Singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, composer, producer & vocal coach, Karen is a multi-dimensional artist who writes in an eclectic range of musical styles. From popular music to new age, including instrumentals & experimental music, her trademark is her soulful, powerful voice and her uplifting ballads which have won awards around the world.
SINGER SONGWRITER BIOGRAPHY
Karen hails from the artistic city of Adelaide, South Australia. From the age of 6 she was winning Young Composers Awards for her piano compositions. She also learnt the violin, playing and performing in school orchestras and at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. Whilst gaining her Music Teaching Degree she played keyboards and sang in her first rock band. Following her graduation she worked extensively in the Australian music industry, including working as a popular session singer for radio and television jingles in studios in Adelaide and Melbourne. During this time her four piece pop rock cover band Thunderbirds played many gigs around the state, gaining a reputation for putting on a great and energetic live show. Following stints in several bands she later began working in hotels and nightclubs as a solo performer touring around Australia; performing in Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. During her travels, she fell in love with Queensland and eventually settled there for some time, recording her original music at Springbrook Studios; a haven in the mountains.
During this time her writing began to attract media attention. Winning several songwriting awards & a major band competition, she eventually signed to Emerald City/Polydor Records & released a record that charted well. Her band Eve performed on popular shows such as Hey Hey It’s Saturday & The Steve Vizard Show. Writing her first song at the age of 12, she has since won awards for her singing and her songs worldwide, including What A Lover which won a South Australia Music Industry Award for most popular new release.
Her time in the UK also brought success, including winning the London International Songwriting Contest with Flame, just being pipped to the post for a submission for the UK’s entry for Eurovision. Karen then released an ambient music album called Healing Vibrations with flavours of Celtic, Native American and World music. Her latest album is called Metamorphosis and has received positive reviews. An American reviewer Dan Macintosh (U.S.) said:
…Grace expresses the tension that exists between who we are as human beings and who we hope to be someday. But it’s also true that we are beautiful already, just the way we are. God doesn’t make junk. Sure, cynics may think such a statement is too close to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood for comfort. However, it’s essential to point out that, while Grace is on a quest for personal metamorphosis, she is – because of all her instrumental, lyrical, and vocal talent – quite beautiful already.
An excerpt from a recent review of Metamorphosis by Keith Ames in The Musician (UK) :
The influences of Kate Bush, early Heart and Christine McVie are sprinkled throughout the 11 soulful tracks on offer, but never take away from Karen’s originality, simply adding to the commercial potential of her most crafted pieces. These include Dancing with its delicate, psychedelic-era production and the Dreamboat Annie touches of lighter than air Just A Ripple. Hugely impressive, Karen is a dramatic artist at work. One to watch.
Live
Karen formed The Karen Grace Band in late 2009. The band consisted of 7 members: Nick Allen on Cello, Jo Warren on piano and backing vocals, Mike Forde on drums, Bridget Rattigan on flute, Will Lester on backing vocals and David Cattermole on acoustic guitar. The band also performs in smaller ensembles. Karen voice and style have been compared to artists such as Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Enya and K.D. Lang, although her style is distinctly her own. She has performed with some of Australia’s biggest acts such as John Farnham, Skyhooks and Cold Chisel and other international artists such as Richard Marx, Victor Borge, The Easybeats and Glen Shorrock.
Current
Karen is now living in her home town of Adelaide,South Australia, after a 15 year stint in the UK and will be starting new performance and teaching projects soon. See 'diary' and 'my news' for more information.
Songwriting Awards
Tamworth Songwriters Association merit; London International Song Contest (winner of 2 awards); South Pacific International Songwriters Award; Black Opal International Songwriters Merit; Melbourne Music Festival Songwriting Award; South Australia Music Indistry Award for most popular release; World Register Of Copyright Songwriting Competition Award; World Pater music Award. Yamaha International Awards Tokyo, Japan, Gold Prize winner; Yamaha Rock Awards, Australian national winner; Two South Australia Young Composers Awards for Piano.
Media Appearances
BBC Newcastle Radio interview. 2008. BBC Tees Radio interview. 2008. ‘Amazing Grace’ video, independent release, Graceful Music. Co-Presenter on ‘Asylum’ music show, Channel 31, Melbourne. Good Morning Australia (Melbourne) Interview & performance. Adelaide Today (interview & performance). ‘What a Lover’ video with single release, Emerald City/Polydor. A.M. Adelaide (interview & performance). Hey Hey It’s Saturday (Live performance). Fuji Television Japan, Live performance. Steve Vizard Show (live performance). M.T.V. Live performance.
Discography
Metamorphosis:Karen Grace (album) (Graceful Music). Healing Vibrations: Karen Grace (album) (Graceful Music), Choices For Living: Out Of The Wood, (album) Sign: Karen Grace (album) (Graceful Music), Blue Heelers Music: Australian TV Drama (album), Amazing Grace: Karen Grace (single) (Graceful Music), What a Lover: Eve (single) (Emerald City/Polydor), Coloured Stone: Coloured Stone
*If you are interested in using or licensing Karen's songs or music she can be contacted via this website. All songs have been copy written with UKCS and remain the property of Karen Grace and any relevant co-writers.