Canadian country recording artist Karen Lee Batten has recently caught the attention of music lovers with the release of her sassy party anthem “Drinkin’ Song”.
Co-written & co-produced alongside Jeff Johnson & Mitch Merrett, this latest release features an unprecedented blend of traditional country sass & centres around the ups and downs of a past relationship.
Karen has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution about her latest single & you can find out what she had to say below.
Hi Karen, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Can you start by telling the readers a little about yourself?
Karen: Hello Jess! Thank you so much for having me here on Fierce Fabulous Revolution and for supporting my music!
I’m Karen Lee Batten, born and raised in British Columbia, Canada. I started performing at a really young age, in the church and then went on to school bands and choirs.
After college, I tried out for the reality TV show “Canadian Idol” and ended up as a Top 10 Finalist.
Coming off of that show, I went on to record three independent Country Music albums, 1 Blues / Country Record and am currently working on my 4th Country Album with 2 songs released so far off of that project.
When did you first discover your passion for music?
Karen: I was pretty young – it was around 4 years old when I knew I loved to sing. I remember watching my Dad in his band and memorizing every word to every song.
I really didn’t know that I was not too (haha) until I was about 11 or 12, when I really started to push myself to try and copy singers I looked to like Whitney and Mariah. When the choirs I was a part of started to ask for me to sing the odd solo, I was so surprised and excited to grow as a vocalist.
When is the first time you can recall performing in front of a live audience?
Karen: Again, I was 4 when I performed in choirs in the church in front of a congregation, but I think I was closer to 8 or 9 when I was asked to solo for the first time.
Have you always known that you wanted to pursue a career within the music industry?
Karen: I really didn’t think too far ahead about it when I was younger. I do remember when I was about 16 or 17, I started to enter singing competitions and when I won, that was when I thought .. wow, this is what I was meant to do.
You recently released the brand new single “Drinkin’ Song”. How did the idea for this song come together?
Karen: What I love so much about this write was that it was just so chill. It wasn’t scheduled, it was just a few friends sitting down chatting about the past.
I had never written much about my past relationships and I hadn’t intended to this day, but when my buddy Jeff Johnson said, “Tell me about that relationship”, I did. And he went on to say, “OK, that really happened, we are writing this.” Haha.
Sometimes good things can come out of the bad, right? In the moment, it’s hard, it’s a terrible process coming out of the broken past, but when you get to that point, it’s so refreshing to change it into something fun and creative.
How would you compare the creative process behind this single to your previous releases?
Karen: It was unlike any other song I have been a part of writing and to be honest, I probably never would have done it if I wasn’t fully trusting of the writers in the room. I was ready to write about the past, but I just didn’t know it yet.
What does the song personally mean to you?
Karen: For me, it’s a letting go. This single makes me smile, while singing about a time when that was the last thing I felt like doing. That’s a pretty great feeling, healed.
If listeners could take anything away from this single, what would you like it to be?
Karen: We all go through huge moments in life that feel heavy and painful at the time. Fast forward and life changes, and change can be great. But I totally get it, it’s so hard to think that way in the moment because we go into survival mode naturally. We all “need a melody to sing when things go wrong”.
Do you have any further musical releases planned that you can currently tell us about?
Karen: Yes, I am excited to say that this song will be added to an up and coming album release in the fall along with an additional single release. Can’t wait for this EP to come out!
What advice would you offer to someone who was looking to pursue a career within the music industry?
Karen: Ask a lot of questions, don’t be afraid to bug people!! Be seen, Be heard, this is how people will know who you are and know that you are serious. Don’t sit and think it’s going to come to you, you have to go get it!
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Karen: As we know, this year has been more than crazy, but I just want you all to know how grateful I am for your support, for listening to my music, reading or watching my journey, and walking beside me especially as an independent recording artist. I can’t freakin’ wait to step back on a live stage and rock these songs for you as soon as the world allows.
You can check out “Drinkin’ Song” on Spotify below.
Karen Lee Batten: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
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