DECEMBER 1999

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM SPOTLIGHT
Karen Rush

One of New York City's hottest singer/songwriters, Karen Rush moves from acoustic to hard rock, winning fans in both worlds. Her career is just beginning to take off with the release of her new demo, 180 Degrees and on a rare warm winter day in Manhattan, I had the chance to meet with her. As we poked about her Hell's Kitchen neighborhood looking for places to set up a photo shoot, we talked music, and life and love.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: First of all your CD, 180 Degrees, is incredible. Goodtimes Magazine recently wrote that it “practically screams for major label release." I have to agree. It’s definitely the strongest material I’ve encountered in a long time. But is that what you’re looking for - a major label deal?

KAREN: Hey now! I'm so glad you're digging the CD...that means so much. I can still recall the day this past summer when my drummer called me to read that review. It was one of those scorching days in July and I was actually waiting on a train platform in Connecticut on my way back to Manhattan when he rang me on my cell phone.

As he was reading it, I was jumping up and down shouting - stirrin' up the heat a bit more! People around me were looking at me like, "Get her ass back to the city...Now!" Needless to say, I was pretty psyched.

To answer your question with a question (Doh!), what musician hasn't had the Rock Star fantasy? I could easily back the "green M&M's only" lifestyle! Ha-ha! What was up with that anyway? Let's not go there.

Seriously, it would be an amazing thing to be picked up by a major label, but let's face it...I have no disillusionments when it comes to the business. I know how tough it is and I really believe it's best nowadays to be a big fish in a small pond and stick to going the indie route.

There's so much more intimacy with smaller labels who are willing to work with you and not sacrifice an artist's integrity based upon just "the benjamins, baby". Ya know what I'm saying?

With the Internet at our fingertips, it’s also that much easier to get your music out there and maintain control of your own career. I have so much respect for an artist like Ani DiFranco who's done it all her way and paved the way for others, by proving it can be done without having to go to a major label. But hey, not just to do a complete "180" (wink wink!), if the right deal came along, I'd be laughing! Who's to say what can happen.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: So how did you do it? Obviously you can write a great song, and you’ve definitely got the voice, but putting a CD like this together takes more than just one person.

KAREN: Ok...story time. Go slap some Orville in the microwave! Before I recorded the CD, I had been performing primarily as a solo acoustic act.

I was desperate to get into the studio, but my ideas for the songs were much more embellished than just doing an acoustic deal. In my head I could hear different parts in the songs where the drums would do a certain fill and the solo would rip in.

About the same time I went on vacation to Martha's Vineyard and was out one night at this Cajun bar checking out some blues. Susan Tedeschi was playing (She rocks!) and in between sets I got to chatting with the drummer. Turns out he was from New York and was just doing some gigs while on holiday.

We talked about the possibility of jamming and I gave him my number. Of course he didn't call. Guess the ole "I lost your number" line was in full effect. Anyway, I'm walking down Bleecker Street about a month later when lo and behold - Fate swoops down and WHAM! We literally run into each other on the street.

He was ironically in the middle of playing a gig, but had stepped outside in between sets to catch some air. Well, he winds up coming down to the studio that week and liked what he heard, so we decided to work together. His name is Chris Lacinak and he wound up producing the CD with me.

He actually introduced me to all the guys that played on the CD. An awesome bunch of musicians: Zach Zunis on guitar - an incredible blues guitarist in the New York scene; and Jeremy Chatsky on bass.

I just gotta add this...I recently went to see the off-Broadway show Hedwig with my grandmother - if you know anything about the plot to Hedwig, you'd realize how chill my grandmother is! There up on the stage, decked out in goth makeup is Jeremy, jammin' out in Hedwig's band! Who knew? I was so stoked to see him doing Broadway, so to speak.

I should also mention all the wonderful guys at Dubway Studio where we recorded 180 Degrees. The chief engineer and owner, Al Houghton, actually plays lead guitar on one of the tracks.

I have to admit, when I went into the studio I was pretty green at the whole process, so being around a great bunch of guys who happened to be incredible musicians is what helped me pull it off!

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: Can you describe your music for us?

KAREN: As a female artist you get used to being compared all the time to the well-knowns. And quite honestly how I could ever complain when I'm compared with such greats as Sheryl Crow and Grace Slick? I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! I love it!

Growing up I worked at the record store in the local mall. I listened to literally just about everything. If I was to pinpoint some of my biggest influences I'd have to say Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders, U2, the two fearsome Patty's...Patti Smith and Patty Smyth (oh yes I went as far as peroxiding my hair to be "Warrior"-like back in high school! Scary!), Stevie Ray Vaughan, Maria McKee, and Led Zeppelin.

I was even a lunatic Def Leppard fan as a tween. I guess my diverse tastes add to the flavor of my music. It's sort of alternative, it's kind of pop, it can be construed as a bit folky at times. Guess it's just rock and roll, ya know?

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: Now about that voice! You can belt like a blues singer and in the next breath sound like an angel, and yet your bio stresses that you started out not a singer, but as a bass player.

KAREN: Yeah, that's true. When I was fifteen my best friend and I decided we wanted to start a band. We were completely obsessed with being rock stars and getting on MTV.

Her mom was a piano teacher and so she was already sort of a singer, doing recitals and stuff. It was a natural decision that she would front the band. She had an incredible voice even back then; guess that's why she's on Atlantic Records now!

To be honest, I decided to play the bass only because some musician friend told me it was the cheapest and easiest instrument to learn. How's that for brutal honesty? I actually wanted to be a drummer but my parents weren't having any of that. So there ya go. It wasn't until after school that I really began to take singing seriously.

I guess up til then I had always lacked the confidence in my voice, which I think is pretty normal for most people. I mean unless you grow up singing in a church choir or happen to be a Von Trapp, how often are you really breaking out in song and dance? It wasn't until I started studying voice a few years back that I began to develop any sort of real technique and gained more vocal strength and confidence as a result.

I really believe anyone can sing. It's just a matter of treating your voice like the most delicate instrument. Not only do you have to work at it and practice constantly, but you need to take care of your health since it is your body resonating the notes.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: We had a lot of fun on our photo shoot. You were brave enough to just let go and see what happened - which was very cool. How much thought do you give to your image?

KAREN: Hope you've had a chance to scrape off your shoes, Cheryl! We did have a blast. I guess I wanted to make sure a native Californian got a real taste of New York. Nothing like the back alleys of Hell's Kitchen for that!

In terms of image, I guess being a New Yorker you grow up not really giving a crap what others think. I really do mean that in the best way, though.

I mean, you’re in an environment where you're surrounded by both the heights of fashion and wealth to the depths of poverty. But you know, where do these supposed fashion gurus get half their ideas? From what's become hip on the street, ya know?

But that's the way it goes...I'm just about if I dig something, I wear it. End of story. I was never one to follow what was "in". Trendiness actually always really annoyed me. I never wanted to be like a clone, ya know? Like the way these super-chain stores would have us looking nowadays. I do have to admit I am a shoe freak though. The scarier the shoe, the better!

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: And we have to ask our favorite ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM question! What are the re-occurring themes that run through your music? 

KAREN: Ok, here comest the vulnerable part of the interview, right?

Man... well, I guess when it comes down to it having lived in New York City for the last eleven and a half years, my life has been about much flux. Truth be told, I've had many a close friend move away. Even relationships have been a bitch to keep here.

Do you ever watch Sex and the City? Need I say more except that the show is dead on! New York is about as transient a place as you get. You meet the coolest people, but most don't stick around for long. Living here is really a bitch at times. You have to develop a thick skin to survive. Either that or be a complete masochist! Let's face it, there's probably plenty of that going down! 

Honestly though, I guess my music reflects all of this...dealing with the constant chaos of change and loss, and trying to come to terms with the roller coaster of emotions that result. 

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: So what stage are you at in your career and what is the next step for you?

KAREN: I guess it's about getting IT out there at this point. I intend to keep gigging here in New York as much as possible both with my band and acoustically. I actually just started getting back into doing the acoustic thing recently, having spent much of last year playing harder rock venues with my band. I was missing the intimacy though, that you get at acoustic gigs where there's a lot of interaction with the audience.

I get such a tremendous response from people when I gig. I would love to plan a tour this year and get out more on the East Coast. As a member of Indiegrrl I'm finding it an awesome outlet to network with other musicians and a blast to plan shows together. It makes it that much easier to play places where you may not be familiar with the local scene.

I do also plan on getting back into the studio after the holidays to record a new CD. The band I play with (Rick Russo-lead guitar; Kevin McCarthy-bass; and Charlie "Salsa" Avalos-drums) is so incredibly tight that I really think we can get a full CD down quickly. We have so much new and slammin' material!

I will most certainly keep you posted when it’s hot off the racks, so to speak!

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: Anything else you want the world to know about you? 

KAREN: Oh where to begin, dahling! For now just check out the website at www.karenrush.com. You can hear song samples off the CD and find out about upcoming shows. You can also email me through the website or write to me at 'k_rush@hotmail.com' for information on how to obtain a copy of 180 Degrees.

I'm so psyched to see ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM get underway...thanks so much, Cheryl! All my best - Peace all!

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