” I believe that modern day living cuts us off from ourselves and each other. I crave connection – don’t you? It’s like a ‘jones’ that is jangling us all. With my music, poetry and live performances I want to help hook us up again.” – KB
The r u f r e e ? Project
Karin Blaine is currently collaborating with Seattle jazz drummer and percussionist, Don Berman, in their performance group called r u f r e e ? Featuring the spoken and sung delivery of Blaine’s poetry in conversation with percussion/drums, the project examines
the power of love in the face of modern day violence.Follow the call, follow the call
It’s not so hard to hear
Just open your eyes
And heart
And mind
And follow the truth
Karin Blaine the Songwriter:
Karin Blaine picked up the guitar at the age of 12 and started writing songs in 1981. She found immediate local success with the inclusion of her songs, I Wasn’t Looking and Santa Rosa, in the regionally successful KEZX Radio Album Project Albums Vol. I & II released in Seattle in 1983 & 1986.
With the release of her first album Karin Blaine, in 1989 she received a nomination for ‘Best New Folk Artist’ in 1990 by the Northwest Area Musicians Association and was selected as a songwriting finalist in the nationally acclaimed Kerrville New Folk Festival Songwriting Contest that same year. In 1991 Blaine moved to Boston to pursue her performance career and songwriting.
“Live performance is the most creative thing I do as an artist. It’s kind of like a jazz solo between me and the audience- an exchange, immediate, real, maybe even risky, never-ever to happen again in the same way.” KB
Living on the east coast in the ‘90’s Karin performed at renowned folk clubs such as Passim’s in Boston and The Crypt in New York City. She put together a four song EP of original material called Strangest Things with the Boston-based guitarist and producer Bruce Millard. This EP included her first political song, The Decision Is Mine, a pro-choice songs that she would sing at numerous pro-choice rallies over the years.
Back in Seattle she released her CD, Dirty Money, in 2003 which contained an eclectic line up of songs including originals such as heranti-war ballad, Gaza, and several well-loved covers such as Cynid Lauper’s, ‘Time After Time’, and Marty Balin’s (Jefferson Airplane), ‘Comin’ Back To Me‘. Her single track and video, I Love Julian, inspired by Wiki-leaks founder, Julian Assange, was released in 2011 and her CD, Modern Day Living, recorded ‘live’ in studio came out in 2012.
‘A reminder of the folk queens: Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, and yet a little Grace Slick, Tracy Chapman, and Don McLean, with a jazz edge thrown in. She isn’t imitating anyone…’ – Rob Harrison, Arts & Entertainment, examiner.com 3/29/12
Over her career Karin Blaine has earned a reputation as a dynamic live entertainer dedicated to connecting with her audience heart and soul. An accomplished guitar picker, Blaine has studied the Piedmont Finger Style (exemplified by the guitar playing of the Reverend Gary Davis) with the greats – Jorma Kaukonen, Ernie Hawkins and Roy Bookbinder.
Blaine has performed at coffeehouses and dives to numerous to mention as well as Seattle’s Bumbershoot Arts Festival, the Northwest Folklife Festival, the Seattle ‘Out-To-Lunch Concert Series, the Woodland Park Zoo concerts, the Local Artist Series at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley, WA, Artichoke Music in Portland, OR, Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, TX, and the famous Passim’s in Boston.
Her music has been heard on radio stations KPLU, KBCS, KUOW, KSER, KPTZ, WUMB/Boston and KWPA and can be purchased on iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon.