Karina Rykman - Manhattan Roots & Brooklyn Beats

00:13 - Aaron (Host)

Here we go.

00:29 - Karina (Guest)

Here we go, here we go Yo.

00:34 - Aaron (Host)

Hell yeah, hello. Hey, wait, let's do it for real. Yeah, there we go.

00:42 - Karina (Guest)

That's what I expect from you guys Yo.

00:50 - Karina (Host)

Look at you, looking so good. What's going?

00:51 - Aaron (Host)

on. What's up, karina? We're hanging out with karina this morning.

00:53 - Karina (Host)

Well wait should we say katrina okay?

00:57 - Karina (Guest)

you see, you see the joke that keeps on giving it doesn't stop it don't, stop it don't. That's why you have to adopt it yourself and then use it yourself, because it's funny.

01:07 - Aaron (Host)

Is that like a thing that actually happens to you?

01:10 - Karina (Guest)

Like round the clock you have no idea what happens to me.

01:14 - Karina (Host)

Just inserting a T wherever you want, you know.

01:16 - Aaron (Host)

Whatever Fuck it.

01:18 - Karina (Guest)

Just call me whatever you want. Why don't you just call me, you know?

01:30 - Karina (Host)

Portia DeHorny while we're at it, you wanted me. You want me to have a new name give me a better one.

01:34 - Karina (Guest)

What's up, anyway? How you doing. I'm so good you guys. Everything's great. Thanks for taking the time and uh inviting me back. This is so charming oh absolutely charming.

01:42 - Apple (Host)

I love it. Are you at home? I'm at home, I'm in the loft.

01:44 - Karina (Guest)

You at home, I'm at home. I'm in the loft. Dude, I'm upstairs.

01:47 - Aaron (Host)

I'm upstairs in the loft. Yeah, yeah, totally. Everything is great. Where's home?

01:51 - Karina (Guest)

Now it's Williamsburg, brooklyn. Guys. I moved in with Johnny, my boyfriend. It's very charming, everything's great.

02:05 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah, we're uh, and we have like an upstairs thing where all my music shit is, and that's uh where I'm speaking to you from. It's great right on. Oh yeah, man, last time we talked to you were like in a small apartment in in the city, right sure?

02:13 - Karina (Guest)

well, it wasn't small. It wasn't small, but it was in the city for sure. I lived there for 10 years with my best friend, isaac, you know yeah it was difficult to leave just because that was my, that was, was that's my. You know, I'd only ever lived two places my parents' apartment and that apartment.

02:31 - Karina (Host)

Oh shit.

02:32 - Karina (Guest)

It was like you live at you know, in on the Upper West Side like forever, and then I moved in there at you know, when we started NYU and stayed for 10 years.

02:40 - Karina (Host)

So that was a big deal for you to move to Brooklyn then.

02:43 - Karina (Guest)

Oh, tell me about it. I mean, honestly, I'll tell you it's a running joke. It's a running joke among us that I don't. I don't tell anybody that I live, cause it's super like when you're from Manhattan. You're born with these uh, you know, uh, mental, uh problems. You know where you, you know you just think nothing could compare to Manhattan, which is true. And even though I'm looking, you know, I literally see Manhattan right over there. We're one stop away, by the way. This is like the most heck. Yeah, basically Manhattan. You know what I mean. It's basically there, but it's, but it's not quite there. You know what I'm saying. I'm always going there, every going, but I um wake up and be there like I was for the first 30 years of my life. You know what I'm saying. So this is new. This is new, it's all good, we're not complaining, this is wonderful.

03:32 - Aaron (Host)

But, uh, you asked and I'm telling you you know what, with last time we talked, we we were actually getting ready to. I was getting ready to go for the very first time.

03:40 - Karina (Guest)

I had idea we were asking about pizza places reference for what we're talking about yeah yeah, no, I mean, listen, it's a lot, and look if you're not from here and you came to manhattan and you're just like wait, you want to be there I'm like yeah, yeah, no, yeah, nothing else compares, I want. I like when we're here, I'm like what are we in the suburbs? I'm like this is too quaint, there's too. You know? Like, where are the big buildings? Like we want?

04:07 - Aaron (Host)

like the skyscraper, you know, like the big business we want like you know, I want a rat standing outside my door when I walk in.

04:14 - Karina (Guest)

By the way, there's plenty of that in Brooklyn.

04:17 - Karina (Host)

You're not missing out on that.

04:19 - Karina (Guest)

We're missing out on very, very little. This is all just literally. This is nothing.

04:25 - Karina (Host)

This is hearsay Right on. Congratulations on stepping it up, moving in the next step.

04:30 - Karina (Guest)

We'll be back. We'll be back in Manhattan soon, don't?

04:33 - Apple (Host)

worry, don't worry about me. Your roots are there. You're rooted.

04:37 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah, yeah, and it's very like you know. I have a two on two cell phone number. I'm like you know this is like you know, you know when I, when I think of myself, I think it's like uh, it's a self-image thing, it's in it, you know. And so I'm like okay, right on totally get it.

04:54 - Aaron (Host)

I mean, living up here in the pacific northwest for eight years, I mean you know we came from vegas and I don't. I still, like, eight years later, I don't think I think of myself as a Las Vegas person. I don't even know if that exists.

05:11 - Karina (Host)

Like but when you live there, you didn't either Are you from Las Vegas.

05:17 - Aaron (Host)

No, none of us are 30 years.

05:19 - Apple (Host)

Man, none of us were born there. I was born in LA, so was I, so was Aaron, but we I moved there when I was four and a half and then the whole rest of my life there, so so yeah, people do live there.

05:31 - Aaron (Host)

It's crazy when it's easy to not.

05:34 - Apple (Host)

It changes so fast like going back. It doesn't feel like home because everything has changed so quickly in vegas. They tear it down and put up something new, so it's a new landscape every time you go back.

05:46 - Aaron (Host)

So, speaking of change, we've changed the format of the show. No, simple Road is now a podcast about other musicians' experiences at the Sphere.

06:04 - Karina (Host)

You're going to have to call Flava, flav.

06:16 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah, you're going to have to call Flava, flav and acid farts. First of all, I think that, uh, your little snippet video that you put up is probably one of the funniest things I've seen from the fish run, because I I was waiting for that to happen all four nights and I never saw it. But I guess you got to see somebody just completely shit.

06:27 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah, which is why and you know it's a good argument for why all photos should be live photos. I'm actually not a proponent of the live photo. I think it's weird, like cause sometimes somebody sends me a live photo and I check it out and like there's like a second of it before they took the photo that I'm like, oh, I wish I didn't see that. You know what I mean.

06:45 - Aaron (Host)

Digging in their nose.

06:46 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah, like it can be weird, I'm kind of like maybe like fewer live photos, but now I'm a changed woman since that sphere photo was taken. Yeah, I was taking a picture with my dear friends Ricky Blakesburg and Steph Port and a gentleman in the row behind us just toppled right in to the row below him and we were like whoa and and and you know. After it happened we were like holy shit, like maybe that's in the photo and it absolutely was absolutely was a live photo.

07:14

And we? Yeah, you know, but I'll tell you he was fine. By the way, I if that guy was like if he was not fine. I would have never posted that. I'm not a savage, I'm just.

07:25 - Karina (Host)

We've seen you play Karina. You're a savage. Come on, I'm not unkind. There you go, there you go.

07:33 - Karina (Guest)

He was fine, it was just one row. It's not like he toppled down ten rows or something. You know. I'll tell you this this fear is a a place where falling just see like I I felt close to falling every minute, you know, and I was on cold sober that entire time.

