'All Rivers' out now on Tru Thoughts
Keren Avratz AKA Karolina is a songwriter and vocalist, known for her thoughtful releases recorded both in Hebrew and English, blending Jazz, Afrobeat, Reggae and Soul. ‘All Rivers’ is her Tru Thoughts debut.
Taking on the nickname “Karolina” (pronounced Carol-een-a) from her grandmother, her early musical influences came from within her household. Alongside attending the Red Sea Jazz Festival and learning the classical guitar, her brother introduced her to Soul, Jazz and New Wave music, and she listened to Greek, Arabic, and Turkish releases daily.
As well as the releases under her own name, and projects with Funset and Habanot Nechama, Karolina has worked with a multitude of musicians. A prolific live performer, Karolina has opened for The Black Eyed Peas, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill and performed alongside Ziggy Marley. Her critically acclaimed collaborations with Adrian Younge and A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad have received further exposure, appearing in the Netflix series ‘When They See Us’ and ‘Luke Cage’.
Closer to home, she has collaborated with Soulico, Kutiman and DJ Sabbo. Utilising his skills as an animator, Karolina worked with Kutiman to create a music video for her single “Smile 2 Me”, which was placed on display at Hammer Museum in Los Angeles for the Flux Screening Series. Karolina’s international sound and heartfelt lyrics continue to have a wide reach and draw an eclectic audience, both for her recorded releases and live performances.
