryland and Frederick, Maryland; attended the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA) and the School of Irish Studies (Dublin, Ireland) between 1982-1986. Started playing piano at five or six, violin at 10, guitar at 12 or 13. I took lessons on piano and violin, but prefer teaching myself things above all else. I've been writing songs since age 13, but didn't get that serious about it until I was 21 or so. I worked as a contract archaeological technician during the late 80's, while writing series of songs about feminist/juvenist (children's rights/anti-child abuse activism) issues. .. I've lived in Seattle since April 1991, busking and playing in my church's band for a while. I tried the conventional path of working day jobs and performing on evenings and weekends, but found that I was often too drained of energy to do much performing. Now I am more or less self-employed at busking, photography, computer art and ceramic art inspired by the dynamic ceramic art of Neolithic Europe (c. 7000-3000 B.C.E.). I am constantly seeking new musical influences, new inspiration for songwriting, and new venues for performing. .. I now have my first full-length CD, ..The Soul Who Dances On.., featuring all originals written over the past 20 years, in production. I expect it will be finished by the middle of 2008. I am now seeking gigs in western Washington and beyond, as well as other avenues of earning revenue to complete the new CD... .. ..UPDATE (MONDAY, OCT. 29, 2007): LairMistress merch, featuring original photos and digital art, is available at ..The LithicLair.., ..The Lair of Cards.., and their fellow Cafepress LairShops! I also have a new Stock Photo gallery up now, which will also (hopefully) help me pay for the recording project! It's called ....The Lair's Eye View...., and it's got loads of Irish scenery, aerial shots of oceanic ice sheets, and Neolithic tombs! Print prices are really great too, and there are loads of products available with said photos. So go check them out, and hopefully my CD will be finished and available by spring 2008!.. .. ........ .. ....*****...... .. ..NEWSFLASH!.. Here is my first original video slideshow, accompanied by my original song, "Penelope", and uploaded to Youtube! It's a promotion for my photo gallery at PhotostockPlus.com. .. ....All images, words and music © by Karen I. Olsen..... .. .. .. .. .. ..
Members
'Tis just me, good people--Karen the LairMistress, on vocals, nylon-string guitar, fiddle, bodhran, keyboards and assorted hand percussion! I really want to take up such things as hardanger fiddle, doumbek, kantele, and cello as well, besides getting better at classical Indian tabla drumming--I studied tabla for six or seven years back in the 90's, but don't have a working set right now. Any good places to get them in the Seattle area?
Influences
Judy Small, Holly Near, the Clancy Brothers, Makem and Clancy, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mari Boine, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Stan Rogers, Clannad, Eric Bogle, Pierre Bensusan, Jason Webley
Sounds Like
Golly, I dunno...perhaps a bit of Judy Small, Judy Collins, Ruth Barrett, Mari Boine, Joan Baez, Meg Christian, Cris Williamson, with perhaps a hint of Sinead O'Connor and Joules Graves...?

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Feb 23
Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)
played a song
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Lene Majja
by Mari Boine
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Jan 30

Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)
posted a new blog entry:

Crowdfunding: I'm Totally New to It and Scared to Death, But I'll Give it a Shot...

Hello, all! This is a follow-up to my most recent bulletin post, and part of my campaign to promote another campaign! That is to say, I wa...

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Jan 26

Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)

Posted a new blog entry "Well, the very idea of crowdfunding for a recording project scare..." http://lnk.ms/dhZJP
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Jan 26

Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)
posted a new bulletin:

New Crowdfunding Campaign for Recording Project!
Hello all--I've finally gone and done it--started a Gofundme campaign to help me finish recording, release and promote my CD (working title: The Soul Who Dances On)! It's a collection of 13 original topical folk-influenced songs, some of them going back a number of years, which I want to have heard as widely as possible. This will hopefully lead to some major life changes for me beginning this year ('cause who wants to be stuck in a rut due to lack of funds?). Anyway, check out the campaign at the link above; and don't forget to browse some of the other campaigns by fellow musicians--there's a lot of need for outside support out there! Thanks to everyone in advance... The Soul Who Dances On: CD Project by Karen Olsen - GoFundMe Hello and Welcome, everyone! I am a Seattle-based folksinger/songwriter and photographer, in need of assistance to complete a recording project of original folk-oriented songs, and then to promote the finished product. I began production on this album (working title: The Soul Who Dances On) a cou...

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Jan 26

Karen the LairMistress (Karen Olsen)

Hello again! I finally started a crowdfunding campaign to finish and promote my CD...Check it out at the aforementioned link!

The Soul Who Dances On: CD Project by Karen Olsen - GoFundMe

via gofundme.com

Hello and Welcome, everyone! I am a Seattle-based folksinger/songwriter and photographer, in need of assistance to complete a recording project of original folk-oriented songs, and then to promote the finished product. I began production on this album (working title: The Soul Who Dances On) a cou...

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