07:52

It's like, it's very disorienting. You know to look up and it just be that cavernous and that high above you. It's just I don't know and I don't know, did you have this feeling like when you walked in the tunnel, like into the house? It just is like this crazy sensory.

08:08 - Aaron (Host)

Oh, yeah, the atmosphere, like you could feel like an barometric atmospheric pressure change when you walk in there like you're, it's like ready for something to go down.

08:20 - Apple (Host)

Yeah, it felt like board when we were walking in. It's like I feel like I'm going on a spaceship and this thing is going to take off, which it kind of does it turns out it actually does.

08:30 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah, what a disorienting experience. I mean, in a great way it was. You know, I had no plans of gut, like I was such an idiot. Um, because, of course, like you think, like you know, now that I I did it, I'm like karina, you can't miss fish at the sphere, like that's not a thing to miss, like what. And it was one of those rare, rare, rare weekends off for me. Wow, you know. But I didn't. And I don't know.

08:54

My life is different now, so that, like I don't. You know, when I was in high school it was like you plan everything around, the fish run and you're all whatever. But now I don't plan anything like that because gigs just pop up and then you're disappointed. But you shouldn't be disappointed, you should be stoked, you have a gig, you know what I mean? Whatever. So I was just like I'm not even going to try. Whatever happens, happens. And uh, and yeah, I just didn't sort myself out for this fear Cause I figured I'd have a gig, but guess what, I didn't have a gig. And then blah, blah, blah. Long story short, and then my friend was like wait, so you're not coming. And I'm like yeah, I'm not coming. He's like no, no, you're, but you're free, and I'm like yeah, I'm free. He's like all right, well, you're coming with us, carry the two, you know, yeah, yeah, so that you know semantics, semantics, but yeah I having done all that, I really can't imagine having missed it.

09:40

You know, just semantics, semantics. But yeah, I, having done all that, I really can't imagine having missed it. You know, just cause it's a big, it's a, and you know what's cool about all this is that for Phish, I feel like this was like almost like the most mainstream press they've ever gotten, in a lot of ways, like I just just like the sphere that like I don't know what was it CNN? Like I don't know what was it CNN, like I don't know, there were like some news outlets covering this shit that I was like, damn okay, like this is a whole, a whole thing for the boys from Vermont, you know, and it's like you know, I was, uh, I was really happy to see the debut, so, of them, as a musician in that space.

10:18 - Aaron (Host)

What's your take on, like the sound and the experience of that? Because I'm curious from your perspective, because I know for for me what it was, but for you, as somebody that does that thing, like, what was your take?

10:33 - Karina (Guest)

I mean. Well, I'll be, I'll be frank, which is that on the first night we were in the, we were in the 200s. I was in 200s every single night, but the first one all the way over on the right um, you know, not stage right, camera right, so like mike's side right all the way over. And for the first five songs of the first set we were all like oh no, oh dear, like what is going on? Like they gotta figure this out. Like what? Like it was just it clearly, you know, like because you can sound check and you can sound check until you can sound check with an empty sphere or an empty, you know, go fuck yourself room that I play for 200 people or whatever. And then once you put the people in the room, it kind of changes things and of course, at that scale it really changes things and whatever. So I don't know, we were all kind of looking at each other like are you hearing that? Like what is going on? It just it just sounded like something that had to be dialed in.

11:28

Yeah, that wasn't yet you know and then like was that night one, karina night one night one, yeah and then I think my dirt, maybe I'm, I'm, you know, uh, I think yeah, there was. And then things kind of congealed and then we were like, oh, okay, now it sounds, yeah, like a concert, but like a really cool one. You know what I mean. You're like, okay, here we go. But there was, there was that one moment where I was, we were all kind of looking at each other like, oh, like you know, and I was with, like you know, concert industry professionals, you know uh, who won't be named, but everybody was like, oh shit, like you know what's going on with the sound, like this is, this is scary.

