Karuna
Oakland, California, United States
Music
Press
If Alicia Keys and P!nk's music had a baby, they’d pray she looked and sounded like Lara Karuna. This Oakland, California talent knows how to put songs together with the skill of a veteran songwriter and with the delicate touch of an angel. On every track she gives her all while boasting versatility, thus keeping listeners intrigued.
Track 6: “Scream” Potent to say the least. Lara Karuna’s vocals fit this revved-up arrangement from the opening line, to the end of the chorus. Everything in between is ready for radio stations and film soundtracks such that girls and grown women worldwide will call this song their own.
Track 7: “Liars” This is another example of the potential Karuna has when she and her musicians are hitting on all cylinders. Combining her voice with a track that is just right and not overdone--she has herself a winner. A video for this song needs to be shot an aired on MTV. It will get eaten up.
Track 9: “Daddy” Karuna’s music has so much emotion, but no song has more feeling than “Daddy,” a somber yet vivacious ballad containing nothing more than vocals, strings and a piano.
Track 10: “Just A Dream” Cosmic is the word that comes to mind and that reveals how dead-on Karuna is conceptually, especially with the title she chose. This composition will lull you into a slumber—but in a good way.
Reviewed by Reggie Altema - Bryan Farrish Radio
Pop,Rock, and Soul what could you possibly get with those three mixtures of music? Only one thing comes to mind really, Karuna and their debut "Not 4 Sale." Containing 10-tracks of mellow going pop-rock sensation from beginning to end. Each tune capturing the band at their best musical ability and skills alone, some tracks that stand out the most includes "Choose You," "In love," "Scream," and "Don't Doubt," each of these selected tracks grabs the attention span and destroys it throwing each individual track putting it in it's proper place.
The guitar riffs and creative solos thrown together goes along well with the drumming beats and vocal skills of front women Lara as her vocal skills stand out smooth and soft bringing out that easy-going edge right off as each track plays right through. Formed and tour all over the Los Angeles terrain Karuna has worked alongside with some of today
s most biggest acts roaming around these parts ranging from Kanye West to the Grammy winning producer Scott Storch (Christina Aguilera,Pink,Beyonce,Dr. Dre), among other admirable artists. "Not 4 Sale," blends both breezy and catch melodies that burn into your brain with strong honest heartfelt lyrics each more capturing than the last.
Karuna overall brings out that rock and roll pop-n-soul juice that never stops overflowing.
written by natalie perez - Stereop Magazine
Tonight we pay our respects towards rock/pop/souling Diva Karuna! This set of musicians rocks the Los Angeles turf with roaring guitars and creative blast beats from the drums and rattle sensations of the bass riffs, mix it all together and you get the dazzling vocals of Karuna herself giving her upbeat popping rock and roll style. Playing a 30 minute set list consists of several tunes off their latest LP "Not 4 Sale," such as "Choose You," "Don't Doubt," "In Love," and wrapping it all up with "Scream," getting the whole crowd hyped and excited full of high strung energy for the rest of the night....
http://natalie-nataliesworld.blogspot.com/2009_01_10_archive.html - http://natalie-nataliesworld.blogspot.com/2009_01_10_archive.html
This album is a real gem. Lara Karuna has a truly beautiful voice. Her songs, all heartfelt and full of raw emotion, range from the wistfully mellow to the rambunctiously rocking as she takes you on a roller-coaster ride through her soul. Karuna shows real versatility as both a singer and a songwriter. Regardless of musical taste, I think that anyone will find something here that touches them deeply. Highly recommended. - Itunes Review
Pop,Rock, and Soul what could you possibly get with those three mixtures of music? Only one thing comes to mind really, Karuna and their debut "Not 4 Sale." Containing 10-tracks of mellow going pop-rock sensation from beginning to end. Each tune capturing the band at their best musical ability and skills alone, some tracks that stand out the most includes "Choose You," "In love," "Scream," and "Don't Doubt," each of these selected tracks grabs the attention span and destroys it throwing each individual track putting it in it's proper place.
The guitar riffs and creative solos thrown together goes along well with the drumming beats and vocal skills of front women Lara as her vocal skills stand out smooth and soft bringing out that easy-going edge right off as each track plays right through. Formed and tour all over the Los Angeles terrain Karuna has worked alongside with some of today
s most biggest acts roaming around these parts ranging from Kanye West to the Grammy winning producer Scott Storch (Christina Aguilera,Pink,Beyonce,Dr. Dre), among other admirable artists. "Not 4 Sale," blends both breezy and catch melodies that burn into your brain with strong honest heartfelt lyrics each more capturing than the last.
Karuna overall brings out that rock and roll pop-n-soul juice that never stops overflowing. - Stereop Magazine
Every now and again an artist comes along that just has that … that thing. The thing doesn’t need to be described exactly as long as its there. LA-based songbird Lara Karuna definitely has that thing. Not the superficial, studio-created artist that seems to be so popular today, Karuna has a serious set of pipes to go along with that pretty face. In spite of suffering from a slight cold when I interviewed her, she didn’t flinch when I asked her to sing a cappella. The woman can just sing. Period. She’s got an awesome music page on Reverbnation.com. My favorite is “Just A Dream”. Fortunately for the music game, Karuna isn’t. - http://blog.alhlive.com/?p=430
"The edge of rock, the vocals of soul with the catchiness of pop.. every song's a winner!"
Hutson Miller - former VP of A&R, Atlantic Records
- Hutson Miller
"Finally R&B evolves"
Mark Gay, platinum selling group Shai - Mark Gay
Discography
Not 4 Sale - Just released
Acoustic LIVE - COMING...
Photos
Bio
Singer/Songwriter/Producer LARA KARUNA fell in love with music and performing at age eight when she was cast in the Bay Area Theaters' production of Annie. Growing up in Oakland, Ca., KARUNA sharpened her skills under the trial by fire soul/blues/gospel tradition, where folks will boo you if you don't bring it.
Since being in Los Angeles, KARUNA has worked with such heavy-hitting talents as Kanye West, Grammy-winning producer, Scott Storch (Christina Aguilera, Pink, Beyonce, Dr. Dre), Grammy-winning producers, The Funktwons, A.K.A, Tim N Bob (Mary J. Blige, Brandy, and Bobby Valentino), legendary producer Richard Perry, ( Pointer Sisters, Carly Simon, The Beatles, Ray Charles) producer Mike City (Usher, Brandy, Sunshine Anderson, Carl Thomas) and DJ Khalil (Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Talib Kweli). She has performed the National Anthem both for a Clippers basketball game and at the Maddbacker's Celebrity Basketball Game.
As a songwriter/producer, KARUNA most recently placed her song, “Choose You,” on the hit series, 90210. Other credits include: Aceleyone's, "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly," and "Lil Tupac," a song featured in the movie, "My Baby's Daddy."
KARUNA performs all around Los Angeles at such renowned venues as: The Key Club, The Roxy, The Viper Room - to name a few. She has opened for R&B Singer, Marquis Houston, and also sold out Cinespace at her KISS FM sponsored Not 4 Sale album release party. Since September, KARUNA has independently sold nearly 1000 units of her self-produced debut effort, Not 4 Sale.
Winning over crowd after crowd, show after show, KARUNA performs with a passion rarely seen these days. Her honest songwriting, and skilled vocals combine to create irresistibly singable choruses that mask strong statements on love, life and our world. Sure to have teenage girls singing along everywhere, KARUNA is definitely an artist to watch out for.
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