So when did you decide music was going to be a significant part of your
life?
I’ve always loved music, but it became a career for me about a year and
a half ago.
How old were you when you picked up your first instrument?
My mom tells me I was three when I first started playing the piano.
(laughs) I don’t remember, but that’s what she tells me.
Growing up, who were your musical influences? Were you inspired by
anyone in your personal life or someone perhaps famous that may have
inspired you to get into music?
Because of my parents’ strict religious beliefs, I was only allowed to
listen to gospel music and classical music growing up. I first listened to a
country song when I was 14. Since my sister had asked me to sing in
her wedding, I was allowed to learn a George Strait song. I’ve been a
country music fan and especially a George Strait fan to this day.
For someone who has never been to one of your shows, what can they
expect from you?
They can expect a lot of variety, because I both play the guitar and the
piano. And although I do a lot of original songs, I also sing covers,
ranging from Sam Cooke, Van Morrison, Sarah McLachlan, Norah
Jones, the Eagles – it depends on what people want to hear.
Describe what the life of a musician is like. What are the highs and what
are the lows?
The biggest high is being able to do what I love to do and am
passionate about. Also, I love being able to express myself, and reach
audiences in a way that will make them feel good. As far as the lows, it’s
difficult to make it financially as a full-time musician, and especially as a
solo acoustic musician. The other lows are typical “starving artist”
points, like not having insurance, not having steady income, etc. It’s a
difficult balance sometimes – you love it and you want to enjoy it, but
you still have to pay your bills.
What other talents do you have besides singing?
I sing and play the piano and guitar, as well as the clarinet and a little
fiddle. Outside of music, I love riding horses, and also writing. I do a little
bit of everything. (laughs)
What’s the best form of flattery a fan can say or do toward a musician?
The first thing I think of is tears. When I perform a song that is so
touching that it brings tears to someone’s eyes, that is a big deal to me.
It’s really special when kids come up and talk to me about what I’m
doing. I love kids, and I hope that I can influence them to become
involved in music while they’re young and it’s easier to learn. I really like
when people realize that I’m on their level. Just because I’m in front of
the room, or on a stage does not make me any better than they are, so I
appreciate it when someone approaches me and talks to me as a peer.
And I love it when people give me feedback about specific songs. It lets
me know that they were really listening, and that’s always appreciated.
When it comes to writing songs, tell me a little bit about your creative
process.
Unlike most writers, I write the lyrics and the melody to a new song at
the same time, rather than one after the other. Usually, I’ll get an idea
and it will be a lyric along with the melody line and I’ll just create it from
there. Obviously, any writer is going to draw on their personal life and
experiences for writing. For someone who wants to be a writer, the main
thing is to write, write, write. For this last record, my producer asked for
at least 40 songs from which to pick 10. Major label artists listen to
thousands of songs before deciding the 10 to 12 songs that they’ll use.
Have you ever collaborated with anybody in previous songs?
I have not. It’s something that I’m interested in doing, and one of major
reasons I’ve moved to Nashville – there are so many talented writers
there.
How many gigs a week
do you usually perform?
On average, 3 or 4 gigs
a week. And it’s just me
performing solo, so the
ol’ voice gets tired
sometimes. (laughs)
Now that I’m in
Nashville, it will take me
more time to build up my
show schedule again,
but I’m still coming back
to Richmond once a
month to do a week or
so of shows. It’s harder
to schedule shows in
Nashville, and you don’t
make nearly as much
money!
What is the best advice someone has given you that you could share in
regards in pursuit of a successful music career?
One of my friends, mentors, and the producer of my last CD is Matt
Roberts. He is now a local entertainment attorney, but he has a ton of
experience and education in the music business, as a performer, a
singer / songwriter, and a producer. One of the best pieces of advice
that he gave me was that sometimes as an artist, you might be forced
into a “gray area” where you’re doing something that you’re not quite
sure about. He advised me that when this happens, don’t forget “where
you put your soul.” Sometimes you have to set aside your current views
long enough to try to figure something out, and that’s okay. But at the
end of the day, you need to remember what is important, so you don’t
lose who you really are.
Now you’ve worked with other bands, such as southern rock groups like
Sin City Revival, what is your take on being a solo artist vs. being in a
group?
As a solo artist, you don’t have to depend on anyone else, for example –
scheduling practices or wondering if someone’s going to show up for a
gig. But that can be a con as well, because you’re responsible for
everything. If you make a mistake, there’s no one there to cover you. In
a band, you’re on stage with a “team” and it’s fun to collaborate,
whereas a solo artist can interact only with the crowd, which stinks if
there’s not much of an audience, or they are not paying much attention.
Solo artists do sometimes make more money though, whereas bands
split it among usually 4 or 5 players. That’s one reason I started
performing solo, rather than as a duo or trio.
How would you classify the genre of music that you write?
My original music is classified as alternative country or Americana. I love
a variety of instruments such as steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, and
harmonica. But I wouldn’t call my music straight-up country. The writing
is a little deeper than your typical country song, and I like to get a little
more creative than the simplicity of many country songs you hear – they
get a little boring. (laughs)
Sure. (laughs) Who would you say are some artists you look up to,
whether it’s country or something else?
I’m a big Sheryl Crow fan. I think she has a lot of strength on and off
stage. I appreciate that she writes her music and that she plays an
instrument. Not that there’s anything wrong with someone who only
sings, but it’s much more of an experience for me as a listener when
someone sings, plays, and writes their music. Same thing with Sarah
McLachlan - she’s got an amazing voice, she writes, and she plays the
piano and the guitar. She’s got a huge, huge amount of talent. Norah
Jones – I love her husky voice, her mellow writing style, and her simple
piano licks. Gavin McGraw has an amazing soulful voice, writes great
songs, and plays the piano. He has great charisma, but still is a very
real person and his songs - you know, you feel them.
For sure. Now, you’ve opened up for some national acts like Sugar Ray,
Huey Lewis and The News, and Switchfoot. What were those
experiences like?
Singing in front of thousands of people was different than anything I’d
ever experienced. I’ve sang the National Anthem for 3 Richmond Braves
games, for an Ultimate Fighting event at the Richmond Colieum, and
opening for several major label artists. My first big experience was
singing the National Anthem at the open of a Huey Lewis and The News
show. Strangely enough, when I walked out on stage, even though I’d
never been on a stage that big, or sang in front of that that many people,
I looked at the flag, and all I could think of was the meaning of the
National Anthem to me, and I wasn’t nervous at all. But, as soon as I
finished singing and I heard all of those people screaming, I was just
completely overwhelmed to realize that many people were listening to
me and looking at me. It’s fun to have the attention and the recognition,
but it’s also a huge feeling of responsibility. When you make a mistake
in front of that many people, everybody hears it. (laughs)
Now the Richmond area certainly misses you since you’ve moved to
Nashville. What do you hope moving to Tennessee will bring toward
your success in your career?
One of the things that I would like to accomplish is becoming a
published songwriter, and that’s difficult - if not impossible - to do in the
Richmond area. I will always be a musician, but I do also eventually
want to be a wife and a mommy, and you can’t do that if you’re
performing until 1am and getting to sleep at 4am every morning. I’d
guess that would be a hard life for a parent and their child. Being a
performer can be hard on you, physically and mentally. I also wanted to
surround myself with like-minded musicians and writers, and there are a
lot of them there. I was surrounded by like-minded people in the West
End of Richmond as long as I was working in the corporate world, but
being an artist is quite different. We march to the beat of a different
drummer, I guess. (laughs)
What do you miss about Richmond?
I miss my family, of course, and the familiarity of people that I know. In
Richmond, it’s easy to be a big fish in a small sea, and a new musician
in Nashville is a very small fish in a very big sea. I know that, and I’m
totally okay with that. In Nashville, it is easy to find people who can sing,
write, and play an instrument, so suddenly you’ve been pushed down to
the same level that everyone else is on. It’ll be harder work to get
recognition. But the people in Nashville are great.
Where can you purchase your CDs?
I have two CDs out – an EP-length CD with 6 songs called “go with
you”, and a full-length self-titled CD, “Kari”. You can purchase it on my
website, www.musickari.com, at CDBaby.com, or through iTunes. You
can also purchase them at shows.
Any final thoughts?
Any musician that is considering a career as a professional musician
should try it – even if only for a little while. It’s a lot of work, but it has
been so worth it for me. If your music is just a hobby to you, treat it as
such; if your music is your business, treat it as such. Do what is
necessary to make it work, but don’t lose the fun or the passion. Let the
passion and the fun and the enjoyment fuel the desire to make it work
as a business. I never thought I could’ve done it. Honestly, I gave myself
a trial period of three months, and it worked so well, that I gave myself 6
months, then a year. I am so glad that I pushed myself, because it’s
been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.
The Fishbowl Question:
*****Vera The Film Chic would like to know - Are there any songs that
get requested for you to sing that you really don't like to sing and why?
I play such a variety of songs that there isn’t much I won’t play. You
always have your people that are gonna yell “Skynyrd!” and “Freebird!”
so I actually learned that one, and when I play it on the piano, it usually
cracks people up, because they yell for it, but don’t expect that I’ll
actually play it. And if it’s an upbeat crowd or moment, I won’t play
sleepy, sappy songs. Unless I want to! :)
Also, Vera would like to know -What is the funniest or strangest thing
that has ever happened while you were on stage performng?
Nothing too terribly crazy has really happened. I guess the weirdest
thing was that I was dealing with some health issues that turned out to
be chronic low blood pressure, and I almost passed out on stage. I
actually sat down on the edge of the stage and finished the song, then
after that, I had to go lay in my car and couldn’t finish the gig! Pretty
embarrassing…
Go to www.musickari.com
www.myspace.com/karismith
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