12:05

And then, and then, from from then on out, it was immaculate, it was spectacular, it was like kind of like hearing music for the first time. Yes, like the best way, it was incredible. And then, and by the way, we were back in those seats on the last night, you know. So it's not like I'm like, oh yo, it was just the seats, no, like this, everything got dialed in, like you know I. So it's not like I'm like oh, yo it was just the seats.

12:26

No, like this, everything got dialed in. Like you know, I think it was something I don't know and then they figured it out and we were then completely transfixed by the sound and everything was incredible. I got, you know, we shifted around that section every night. So one night we were in the middle and we were on that side and we're on this side and we're, you know, blah, blah, blah. Then we were on that side and we're on this side and we're, you know, blah, blah, blah.

12:47

But it was incredible on the sound, you know, except for that one little moment in the beginning which, of course, like dude, I mean, you know what a hard all of that. It's an incredible feat to pull something like that off. Let's just call a spade a spade, incredible, feat. Incredible. And to make it feel like not this, like kind of just you know, stock imax, oh, let's just project some on the screen and everybody can whatever like it really felt like fish, you know. It felt like they did an amazing job making it, making it feel like them.

13:22

You know, and that's really cool.

13:23 - Apple (Host)

Yeah, man, it was, it was well, it was so fun, like we said, to see that, to see musicians like them. It was a brand new experience for everybody, including the band seeing, seeing them staring up at their graphics and what they created. They were like children at points like while they're playing, like holy shit, look what we did. Like that was one of the coolest things to see, do you do?

13:48 - Aaron (Host)

you think it's? Is it tough for you, karina, like you said? You know, back in high school everything was planned around fish and you know doing the thing. Is it an adjustment, as you start to get busier as a musician, to shift away from that? Do you feel like a loss?

14:07 - Karina (Guest)

uh, no, I'll what I the. The part, that part doesn't bother me at all. Okay, that part is totally fine. That part is is is the biggest blessing.

14:17

Yeah, you know, like to, to be, and I always, you know I'd always rather be playing than attending. And even though you know me, I'm a veritable live music junkie. Like I love, love live music. I go and see. When I'm not playing it, I go and see it as much as I can and that's like a huge it's a part of me, you know, and whatever. So, like, that's all good. But you know, from the beginning I'd always rather be playing a show than seeing a show going to change and never has changed and I feel super lucky when I have a gig, you know, yeah, so that's all good.

14:48

That part, that part is is not anything to feel any sort of way about. But the part that is a little bit kind of also, like, you know, so lucky and so incredible, the part, the part that's a little bit hard to adjust to, is like when I was back, you know, back in the day, I was anonymous, very anonymous, you know, I was just a girl and now I'm, I'm not and um and I and I love that and you know me. I'm a woman of the people. I love meeting people, I love to like it's all. Uh, you know I'm not like a reclusive, like you know.

15:21

Uh, you know, introvert musician I'm like that I'm not, which is great for me. But also there are those times where, like you, go and and look I'm famous in one place and it's a fish concert. So that's totally fucking fine and totally fucking cool. But, like you know, and 10, you know, nine times out of 10 i'm'm like this is amazing and people are so cool and it's so nice to meet people who like recognize me at these shows and whatever, and it's and it's great. But then on, like the, on the 10th time, you know it's, it's annoying, it's just hard. You know, or you're just like dude, I just like, literally like I just all. I want us to be left alone with my friends to enjoy this fish concert.

16:06

You know what I mean Because, like the nine people, like the first nine people will be awesome and you'll be like awesome. And then the 10th person will literally like Katrina, I don't like assault you and I'm like.

16:16 - Apple (Host)

I'm getting assaulted at the fish concert.

16:19 - Karina (Host)

What kind?

16:21 - Karina (Guest)

of a life is this. This is terrible. I don't want to be assaulted at the fish concert, called the wrong name and then asked when I'm coming to tuscaloosa? I don't know that last part.

