Kari

I started singing melodies at the tender age of eight in Wales, my home country. Years later when i left home for Bristol I finally found inspiration and this was followed with collaberation. I'd met a good friend/musician/co-writer, Luc Bernard in Bristol, and together with Reverbio and other D-Rez members we created our first single, ' Faith In Vision ', a timeless track featuring Luc as MC and myself on vocals. Our relationship has spanned nearly twenty years and across continents. Today we are creating tunes in Byron Bay, Australia, featuring my voice, for The Mad Professor, U.K Reggae/Dub Legend. Back in the days in Bristol, there were some very successful artists such as Massive Attack and Smith n Mighty emerging in the Bristol scene. It was with the later of the two that I later recorded the track ' Rise ', featured on Smith n Mighty's ' Life Is ' Album. Another Bristol crew with whom I collaberated with were Flynn n Flora, Drum and Bass Producers, we wrote and recorded 'Lose Love' which is an old fave of mine, released on their Independant Dealers Label.After time in Bristol I made the desision to 'up my skills' and join with International Jazz Players, I've always been very vocally influenced by great artists such as Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holliday et al.. and had always been drawn to the idea of becoming a professional Jazz Singer. So I got to work and signed a contract with a London Agent, and within weeks was on a completely new musical path. I renewed my contract and stayed on the road for three years all n all, performing Jazz primarily in Europe and then later in The Middle East with many great players.With so much performance and singing experience under my belt, I was ready to get back to the U.K and join forces with an Award Winning Welsh Hip Hop Crew, The Erban Poets. I met these guys at a Cool Herc Gig in Wales, and the rest just flowed creatively. Members at the time included Nathon The Watcher, Rastafarian Poet and Mc, DJ Jaffa on the beats and myself on Vocals. The result of our union was a Hip Hop/ Jazz Fusion that won us The Deisel U Music Awards, followed by a BBC2 documentary on the Award process, ceremony, live performance at Brixton Academy, and regular features on Radio One, Radio One Wales, and The Music Factory. At that time we were represented by Rounda Records, a Welsh based Independant Hip Hop Label for over a year prior to our disbanding.Being a traveller at heart not long after our last BBC2 Interview I booked a 3 week holiday to Australia, a holiday that ended up changing my whole directon in life and career. Living in the U.K for so long had never fully satisfied me, I've always loved the music scene, but not the living enviroment. So when I went to Byron Bay and experienced the easy living, beaches, sunshine, and creative community I was deeply inspired and I decided to stay and began a new life. Ironically it is here in Byron Bay, on the East Coast of Australia that I linked up with The Mad Professor, Reggae/Dub Legend whilst on his Australian tour. Not long after my daughter was born I was present at one of his shows and decided half way through his set to get up on stage unanounced. The rest is history really, 3 months later I went to London, where we hooked up to sign a contract and record the debut 12'' Single, Release The Pressure, this followed with a debut with the Mad Professor at The Glastonbury Festival and a French tour. We continue to collaberate and will be on tour together next year. Watch this space! Since being in Australia, I've also featured on the albums of World Musicaians, Ganga Giri ( Ancestors, Beats Around The Bush ), Yeshe ( Backing Vocals on Elegua, Sara and No Woman No Cry ) and with House DJ/musicians, 24/7 on our tracks, ' Definately Something ' and ' Walk Away '.Right now I'm loving the life here in Australia, where I'm bringing up my georgeous daughter, and continuing to co-write and record with British and Aus Producers, as well as sing Jazz and write my first solo E.P. In it for the music x