BIO | PRESS PHOTOS
The song "Ghost," from Karen McDine's forthcoming (summer, 2022) album, tells the story of a woman making a strong commitment to live her life independently, and leaning on friends and family to help her keep that vow. Themes of independence, strong connection, and finding "joy in the shadows," and in the struggles — and little successes — of every day life resonate throughout the record, tentatively titled "Wildflower."
Another recurring theme is balance; balance between the need for new paths and experiences and the longing for home, family, and tradition, as well as between the desire to be secure and loved in a relationship and the need to stand up to abuse and fight for personal freedom and self worth.
Musically, the album reflects Karen's roots, while embracing experimentation and new sonic possibilites. There is definitely love here for artists like Lucinda Williams, Sherly Crow, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, as well as a dose of 70's and 80's rock (Karen is an unrepentant fan of the music of Ann Wilson and Heart), and astute listeners may also pick up on notes of Sade and Billy Holiday, as well as the Beatles, Stones, and Dylan.
"Ani Difranco's energy and strength as a songwriter and performer defintiely got my attention and were an inspiration when I first began to write my own songs. Bob Dylan, Jewel, Alanis Morrisette, and Willie Nelson too."
At the heart of "Wildflower" there is a strong love for Family and tradition.
"When I first got there I was working at Big Lots," she laughs. "Don't put that in there!"
"I walked into Croc's on 19th street — which at the time was a swanky 'cigar social' nightlcub — and said 'please hire me,' and they basically made up a position for me. I was a coat-check girl, and a cigar girl. I would take these high rollers coats, and they would hand me the key to their personal lockers in the humidor. I would bring them down their box of cigars, and they would choose one, which I would then cut and light for them. There was a whole ritual to it."
"The owners thought it made smoking look sexy when I would smoke one myself, and help them sell," she laughs. "Some patrons thought it was, but some definitely thought otherwise!"
Karen's first guitar was given to her by a customer at a bartending gig back in Maine.
"It was a classical guitar, way too big for me - the neck - so I sold it and got a smaller Yamaha steel string acoustic. I had that little silver pickup - remember those? I bought a little amp for it, and away I went — playing open mic nights, listening to local bar bands, sitting in back corners and writing song ideas on napkins."
"My roommate Jas and I wanted to be the Indigo Girls," she remembers, laughing again.
While working in Virginia beach, Karen began performing at local open mics, and once again found herself writing down song lyrics on cocktail napkins. She began reading them to Dominic "Butch" Germano, the owner of Zia Marie, who also happened to be the bass player for a legendary local band — the States. Along with Butch, 'States members Barry Scott, Jimmie MacDonald, and Steve Archer became the recording band for Karen's debut album, Fallen Angel, in 2002.
"I got to open for the States at two of their reunion shows at the historic NorVA in downtown Norfolk. It was amazing — and absolutely terrifying! I had never played in front of that many people, two sold out shows!"
Karen moved back to Maine in the late 2000's, and continued to perform, writing songs at her childhood home — "'Apple Gate Farm,' as my mom liked to call it." She is currently recording her second record of 12 original songs with Todd Hutchison at ACADIA in Portland, Maine.
"Early on I was considering calling this album 'Light,'" Karen says, "because during the uncertainty of COVID, music was a light for me, and one that I have been happy to share with my bandmates on the record — including Justin Maxwell on bass and keys, Joe Beninati on drums, and Jason Ward on saxophones.
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