16:32 - Karina (Host)

You can totally ask me when I'm coming to tuscaloosa. That's all fine, but yeah that's the only.

16:35 - Karina (Guest)

That's been the only thing that's got, and it's gotten more and more and more intense, which is a good thing in theory, like you know what I mean.

16:41 - Karina (Host)

It's not gonna get less, it won't get right well, thanks, you know you're going up, karina, like that's it. There's nowhere else for you to go but up.

16:51 - Karina (Guest)

Yes, I appreciate that well, you know, and that's all. This is a very, very, very like this is. You know, these are small uptown problems, guys.

16:59

This is all good, all we're all. I'm stoked to deal with any of it and I love meeting people. I really do, I really do. After all my shows, I run in the merch booth and I meet every single motherfucker who wants to like you know what I mean. I will stand there for three hours after the show. I'll sign things after and, by the way, nobody brings me water. No water. I don't bring michelle. I'm thirsty as hell. I'm eating joe blow. I don't. I'm thirsty. I could use a drink.

17:23

I'm thirsty nobody brings I you know I'm kind of a psycho that I don't drink anything on stage, nothing ever holy crap, that is psycho slows me down. Like I don't I like that second that I would take to unscrew the crystal geyser fucking bottle of water. Like I don't have that second what about a sippy cup?

17:45 - Karina (Host)

come on, just let it be ready for you. An easy sip and then down that's it.

17:50 - Aaron (Host)

We're sending you no simple road mark lanigan with the sippy cup.

17:55 - Karina (Guest)

I don't fucking I don't want.

17:57

No, you see no, no but a bottled water after to pick up your, you know, merch when I joke, of course, like because there's sometimes like in a tour, where, like, the first two days nobody brings me water, and then we'll be in the van and I'll be like guys, by the way, maybe a water, you know, and then whoever's working for me, he's like oh shit, yeah, of course you know blah, blah, but actually you know what's actually? I'm moving on up in the world. I have a tour manager now for the first time yeah, congratulations on that.

18:27

You know huge deal for me because I have tour managed absolutely everything by myself this entire time up until like a month ago, you know, and that's just um it you know, it's hard, that's hard a month in, like my phone number was on the rider, you know now, so like when the people were doing the rider shop, they'd call me like you know which is all good and I love again.

18:50

We wear all the hats. It's all good, but it's cool to wear like one, like half less of one I get a little bit of it off and a little bit, you know. Yeah, that's my yeah a month it.

19:02 - Aaron (Host)

How has it changed things for you to have somebody handling some shit for you?

19:08 - Karina (Guest)

You have no idea? Well, first of all let's shout him out Charlie Horn, charlie what's up, charlie, wait, wait. Yeah, give him a round of applause. There you go.

19:17 - Aaron (Host)

Charlie, that's for you, buddy.

19:21 - Karina (Guest)

He is incredible dude and it just like. I mean, we had our biggest headlining show to date a couple weeks ago in New York and it was one of those shows where it was just like, oh like, if I hadn't had Charlie looking back, oh my God, like I couldn't have done it, like the show would have fallen apart 17 times. There's no way that you do that without a charlie. You know and like, and charlie just stepped right in. He set up the merch. Do you know how long I would take in my day setting up my merch?

19:52

dang and teaching the merch guy how to do it, just to get off the stage and run to merch and do it myself. Like you know, that was such a huge part of my life and and, and you know, charlie just came in, set that up, made it look beautiful. He was also, like you know, of course, with me because I'm a lunatic and I invite a certain level of uh, lunacy into my life. You know either, there were like a lot of side quests going on with this concert, you know. So there's like the, the post show oyster party, there's the pre-show barbecue being dropped off, there's, um, well, actually this is funny.

