Q: I love the energy in “Wasting Time.” Was the song inspired by a personal experience?
KARYN ANN: “Wasting Time” is a song inspired by the script/story from the indie-short “Second Story”. I was commissioned by Dodge Media Productions to write the main theme song for the film. The movie chronicles the meeting of two single parents, one widowed male, the other divorced female. The female is uptight, convinced that she can control everything in life, whereas the male thinks you can’t control things from happening and/or not happening. I based the lyrics of the song around the idea that humans can’t be everything all time, we all need help from time to time to actually become/feel whole. I also thought about how life is too short to limit yourself in aspects of love and/or happiness, and that you should pursue what brings you joy. And lastly, we all should remember and celebrate our child-like selves, when we were carefree, innocent, and hopeful. Second chances are there, you just need to be open to and pursue them.
Q: What do you like most about “Wasting Time” personally?
ANN: I really enjoy a lot about this track, but I think the tenderness in the vocal really help connect the listener to the song’s lyrics. I recorded and produced this tune in my bedroom with the help of my partner Douglas Allen (www.douglasallenmusic.com), who played electric guitar and arranged the percussive elements. I also love the overall dreamy waltz-like quality of the track, I feel it sonically conveys the ticking of a clock, or the dance of life, adding to the main theme of the song.
Q: Could you tell us more about yourself as an artist/musician?
ANN: Picked up the guitar at 14 and started writing songs as soon as I knew like 3 chords. I also play piano and ukulele. I consider my music a mix of soul/folk/blues/rock and I tend to hop around in multiple genres while writing. I’ve been based/performing in the Portland, OR area for the past 10 years and have toured nationally for the past 5, up until the pandemic began. Lyrically I tend to write about personal experiences, and a lot of the time they tend to be on the poetic side, though recently I’ve been trying to write more candidly.
Q: What type/genre of music do you enjoy the most?
ANN: I enjoy any music that I connect to. In most cases its somewhere in the soul/blues/folk arena. I also like good songwriting, and strong voices. I like to be able to feel the emotion in a vocalist’s performance.
Q: What are some of your influences?
ANN: Adele, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Amy Winehouse, Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin,
Q: Where do you find most inspired?
ANN: I think I feel most inspired in the quiet moments. Like on morning walks, or lying on a beach, or taking a bath. I find that inspiration strikes me when I just let myself observe.
Interviewed by Katrina Yang
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