INTERNATIONAL voiceover artist, singer-songwriter and motivational speaker Karen Jacobsen is celebrating the release of her new album ‘I was a Man’.
Ms Jacobsen – an AIR (Australian Independent Record) Award nominee – will perform three concerts at the Airlie Beach Festival of Music, taking place this weekend.
The album comprises 10 original songs by Ms Jacobsen – who now calls the Whitsundays home – ranging in theme from equality, love, loss and freedom, to listening to your inner voice.
Described as ‘cinematic, piano-driven songs with powerful female vocals and inspiring messages’ Ms Jacobsen’s new album is filled with melodic pop.
The melodies are timeless and the recordings feature lush, layered female vocals.
The body of work explores the intersection of songwriting and spirituality, with many of the songs inspired by – and even arriving during – Ms Jacobsen’s meditation practice.
Beginning a twice-daily practice of Transcendental Meditation (TM), in 2019, the effect on her creativity was immediate and has led to recording five albums, in the past five years.
“I am in the most creative period of my career and, on this record, I share themes of equality, love, loss, freedom and listening to our inner voice,” Ms Jacobsen said.
Produced by Matt Anthony (Darius Rucker, Shinedown, Pat Monahan of Train) at Engine Sound, in New York City, recording began remotely, in 2022, across time zones and distance between Karen’s half-a-world-away location, near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and Matt’s studio in the northeast of the United States (9,560 miles away).
The music video for ‘I Was a Man’ was filmed in New York City in a summer heatwave, with the energy and urgency of the city as the backdrop to the urgent message of equality.
Filmed and edited by Australian artist MiG Ayesa, the project reconnects two creatives, who first met at the beginning of their careers, in Sydney, when they performed in the original Australian production of the Broadway show ‘Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story’.
K A R E N J A C O B S E N
Karen moved from Mackay, North Queensland, to New York City with one suitcase, becoming an award-winning singer and songwriter.
Musical career highlights include: Releasing more than a dozen albums (including the AIR Awards 2024 nominated Misogyny Opus), and sharing the stage with Norah Jones, Neil Sedaka, Jon English, Cyndi Lauper and Christopher Cross.
She also has national anthem performances at major sporting events under her belt including Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium, for 80,000 at Giants Stadium for a New York Jets game, Queensland’s Suncorp Stadium for an Australia vs South Africa TriNations International Rugby Game for 52 000.
She has also licensed her songs to US network television.
Enjoying wide international media coverage, Karen was told she had made it when named as a clue in The New York Times crossword puzzle.
Harry Connick Jr called her ‘hypnotic’ on his national US talk show and media highlights include: NBC Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Early Show, Sunrise, NY Daily News, NPR, Glamour magazine, Great Big Story and being named one of People Magazine’s ‘Most Intriguing People’.
Ms Jacobsen is co-founder of the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival, devoted to the craft and art of songwriting and development of original work.
Professional songwriters featured at the festival include Wendy Matthews, Toni Childs, Vika & Linda, Graeme Connors, Tia Gostelow and Jude York.
Recording credits for Karen Jacobsen ‘I Was a Man’:
Music and lyrics: Karen Jacobsen (APRA). Piano and vocals: Karen Jacobsen.
Guitar, bass and tracks: Matt Anthony. Producer: Matt Anthony
Recorded, mixed and mastered: Matt Anthony at Engine Sound, New York City ©Kurly Queen Records.