20:29

I had one friend who asked me if he could bring his kid to soundcheck and I said, absolutely, sounds great, why don't you text Charlie? And, and Charlie will sort you out. And somewhere in there it became my friend and his kid to, like he invites the whole neighborhood. There's, like you know, like 10 kids running around and everybody's like whoa, what's going on? Like oh shit, didn't know, but it was great, it was a beautiful, wholesome Marina's for the children. It's all good. But you know, just those little things I was just like here's Charlie's number, here's Charlie's number, here's charlie's number where you would have been, your girl, me being like hello, oh shit, they're downstairs with all the ice. They're downstairs with 200 oysters. We got to go get them. You know what I mean. Like they're here with the barbecue. Like you know, I would have been, um, you know, dealing with all the side quests as well as the actual things that pertain to the concert.

21:23 - Aaron (Host)

so it gives you a lot of freedom, a lot more I mean there's.

21:27 - Karina (Guest)

So there were so few times like, yeah, it gives me a ton of yeah. Yes, the real fact of the matter is that the amount that I was able to focus on the music was was very little, very little.

21:42 - Karina (Host)

That's what I was about to ask Karina, like, how, like, so you're because all that stuff, even though, if it's not having a problem, you're still utilizing your time, so it's a lot to think about. And then so when you go on stage like you didn't have time to really think about it at all, no, before, no, and it's.

21:59 - Karina (Guest)

I mean you do, but you don't like it. Just it takes away so much of that creative, like that shit, that I need to be focusing on, you know, and it's like I, I understand the value of a tour manager. So even though, because I am an asshole, I'm just like I can do everything, I'm fine. Nobody can buy got this. You know, that's like the Karina methodology. That's you know the Karina idiocy, you know and whatever. But like that's not cool. Like that's you know the karina idiocy, you know, and whatever. But like that's not cool, like that's not good for me, that's not good for anybody, because it takes away from what I should be focused on.

22:31

You know what I mean. So now I mean, yeah, charlie has been incredible and charlie was also there with me, uh, for, for the backwoods barbie saga, which we don't have to like dwell on because it's been, you know, but whatever. But when I was the fake, the fake Beyonce at Stagecoach, charlie was, you know, driving me all around Los Angeles because he worked the two Coachella weekends and he worked Stagecoach just separate from me. So he was in LA that week between. So I had my guy, like you know, and, by the way, charlie, fantastic driver, your girl, no license you see how this works.

23:05 - Karina (Host)

You see how this works. You see how this works.

23:13 - Karina (Guest)

All of these things are just, uh, you know, really valuable skills, um. So it was really fun and he was like deep in the trenches with me and katie um, miss backwards barbie herself. Like you know, he was just sitting there and we were deep in the lab figuring out the bpms and the whole thing, so he got a front row seat to a lot of insanity right up front right those people really let's hear that.

23:29 - Karina (Host)

Come on, did you mind?

23:31 - Karina (Guest)

did they really think?

23:32 - Aaron (Host)

that it was gonna be hurt oh yeah, oh yeah.

23:37 - Karina (Guest)

We had thousands and thousands and thousands of people at the, in the, in the tent, absolutely thinking it was her. That's why I mean, did you see the video? You?

23:45 - Karina (Host)

gotta see it.

23:46 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah, yeah, yeah like when we make our entrance and we are the biggest trolls of all time playing single ladies like, oh yeah, they thought it was gonna be her, you know. And we were just like, oh boy, here we go. I mean, the, the cheer was deafening. The cheer was like something I'd never heard in my entire life and of course't know how I'm going to do it again and of course that was like the funniest, the funniest, the funny. Like oh my God, like you know, stepping out and just being like oh, boy, here we go.

24:12

Yup, yup. And then I'm like stagecoach and it's just me and Katie. It was out of hand, it really was, it really was one of those like just those things that'll never happen again and you're just like wow, like what a freaking thing.

24:29 - Aaron (Host)

I think I have to hand it to you. I think you might win an award for fucking with the most amount of people thank you, no, that's what I was saying.

24:41 - Karina (Guest)

After that I was like I think I might be the s Baron Cohen of country.

24:45 - Apple (Host)

Yes.

24:49 - Karina (Guest)

As I put on that outfit which, by the way, can I just say, literally, you're catching me on a great day because tonight, tonight, I'm going to see Chris Stapleton and George Strait.

24:57 - Aaron (Host)

Hell yeah.

24:59 - Karina (Guest)

MetLife Stadium where the Giants play, and I am going to wear my Backwoods Barbie outfit. Yes, and, by the way, I've been staring at this outfit like I haven't even put it away, because that's how like I I still don't even believe that this happened. You know what I mean I'm like, wow, look at this, did this happen? Like it was such a weird microcosm of life and art and so weird, you know. So I'm just like, oh my god, an opportunity to wear this again, and, by the way, I look great.

25:25 - Apple (Host)

I was like shit, oh yeah, fantastic both of you.

25:28 - Karina (Guest)

I was like you're telling me that I could look like this all the time and I choose to look like Miss T-shirt and jeans, just rolled out of bed. That's ridiculous.

25:39

But you know meanwhile, I'm not changing that, but except for tonight, I'm very excited to wear my little costume. But anyway, when I, when we were doing the thing, and I was like putting on like this, I felt like like Borat, you know what I mean, like he puts on the costume and then goes and trolls the people, I was all like hey y'all and yee haw, you know, and fucking we were.

26:00 - Karina (Host)

That's so dope, that's so funny as hell.

26:03 - Karina (Guest)

It was just funny as hell. I mean, you can't you can't script this shit.

26:06 - Aaron (Host)

No, do you? Do you feel like when? Because I know you can't really see people too well from stage because of lights or whatever, but what was the like? That's why I would know the reaction reaction to you well, that's a good question.

26:21 - Karina (Guest)

I'll tell you the. The thing that happened was we come out everybody, the most deafening cheers you've ever heard in your life I say stage coach. And then we hit play on the first song, and, and, and people you know, for the first, maybe 15 or 20 minutes, the, the it's full, full, full, full, full full. And, by the way, this is conflicting with post Malone, like literally, like this is like you know. And, by the way, if that were me and I went to like I skipped post Malone to go see my bitch ass, like on, like just D I and it wasn't Beyonce I would be like pissed, you know, personally, and we had all this extra security, I was sure we were going to get shit thrown at us like didn't all good, but I was like, oh, this could be bad, like I don't know, like what's going to happen. But for the first like 15, 20 minutes place was full.

27:09

But then, slowly thereafter I think, people started to figure out OK, this is just this, ain't Beyonceyonce, you know, and whatever, which was great. And then so people started. You could see the crowd dwindle, you could um, but I'll tell you, there's this great, great video of me. Uh, you know, the very, the very last song was man, I feel like a woman. Great, great remix, which I'll send you. This still I'm really into this remix, so I had to. By the way the stage, this was the Diplo honky-tonk stage, right and so honky-tonk stage comes with dancers, okay oh yeah

27:48

the Diplo honky-tonk dancers that are led by a woman who I believe was named Shireen. Uh, incredible, who's just like hey, y'all? Like y'all want the dancers for the whole set, half the set, a specific song, like what do y'all want? Like, because some people don't want the dancers to detract from the DJs themselves. And Katie, my girl, was like in charge, like smoking, just like she's like, nah, keep them up there, keep them up there. I'm like, yeah, of course, keep them up there. So, anyway, they were like doing all these choreographed dance moves. It was amazing. And for the last song, I got down in front with them and danced with them. Hell yeah, and the video that you see, like you see the crowd in this and it's the. I mean there's still thousands of people there. There are people who actively skipped Post Malone for this. You know what I mean. Like this is real, like I could not even believe it.

28:40 - Karina (Host)

So, karina, think about that for you. Like they stayed, they did not leave, they stayed and fricking were invested in what you were up to.

