The return of Karma
The song she’s made with Britney’s producer is a hit
She was one of SA’s biggest alt-pop singers back in the ’ 90s with her band, Henry Ate, and now Sama-winner Karma is back with a brand-new single.
The former Durbanite, who now lives in the US, has hooked up with Britney Spears’ producer, Jack Rayner, on Hold on Me. The song has earned rave reviews and the music video features dancer and SA’s Got Talent winner Kalon B.
We caught up with the 45-yearold to find out more.
What inspired Hold on Me?
The original song was written a few years after my father passed away, it was my way of working through my grief.
I’ve always leaned on music as therapy. I believe Jack’s interpretation of the song is quite different – that’s always to be expected with my writing. I’m not super-literal and am happy for people to read their own meaning into my work.
How did you get to work with Jack, who’s also worked with Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne?
We were introduced in 2008 via a mutual friend he was working with. He asked me to play and sing the chorus on a song. We played a few shows together after that and we just stayed in touch over the years.
When I was done with the original mix of Hold on Me I reached out to Jack to ask if he’d be interested in doing a remix.
He was pretty excited and sent me his version, which I loved. Several other remixes have been done by other producers and DJs and will be released later.
Did you ask him anything about Britney Spears?
Nope, not yet, but I will!
What else are you working on?
I’m hoping to continue to release new material every few months. These days it’s incredible what you can get done outside of the big studios. The original recording of Hold on Me was done via email and text messages. I’ve really enjoyed working this way, and will likely continue to do so. No set schedule . . . it sounds lazy, but it actually allows me to deliver the performances I’m happy with.
I didn’t like recording under the pressure of a record company who are always worried about the cost of studio time.
Tell us about your life in the US.
I moved in 2004 and I’m based in LA. Music has kept me travelling to SA and the UK, but with Covid not so much.
Last year I bought a property with a log cabin and old farmhouse out in the Mojave Desert in southern California. So I’ve been out in the desert for the past six months, renovating the farmhouse. I also want to build a studio for me and my partner to write and record music in.
What have been some of the highlights for you there?
Getting to know the lay of the land and how live music works out here. I was in meetings constantly – just meeting people in the industry – the rest of the time I was in rehearsals with my band, Edison Project.
I’ve loved getting to play all the iconic venues in LA. My highlights would definitely be shows at the Roxy, The Viper Room and Hotel Café.
Will you be returning to South Africa for any shows?
I was last [in SA] back in 2017 when I opened for [Scottish band] Texas. I had a blast. I’ve always wanted to play at Kirstenbosch Gardens, which wasn’t a possibility when I lived in SA.
They wouldn’t allow rock or pop music until after I had left. So let’s see. I’d love to come back and play as soon as it’s safe to do so.
‘I’VE NEVER SAT DOWN AND FORMULATED A SOUND, I JUST MESS AROUND AND EXPERIMENT UNTIL I LAND ON SOMETHING I LIKE’