Kaz

Karen Lucas is known to millions of television viewers across Africa as Kaz from the hit TV reality show ‘Project Fame’. She alternatively endeared and enraged fans with her quirky and often controversial antics. Her vivacious nature, charismatic stage presence, coupled with her mesmerizing soulful vocals impressed the board of judges ultimately leading her to be one of the last to be voted off. She attended primary school at St. Andrews Turi where she actively participated in musical productions including the school choir and theatrical productions as well as taking interests in musical instruments such as the piano, African drums and flute. Her passion for the piano- in particular- and long hours of practice paid off when Kaz was awarded a certificate signed by the queen of England for graduating top of her class by a landslide. She later joined Braeside high school and in spite of her family’s financial difficulties she continued in her path to success in the music field. Driven by her determination and guided by her innate talent, Kaz was promoted to musical director of the high school choir and won the award for best musician /actress. Her high school studies and extra curricular activities notwithstanding, at the age of 14, Kaz amazed thousands during her first public appearance at the carnivore grounds, alongside Grammy award -winning rapper Coolio where she took the title for best overall rapper at an impromptu rapping competition held during his concert in Nairobi. This opened doors for bigger and better things to come. As Kaz had learnt, your future is unattainable if your living in the past, she had to overcome difficulties that constantly surrounded her and focus on her first love, music. She recorded her first single ‘K-A-Z’ with the legendary Kenyan producer Tedd Josiah .Her song slowly moved its way up the east African charts to land in the top 10. Not bad for a first try. By the time Kaz had completed her’O’ levels and moved onto Baeburn high school to sit her ‘A’ levels, she was the youngest Kenyan artist to perform live with the likes of Ian Mbugua, Mercy Myra, and Zanaziki at her first professional concert ‘Love Jams’ which was one of Kenya’s first street concerts to feature live music. Shortly after that, Kaz was hired at a local hotspot by the name of ‘Zanze Bar’ where she worked part time as a karaoke hostess for one and a half years. By the time she was done with her ‘A’ levels, she had graced the stage severely at a number of renowned Nairobi venues including, carnivore, safari park, The Barn but to name a few. At the tender age of 19, Kaz felt the urge to move forward in her career. She joined a band and caught the attention of many with her powerful yet sensual renditions culminating in an offer to host the wildly popular karaoke night at Nairobi’s hotel Intercontinental. Together with her job, Kaz got involved with the phoenix players to pursue her other love, theatre. Spurred on by the overwhelmingly positive audience response from both her singing and acting, Kaz auditioned for the then unknown reality TV show ‘Project Fame’. The rest as they say is history and eight months later Kaz was on her way to South Africa. Kaz came back with a burning urge to explore all her avenues of talent. She audition and got a part in MNET's sponsored project 'RASTAR' where she played herself. She also got a chance to play a leading character in a local TV series 'PUMZIKA' which unfortunately for one reason or another never made it's way on to the airwaves.In 2006 Kaz moved on to work as a copywriter at the popular ‘Redsky’ advertising agency which later became a part of the scan-group. Within months of her being there she started up an events department at the company and after a year of being employed, Kaz decided she needed to take her music more seriously, resigned and began doing music on a full time basis. After a few months of hard work, it all paid off when she launched her debut album “Somin, the one we were looking for” at a Nairobi restaurant. Hundreds of people attended. Within a month her album was sold out. Kaz has also been actively involved in the corporate social responsibility scene and has put up shows to raise money for the Nairobi Womens Hospital as well as the Kenya Breast Health. Her benevolence continues in all her endeavors including working with USAID during the Umoja Pamoja campaign, promoting peaceful and non violent voting, working not only as a musician but as the film director for both the Television commercial as well as the theme song music video. She hosted a TV show, 'AFFRODIZZIA' on Citizen Television, which showcases music from across the continent and educates viewers on each country's musical history and culture. Now at 24 she has gained massive popularity and received an East African Kisima Award for best Afro fusion artist of the year2005 and an all African Kora Award for the most promising female artist in Africa 2006. She traveled to several countries including Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana and England to perform at different concerts. With her current and upcoming album, she plans to re-visit these countries amongst others and spread her Kenyan culture throughout the World using her distinct and original technique of song writing, and performing.