Interview with Karen Bernod


Q: Six years have passed since you have released your debut album Some Othaness For U. Why the long hiatus? What happened in these six years?

Karen Bernod: Well..has it been that long? Wow!! I've been basically working towards this day. Perfecting my craft, experiencing new life endeavors and traveling the world abroad accompanying other artists, making new connections, and creating new music. I guess that's why it doesn't seem THAT long to me. But you're right it's been quite a while! :-)

Q: You've produced/written the new album with Greg Spooner again. Please tell me how you've met him and what's the musical vision you share?

Karen Bernod: Greg and I met in the early 90's at a spot here in Brooklyn, formerly known as Dean Street Cafe, now Tavern on Dean, which I still frequent. Then it was a live music/restaurant/bar. The music is no longer live but the food is good and the drinks are tasty! At that time there was Open Mic Nite and Greg said he'd heard about me, and thought I was a great singer and suggested we work together. I sang one night and he insisted we work together...and the rest is history. What we share is divine. You can't find that special something with everyone. That thing when I sing a melody or a bass line or lyric and he goes to the keyboard and plays the exact chord structure that I'm hearing in my head. It's almost scary. :-)
Greg is also Noel Pointer's former musical director. That alone speaks volumes. Extremely talented brutha. And beautiful person. He's one of my best friends. And his wife is also a sweetie for putting up with us ! lol

Q: Why is the album called Life @360 Degrees? And what does this album mean to you after it was about six years in the making?

Karen Bernod: Life is cyclical. Through the six years things have been happening to me in my life that reflect that. I moved back into my old neighborhood where I grew up. I got my old area code and zip code back (phone prefix and postal code). I moved right across the street from the very church and park I used to attend as child. And it just brings home the fact that everything happens for a reason in its own season.
I was writing for the Life @ 360 Degrees project at the time of my transition. It just seemed apropos to call it Life @ 360 Degrees. Each song on the album / CD — depending on what year you were born. :-) — tells a lil' story of my life here or there. It means that I'm actually being true to my art as well as myself. And although It took a minute I wanted it to be well worth the wait!

Q: You have released the album on Natively Creative again. This time you've licensed it to Dome Records in the UK. Please tell me how this deal came about. Will there also be an US release?

Karen Bernod: Last year around May 14th, the day after my birthday, I performed in London at the Jazz Cafe. Chris Wells from Echoes Magazine was in the audience and heard Comfort Zone and fell in love with it. The following week I got a call from Vivian Chew who brought me in with Sandra St. Victor, Kelly Sae, Laurnea, and the sista from Soul II Soul who sang "A Dream's A Dream." [note: that must be Victoria Wilson-James] Not Caron Wheeler whom I love too! The show was really nice Vivian said Pete Robinson from Dome Records was interested in hearing some tracks. He heard them and we met in New York a few months later. And that's how it started! Kool Birthday present huh? lol
Yes there will be a U.S. release. I'm looking for licensing and distribution here as well. But until I get it, I will release it myself to build up some momentum. So far people are really loving it. So say a prayer for me. :-)

Q: You've started your musical career (as far as I know) with house tracks like Motherland or Mainline. Do you thing it was a natural progress that you finally record soul music? Or was soul the music you always wanted to do?

Karen Bernod: Soul music is me anytime. But music is so vast. Ya know? I am a club-head and I love to dance. So it was only natural for me to do some house music since every weekend or day my girlfriends and I were up in somebody's club working up a sweat! I have some things that I'm working on as we speak and it's gonna be Loooooovely! :-) You ready to move that body??? lol

Q: Who was responsible that you've started a career in the music industry? And who has influenced you and keeps influencing you?

Karen Bernod: My Mommy!!!!! Who I so desperately miss. She passed in 1981. Her name is Iris and she's even more beautiful than the flower. She is my ROCK!! Always encouraged me, came to every show, made some of my outfits. She always said that I was put on this earth to be a messenger through song. And that God wants me to use my Gift! She always said I was a star before there were stars (in the galaxy that is).
She continues to influence me through the values she's instilled in me, the courage, confidence, tenacity and my worth. God also keeps reiterating to me...that I'm doing the right thing! I love them both infinitely!!!!!

