Indie blues woman Karen Clarke has been lurking backstage in the provincial scene for the last 30 years refining her feels. With a brimming live performance schedule, two albums and hot new singles under her belt she’s well and truly earned her piece of the heartland acoustic music stage.
She is steadily emerging into the national blues scene billing of a range of notable blues festivals with growing online play. Now teamed up with New Zealand blues royalty Darren Watson as producer, Clarke’s sound and sass are coming in hot.
Karen’s original material skirts a range of blues styles with a rootsy contemporary edge and plenty of grit as she explores themes of empowerment, belonging, and the mid-life troubles. Firmly rooted in RnB and alt-country pedigree, you’ll detect a dalliance with folk and jazz in the repertoire too – she keeps it moving. Her affable stage banter and warm, understated approach belies what’s to follow.
Karen’s power-packed performance is strong. Grounded. Built. Emotionally direct with interpretations and songs that move your waters. Her mahogany vocal textures range from silk to gravel offered over her distinctive driving rhythm guitar work (six- and three-string). Karen commands regard as she channels Sister Loretta Tharp’s onstage determination. Ye-siree, a one-woman boil-up.
Originally from the greater Wellington scene, Karen is based in Taranaki where she is the chair of the burgeoning Taranaki Singer Songwriters movement and hosts an intimate acoustic venue, The Sound Shed.
