Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Jenn Karson made a good record...nicely produced. Armed with a grant from the Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts...tax dollars well spent in this case... From the more ethereal 'So Green' to the upbeat and sparse Latin pop funkiness of '.001'...there is enough variety to keep your ears attuned. I think 'Pieces' is a very well crafted song....'Red Wine' makes use of some good drum programming and percussion, and Karson's multi-layered vocal harmonies are a nice touch here and throughout the album..." - Burlington Free Press August 9, 2001
"...back with a fresh and more laid back sound than her previous band (Zola Turn), Karson seems at ease in her solo shoes. Packing 10 strong songs into 44 minutes, Karson's development as a songwriter and singer is evident. Her mature mater-of-factness lends her a sense of power... I can't get over how commanding Karson's vocals are, and she has stepped up to the plate with strong songs that match her performance. I never would have thought to characterize this singer as badass, but maybe she is..." - Seven Days, Burlington VT
A compilation CD can be a blessing or a curse. While such discs provide an opportunity to sample a variety of performers, some are spotty at best. Still, a decent Vermont comp is cause for celebration, and Mondays At 10 PM is one such collection.
... "So Green" is a lovely number by singer-songwriter Jenn Karson. With her maudlin guitar figures and lilting, girlish vocals, she comes across like a goth Suzanne Vega. - Seven Days, 12 October 2005
Every once in a while, an event leaps out from the scads of press releases that come my way. Take Cirque du Singe Brise, for example... “a traveling event that prides itself in presenting eclectic excellence in the way of music, poets and spoken-word artists.” The Circus will make its Green Mountain premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
...In addition to music, the hometown peeps will be displaying artwork. One such piece is Jenn Karson’s “Salon Listening Chair,” which is exactly what it sounds like. Don’t believe me? Point your browser to: www.studiojuju.com/listeningstations.html. - Seven Days, November 30, 2005
Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell
Jenn Karson's debut paints vivid images with its gorgeous sounding songs. Karson's lyrics are aptly summed up by the song title "Dark and Quirky".
The opener "Isle Blue" has a lovely tune and tells a haunting tale. "Monster" has an amusing but scary image of unrequited love.
Karson has plenty of great songs on offer. This is a very good record by a gifted artist. - Collected Sounds - January 19, 2002
What, pray tell, is the Curcus of the Shattered Monkey?...The event's producer describes it as "eclectic excellence."
...The most unique feature (of the event) will be the "listening chair" designed by Jenn Karson of Burlingotn. She installed speakers in a classic salon hair dryer and treats listeners to her moody soundscapes. (Burlington musician Sean) Altrui calls the listening chair "one of the coolest musical inventions I've seen." - Burlington Free Press, December 1, 2005
This one is more like Puff the Magic Hair Dryer. Jenn Karson (you might remember her vocal work with late '90s girl-powered pop-rockers Zola Turn) is back with her "Salon Pod," a revamped vintage, seated hair dryer through which she pipes her own musical-soundscape creations. It's like an iPod, only don't try listening to it while running on the Burlington Bike Path. You can hear it instead in the comfort of the Radio Bean coffeehouse on North Winooski Avenue, 3-6 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. - Burlington Free Press
Local musician Jenn Karson has spent the last few years crafting electronic compositions that lean towards experimental collage. Lately, the ex-Bad Ju Ju leader has employed a unique way for listeners to experience her work. A “traveling interactive installation,” her Salon Pod places listeners in a unique aesthetic environment, namely a vintage seated hair dryer wired for sound. Don’t worry – it no longer does bouffant.
The unit is driven by another “pod,” Apple ubiquitous MP3 player. According to Karson’s MySpace.com page, her creation “combines her desires to experiment with sounds, make people laugh and inspire whimsy.”
You can strap yourself in on Saturday, March 11, at 3 p.m. at Burlington’s own whimsy-filled venue, Radio Bean.
- Seven Days
Discography
"Untitled" LP (currently under production) -- Jenn Karson
Bad Ju Ju LP -- Jenn Karson
Zola Turn 7" record -- Zola Turn
Cousin Battie LP-- Zola Turn
Side Saddle EP-- Zola Turn
Junket EP -- Jenn Karson
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Burlington, VT – Jenn Karson is a native Vermonter who has been active in Burlington’s art and music scene for the last decade. Her current project, Salon Pod, combines her desires to experiment with sounds, make people laugh, and inspire whimsy.
Before Salon Pod Karson lead the Burlington project Bad Ju Ju. Before that she was the lead singer and songwriter for the all-female rock band, "Zola Turn." She has been involved in other small projects over the years such as Concentric, Lavender Disaster, Junket, and the Velvet Ovum Band.
Links