Q: Where do you see you musical niche in the music market?

Karen Bernod: Adult contemporary: Soul/Jazz/Funk/R&B = SOUL! And whoever else would like to add an ingredient to this delicious pie!! :-)

Q: You've worked with an impressive number of artists like Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Stephanie Mills, Barbara Tucker, Luther Vandross or Incognito. What do you like about the session work besides it pays your rent and a few other things?

Karen Bernod: I love the stark difference between both. Singing in the front line and supporting in the background. I'm an Artist-Entertainer if you will. So yes the bills are being paid which we both know must to be done. lol
But I enjoy both equally. However, it takes a different kind of discipline for the two. You really have to enjoy and love what you do. That makes it flow but you need good skills, you have to be a team player to be in the background. And have a good ear, blend. That's so fun and gratifying when it all comes together. Sounds so sweet.
Then to be in the frontline...It's like DO U BAYBEE ! lol
I've been very fortunate to have the opportunity to do both. And with so many great artists. I think we all influence each other and that's what makes it so Kool!

Q: You also sang in the off Broadway production of Mama I Want To Sing. What do you like about being onstage and in which way is it different singing in a musical to singing in a concert?

Karen Bernod: I love my vantage point when I'm on stage. It's like I'm enormously tall, and I'm cascading over this sea of people who are singing my songs smiling up at me enjoying what I've created with of course great musicians accompanying me.
Musicals are theatre so that's like acting out the same script every day to different people, accept it's live as opposed to being film or TV. And singing in a musical is pretty much the same. I love the difference(s).

Q: The photos for your new album were taken by Will Downing. Please tell me how you met him, how he ended as your photographer and not as a singer on your the album.

Karen Bernod: Well...one day soon Will and I will sing together. But Will and I went to high school together. I didn't really know him until I graduated but knew his name. He says he remembers me. As time went on in the business and we all went our separate ways we eventually bumped in to each other. His wife Audrey Wheeler Downing was responsible for bringing me into the Chaka camp. And that's how I started singing with her. We sang background vocals together for sessions, jingles etc. Then he and Audrey married and now they're a beautiful family. Will also took my last pictures for the first CD and website. He has a book of photos that he's been promoting. He has a good eye huh? :-)

Q: Three of my favourite cuts on Life @ 360 Degree are Subway Love Game, Dreamer and Family. Is there a story behind these songs? What inspired you to write these songs?

Karen Bernod: Subway is a true story. It happens to us here in NY. Probably happened to some of you on the tube too..right? lol
Dreamer was written right after Sept. 11th and that's were my head was at that time. But I looooove to dream cuz I know they come true.
Family was written after watching the news crying about the tragedies in the world, and at home. Katrina and the lack of remorse from the US government inspired this song. I'm refraining from using profanity at this time because just thinking about it makes me angry. But truly realizing that Family stands strong and true at the end of the day. Besides God and Family there's nothing you can really depend on!!!
And I might add that Family may not necessarily be blood related.

Q: Will you tour Europe to promote your album? If so are there already dates confirmed?

Karen Bernod: Yes I will and no there aren't any dates confirmed but I'm waiting to hear some word. Pass that on to whomever you'd like that can make that happen! :-)

Q: I hope your third album won't take another six years...what's your guess how long will it take and what can we expect musically?

Karen Bernod: You're funny!! Trust me it won't take that long. I've already started. See....:-)
You can expect the next level upward from what you've heard thus far. I'm very diverse and I will slowly but surely bring that to my listeners. You can't give them everything all at once because you don't want to confuse them. But I'm already excited for what's to come.

For more infos visit nativelycreative.com, domerecords.co.uk, myspace.com/karenbernod and read my review of Life @ 360 Degrees.