Electro-pop artist Kristen Karma was drawn to the stage at an early age, once getting up on stage to dance with the singers. However, she would spend her formative years in the world of ballet but would become discouraged when told she was too tall. It would be later when Kristen participated in military marching bands, the Air Cadets, and The Royal Conservatory of Music that these experiences would influence her to pursue a music career.
Kristen would go on to complete her skills as a musician, combining the technical and musical skills she learned from her time in the military bands and the music conservatory with her certification from Hot Sole Music in audio engineering. She also improved her voice with Vancouver vocal coach Judith Rabinovitch, who has worked with Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan.
In 2013 she was selected as one of two performers to open for Tour DJ/Lady Gaga BFF Lady Starlight at the Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball After-party. Her performance garnered rave reviews and as a result, Kristen would go on to work with Lil Jon on her single, Sirens. In 2017, Kristen was selected to perform at Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour VIP After-Party in Vancouver. That same year, she opened for Grammy award-winning Akron in Ontario on his Canadian Promo Tour.
Kristen teamed up with renowned producer Mark Zubek for her current single, the electronic/pop “Party Heroes” released in April. It entered the Canadian iTunes Pop Charts Top 20, reaching #17 at that time. The high energy party song combines powerful guitar solos with driving dance beats and catchy melodies guaranteed to make you want to get up and move.
Currently, Kristen is finishing her EP/Album and is also in the studio working on new music.
I recently interviewed Kristen via email about her new single, opening for Akon on his tour, performing at both of Lady Gaga’s After Party events, winning a Gold Award, working with renowned producer Mark Zubek and much more.
Congratulations on your new hit single, “Party Heroes”. What is the concept/theme?
I was hosting a party and at about 11-11:30 pm it started to die down. Just as a few of my friends were ready to leave, I had a friend of mine show up with her entourage. She turned up the music, brought more food and drinks and we just kept the party going! Before anyone knew it, it was 4-5am and we were still having a great time!
What do you want listeners to take away from the song?
Party Heroes is a feel-good, get-up-and-dance type of party song. It’s got driving dance beats combined with epic guitar solos and catchy melodies that bring it together for this high energy song. I want the listeners to be able to put this song on and just have fun with it!
What was it like working with Mark Zubek, a renowned producer and jazz musician?
It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Mark. We’ve done a few songs together now and just watching him bring my demos and songs to life is enlightening. Sometimes I think he knows what I’m trying to accomplish before I even get a chance to voice it! He’s always asking for input on what he’s doing which never makes me feel like I’m losing control of my vision for the song. Plus! The songs always come out better than I could have imagined it!
Explain your production process.
I create my demo on my own and I’ll send it over to him and reference some songs (for beats, or sounds) that I’d like to try and incorporate. He takes that and we build the song together. From there its adding vocals and everything else and giving it a good mix!
You hold a certificate in Audio Engineering from Hot Sole Music. How has it affected your approach to recording and production of your music?
I wanted to learn more about how the music process was from behind the scenes. I had started writing a few demos and this gave me the tools to understand how to manipulate and mold different sounds into different arrangements. Now when I head into the studio I have more time to spend on instrumentation and sounds rather than the arrangements. It gives me time to be able to play around with the demos on an entirely new level and be able to communicate better in the studio.
Tell us more about being selected and performing for Lady Gaga’s Official After Party for the 2017 Joanne World Tour and opening for DJ Lady Starlight at Lady Gaga’s the Born This Way Tour 2013. What were these experiences like? Do you have a favorite moment or memory?
I saw the company that was putting on Lady Gaga’s Official After Party for the Born This Way Ball in 2013 and I just knew I had to play it. I emailed the coordinator and spoke to him on Social Media and made sure that he had a chance to listen to my music. I then followed up a few times and eventually got slotted to open up the night! The headliner of the night was Lady Gaga’s Tour Opener and BFF DJ Lady Starlight which was pretty neat. In 2017 I got the chance to play the After Party for the Joanne World Tour and was the sole music performer for the night!
As for the best moment of the night, it would have to be right at the start. I had my band play an intro and I had my back facing the crowd. There wasn’t anyone but a few friends in front of the stage. All of a sudden when I turned around there were photographers and videographers and fans right in front of the stage. It was packed!
What was it like to open for AKON on his Guelph stop on his 2017 Canadian Promo tour? How did you get that opportunity?
Akon is extremely humble and down to earth. All the performers got to meet him and speak to him after the show! The show was jam-packed and had such a high energy audience! It was cool to be apart of his show. As for getting the gig, I was working with a company that had another artist slotted in and they couldn’t do it. So I volunteered and made a case for why I should perform and ultimately got the spot!
You studied ballet in your formative years. Why did you not pursue a dance career?
When I was younger I was told that I’d be too tall to be a ballerina and that all the guys I’d dance with would be too short. Unfortunately, at that young age, I was discouraged and went on to pursue other things instead of fighting for what I wanted.
Tell us more about your experiences with the Air Cadets, military marching bands, and The Royal Conservatory of Music. Did these influence or lead you toward a music career?
100% yes. I got a lot of my technical skills from the Royal Conservatory of Music. The arrangements and how everything worked together was learned through my time in the Military Marching Bands (Brass & Reed/Pipes & Drums). Everything worked together in conjunction with my schooling in Audio Engineering to round my skills as a musician.
Why did you study voice with Judith Rabinovitch, who has worked with Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan? What did you take away from working with her?
Judith was my vocal coach when I was living in Vancouver. She’s quite a staple in the Vancouver Music Scene as a Vocal Coach, and I knew if I wanted to improve and grow that she was the coach for me. I had tried other coaches they didn’t have the same passion behind their teaching. I learned techniques and improved my skills and as a result, there was a drastic improvement from when I first started.
What did you win the Gold Award for in 2009? Why was it personally awarded to you by HRH Prince Edward? How did you feel about winning it?
The Gold Award was apart of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It’s a youth award program founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) which promotes physical fitness, good citizenship, new skills and overall improving one’s self. There are three levels and the Gold Award is presented by a member of the Royal Family. In my case, it was HRH Prince Edward who had given me the Award.
In a press release, it cites you spent years studying the theory behind your music. Can you expound on that?
I’ve been watching and taking notes of my favourite musicians and performers and how they are on stage. I try and replicate (on my level) different things and incorporate things into my stage show. When it comes to the music I studied different songs and what makes them stand the test of time.
What instrumentation, what they have incorporated, lyrics, messages, and flow. I’ve taken the best parts of what I like and saw I can improve the songs that I write.
At an early age, you were drawn to the stage and when you could, you got up on stage to dance with the singers. Who were these singers? How were you able to join them on stage?
Ha! So my parents tell me this story all the time that when I was younger we were attending a Canada Day Celebration (Salmon Festival) and at the end of the parade, there was a stage set up with a local band performing. That’s where I got up on the stage and started dancing. One of them must have helped me on the stage!
How do you think women (artists, audio engineers, producers, etc.) can be better supported in the indie music industry?
Overall there is a lack of females working on the technical side of things in the music industry. More women should get their hands on and educate themselves as much as possible about what goes on behind the scenes. They should be able to speak their mind and be confident about it. As for artists, females are over-sexualized in this industry. They should comfortable and confident with the music they are creating. It should be about the music first and less about the looks. Everyone should be supporting each other.
What projects do you have planned for the rest of this year?
Currently, I’m in the studio working on some new music. I’m working toward finishing up my EP/Album!
What are your plans for performances/shows for 2019?
I currently have a show booked for July 27 at the Supermarket in Toronto! We’ve got a great line up for the night!
Thank you, Kristen, for the opportunity to interview you.
Buy/Download ‘Party Heroes’ on iTunes, and Stream it on Kristen’s Spotify Artist Page.
Follow Kristen: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | SoundCloud | Spotify
Watch Pary Heroes official lyric video: