FEATURE: Spotlight: Karin Ann — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Karin Ann

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A tremendous artist…

that I am quite new to but would recommend to everyone, Karin Ann is in my sights. She is a Slovakian Pop singer-songwriter of Czech descent. The New York Times described her as the voice of generation Z in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2020 and 2021, Karin Ann performed as a support during the NoSory Tour of the Polish singer, sanah. In August 2021 she also became the first Slovak ambassador of the EQUAL campaign of Spotify - thanks to which her single, in company, was promoted in Times Square in New York. I am going to come to some interviews with this incredible young artist. Someone that should be on everyone’s radars. Last September, Numéro Netherlands featured the wonderful Karin Ann. It was a year that saw her put out wonderful singles such as favourite star and put me back together:

“Hello Karin Ann. For our readers who haven’t had the luck to get to know you yet, could you please introduce yourself and describe your musical style?

That’s quite an interesting question. I’m not very good at this, but I’m an artist. I sing and write songs, and I also try to get involved in the visual aspects of my work. In terms of my musical style, I’ve experimented with various genres over the years because I’ve been pursuing this for a while. I’ve dabbled in everything from pop to rock and pretty much anything and everything in between.

I enjoy exploring different musical avenues, but currently, I’m leaning more towards a folk-inspired direction with some influences from the 70s. Right now, I’m really focusing on honing my lyricism.

Where does your passion for music come from, and when did you know exactly you would become a singer?

I’ve always had a deep love for music. It’s been a part of my life since I was a child.

My mother is Czech, and she’s a big fan of musicals. So, growing up, I was introduced to Czech musicals along with music from iconic bands like the Beatles and Queen. I’ve always had this passion for music, but I never really considered pursuing a career in it, especially because it’s not strongly encouraged or supported in Slovakia.

Originally, I thought I’d pursue visual arts. I was passionate about drawing and various forms of arts and crafts. I even went to school for graphic design. However, I encountered an injury that forced me to leave art school. It was a lifelong dream, and suddenly, I couldn’t pursue it anymore.

When you have a means of self-expression that’s taken away from you, it’s natural to seek alternative outlets. That’s when I started writing songs. There wasn’t a specific moment when I thought, ‘This is becoming serious; this is my path.’ It began as a way to express myself and have fun, and over time, it developed into something more significant. It’s a wonderful coincidence and a beautiful artistic journey that I’m currently on. It was a challenging time, but it ultimately led to something different, and I genuinely appreciate what I’m doing now. I suppose everything negative can have a silver lining.

In an interview, you described yourself as an introverted person, even though you address taboo topics in some of your songs, like in ‘looking at porn’. How do you reconcile your introverted personality with your willingness to tackle such bold and provocative subjects in your music?

I think it’s just that I don’t really think about people hearing my music when I’m making it. I’m never writing with the thought in my head, ‘Oh, this is how many people are going to hear this.’ I’m just writing whatever comes to my head and whatever I’m experiencing and whatever I’m seeing and whatever that eventually turns into is what I end up putting out.

I don’t realise that people hear my music until I am performing it live. Even when you see a number on social media your brain can’t comprehend that until it’s 3D.

You have been described as Europe’s version of Billie Eilish. How do you feel about this comparison, and what distinguishes you from her?

I’ve always admired her. She’s been a favorite artist of mine since 2015. I love her music and her art. However, when people draw comparisons, it can turn into unnecessary competition. I believe every artist is unique, and I don’t want comparisons to taint my appreciation for her or other artists. I’m subconsciously inspired by her, but I’m focused on my own path and style. I hope people can see that and view any comparisons as compliments rather than competition

You’ve been a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, even making waves on Polish state broadcaster TVP. What are your experiences as an activist in Eastern Europe, and what challenges have you faced in promoting LGBTQ+ equality in the region?

It’s been challenging, especially growing up as a queer person in Eastern Europe. However, I’m optimistic that things might be improving, thanks to the efforts of many young people advocating for change. The more these issues are discussed in mainstream media, the greater the chance for change. I’m using my platform to address important matters, and I see many young artists doing the same. It’s essential to remember that even one person’s actions can have a ripple effect when they share their message with others. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still much progress to be made.

Your lyrics touch on a wide range of topics, from gender equality to mental health. Could you elaborate on your songwriting process and how you approach these themes in your music?

I don’t have a specific formula for writing songs. I usually write about what’s on my mind at the time, as it helps me process my thoughts and feelings. I draw inspiration from life experiences, observations, and conversations with friends. Sometimes, I start with random notes on my phone, and other times, a song can come together in just a few minutes if something is weighing heavily on my mind. There’s no one way I write songs; it varies each time. When I’m in a session, I’m focused on songwriting, but when I’m on my own, it’s more about letting the words flow naturally”.

I am going to end with a couple more interviews. The first is from Gay Times. It was published back in October. I round up with a more recent interview. Gay Times spoke with Karin Ann around the release of favourite star. She said how she wants to create a safe space for queer people:

“With her profile on the rise, Ann has used her platform to speak out on behalf of the community and uses her songs to address topics of mental health, belonging and gender equality.

The singer’s activism extends past her powerful lyrics too. During a live performance on the Polish state broadcaster, TVP, the singer brought onstage a pride flag in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. “It was very difficult for me to be who I am where I grew up (Čadca, Slovakia). I just want people to have something to relate to and to feel safe in,” she says.

Now, following the release of her new alt-pop single, ‘favorite star’, we caught up with Ann to hear more about her musical style and making her mark in Europe and beyond.

Your new single ‘favorite star’ is out now. What inspired the story behind the song?

I wrote this song recently in London and it’s about how you don’t fully realise the effects that somebody had on you. Whether in relationships or friendships, when you spend a lot of time with somebody and you learn about them. Sometimes, you don’t realise how it affects you and what you end up carrying from that person even if you don’t talk anymore

What inspired the queer premise of the ‘favorite star’ music video?

I’ve filmed two music videos for my songs (‘a stranger with my face’ and ‘favorite star’) back to back. We saw similarities between the songs and how we could show a story that relates to both songs. From the beginning, I didn’t want to do a straightforward idea. We ended up playing around with the idea of a 1950s Hollywood spy story. And, through that, we ended up going down the queer route and taking inspiration from real-life events.

Who are your favourite LGBTQIA+ artists right now?

There are so many! Lately, it’s been Renee Rapp, Halsey, Phoebe Bridgers, Maya Hawke, and Ethel Cain

You speak out about LGBTQIA+ rights in Eastern and Central Europe. For you, why does it feel important to address these topics?

I am a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and, naturally, it is important to me to talk about these issues in mainstream media so the conversation can reach groups outside of the community, which is the only way change can happen. I also grew up in Eastern Europe where it’s not widely accepted to be a part of the community, and I want to create a safe space for [queer] people.

Would you describe this as your creative mission as an artist?

Growing up, I knew how I felt and [I want to create] a safe space for anyone who doesn’t feel like they belong. I always found comfort in music and in the community surrounding musicians. As much as people find community and comfort through my music, it works both ways. They find a community through me and I have a community through them”.

I will end with a new interview from NME. Her debut album, through the telescope, is out on 10th May. It is an exciting new chapter for her. An artist who has faced a challenging past few years or so. There are a few parts of the interview that I want to bring in, as they give us more insight into Karin Ann. We also get to know a bit more about her upcoming debut album:

“It is difficult to pin ‘Through The Telescope’, Karin’s debut album (released May 10), to a specific sound, though it shares the pillowy, barely-there instrumentation of Clairo’s ‘Sling’ era, with vocals that veer from whispering to jazz-inflected singing but never lose a sense of intimacy. Through explorative songs that discuss losing faith (‘I Don’t Believe In God’) to the unfamiliar thrills and frisson of a new love (‘She’), the record represents Karin’s teenage state of being: articulate, outspoken and extremely online.

A true child of the internet, she attests her broad worldview to being able to speak directly with other young, LGBTQ+-identifying musicians online; Karin says that, when she was younger, she connected with Norway’s Girl In Red via Facebook. “I found these artists around the time I started questioning my sexuality,” she says. She grew up in the shadow of the queer pop explosion, dubbed ‘20gayteen’ by Hayley Kiyoko – think: the mainstream breakthroughs of Troye Sivan, Halsey, Kehlani. “They spoke of liberal ideas and going against the system – things that I didn’t always see back home.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Keeler for NME

Karin was raised in Žilina, a mountainous region in northwestern Slovakia. She grew up in an environment that allowed her to explore any sport she put her heart to, from figure skating and ballet to archery, while also pursuing other creative endeavours like theatre and music. There’s a throughline to be found between the freedom of her childhood and her earlier material, which sounds like a musician exploring a multitude of avenues – from unabashedly dramatic riffs to pop gloominess à la early Billie Eilish – in order to figure out her identity. “I’m just chasing this feeling / The one that I see on silver screens,” she sang on ‘Almost 20’.

In 2021, on one of the latter’s largest television channels, TVP2, Karin made a statement against eastern Europe’s storied resistance towards queer rights. “I would like to dedicate this to the LGBTQ+ people here, because I know you don’t have it easy. You deserve to feel safe,” she said, wrapping the Pride flag around herself as she performed her single ‘Babyboy’. The speech made headlines across Poland, resulting in TVP2 firing their breakfast programme editor and claiming Karin “[caused] discomfort to many viewers”. This controversy had a “big effect” on her, she affirms today: it finally made Karin feel more comfortable not just in her own skin, but her mission statement.

One of Karin’s key touchstones while working on this album was Maya Hawke, who’s been releasing beaming, ambient folk songs when she’s not starring in Stranger Things. Having “obsessed” over her 2022 LP ‘Moss’, Karin requested that her team put her in touch with producer and Hawke collaborator Benjamin Lazar Davis; the pair clicked “instantly” while working together, and Davis went on to connect Karin and Hawke via FaceTime.

“At first, I didn’t even want to make an album. I have always been headstrong but I was struggling to handle the pressure and was in a shit position with my health. I was thinking about quitting music – the stakes were that high,” says Karin. “But then I got on this call with Maya, and she really changed my perspective on songwriting. She got me out of a rut.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Keeler for NME

Behind the scenes, Karin’s personal life had been unravelling. Following the release of her high-octane ‘Side Effects Of Being Human’ EP, she slogged through the summer of 2022 on a schedule that was “locked down minute-to-minute”. She had to push through dozens of performances and press commitments while quietly battling tetany – a condition that results in involuntary muscle cramps, which for Karin could last up to an hour at a time.

She recalls having to run out of an interview before a show in Rome in order to manage a severe flare-up. “I didn’t even make it back to the green room. It felt like a mixture of a panic attack and a seizure; I couldn’t walk, nor barely breathe. My tongue went numb. Afterwards, I knew I was at breaking point.”

It would be weeks before she would actually find out what was happening to her. During this period, Karin took a break from all work and social media, and returned home to spend time with her dogs, taking each day as it came. She knew the first step to recovery was to momentarily stop thinking about music altogether.

“I had to get better at saying ‘no’ and setting boundaries,” she says. “I had to ask myself questions like, ‘How much am I willing to do before I sacrifice my health entirely?’ ‘How far do I really want to push myself this time?’”

And yet, here she is, smiling. Karin beams as she discusses how she has managed to channel the emotional toll of her illness into her most expansive music yet. Still wearing a full face of makeup from our photoshoot (bar the heart-shaped lip paint), Ann’s laughter is warm and frequent. The pain is still raw, she says, but she is ready to move on.

Karin is now gearing up to play live again, starting with two offshoot shows at SXSW here in Austin. She is feeling reflective and ready to tell her story. There is an autobiographical thread through both her songwriting and the way she expresses herself; she wants people to see her struggles as well as her triumphs”.

If you have not checked out Karin Ann, then make sure that you do now. An artist who is like no other, I hope that we see her added to festival bills in the U.K. There are fans here that would love to see her live. I am quite new to her work, yet I am compelled to follow her. An inspiring, empowering and wonderful artist, in Karin Ann we have…