28:50 - Karina (Guest)

As they wanted to hear. Man, I feel like a woman. I get it. They were waiting for that. Yeah, listen, when the Shania hits, shania hits, that's right?

28:59 - Apple (Host)

And who came up with the idea? Was this proposed to you or no, no, no.

29:03 - Karina (Guest)

This was all. My girl, katie, my girl, you know who. She's a living legend, not a musician, not a DJ, not. You know she, but she has a lot of friends in high places and she's one of these people that you want around, she, but she has a lot of friends in high places and she's, she's one of these people that you want around.

29:19

You know what I mean. Like, right, any person who like and, by the way, she really knows her country music, so I will, you know. So she gets hired to dj at stagecoach under the name dj backwards barbie, because she's friends with the people who put it on and they asked her to do this, you know. So she gets this slot and and it's you know, is it an inside joke sort of between them, like you know. It's like, ah, katie's gonna dj in the diplo honky tonk day, yeah, great. And then she calls me, being like yo, you want to tag team this with me? Like knowing that, like I kind of know my way around the decks and like can dj and whatever. Meanwhile, it's like, if I know my way up around the decks, that's cool.

29:53

But like she knows all that music this is a huge blind spot in your girl. Like I had never heard a morgan wallen song until you know what I mean. And now I'm like, okay, now I know all this music, just because I had to learn it for the thing, and whatever. Yeah, so she came up with what we played and then we, you know, digested how fast the tunes were. Well, you know what the order was going to be carry the two you you get it, I got it, and so now karina's next album is all bluegrass and shout out.

30:27

by the way. So my producer, who I like have written all my songs with, shout out gabe monroe, right, gabe monroe. Uh, he actually, like we called him and I was like, dude, we need to remix Mama Tried, we need to remix Hockey Talk Women, like you know, and he was all up in there putting it. It was like the we actually we called it Illegal Merle, because what we did to Merle Haggard is so fucking illegal. We put like the Jersey Club beat on it. It was like boom boom, boom, boom.

30:57

I remember no one was alone, yeah, it was so amazing and it went right in the set guys, right. So you know a shout out, gabe, multi, multi, multi-talented individual. You know, and that's the. You know the, the, the wingspan of backwards Barbie, really she, just she touched so many One week in LA like it was really big, the wingspan of Backwoods Barbie really she just she touched so many yeah In one week in LA, like it was really big and I would walk into dinners, by the way, and like leading up to it once people like my friends knew, you know, and everybody oh shit.

31:27

like when the news dropped and it was all over billboard and and, by the way, news meaning rumor, sorry.

31:33 - Apple (Host)

Yeah.

31:34 - Karina (Guest)

Rumor. I don't know what happened, but you know it's on tmz and time magazine and good morning america. Everybody thinks that this is going to be a secret beyonce set, but it's literally just not you know, so everybody's writing me all this shit and I would like walk into dinners and people be like oh beyonce so happy to join us and I'm like this is funny, this is funny it seems like it's been going pretty fucking good, like all cylinders hitting every time lately.

32:05 - Aaron (Host)

Does it feel like that for you?

32:07 - Karina (Guest)

it kind of does, and you know what this is. Um, this is like the first. I had a private gig on monday and then I. I don't have another gig till the 29th, right. So this is literally, like, of this entire year, the longest stretch between gigs that I've had, right and so like. Actually it's funny that you say that, because I feel like this is the first reflective moment I've had.

32:26 - Aaron (Host)

Oh shit.

32:28 - Karina (Guest)

Well, I guess it's hard when you're go, go, go, go, go and busy, busy, busy and you're just like, okay, now that gig's done, now let's prepare for this, and it's like you know you're playing on seth meyers backwards barbie, my own gigs festival, you know, headline, whatever it might be, open it like all this shit. You have to kind of put on a similar, yet different hat for just like you have to wrap your head around things differently.

32:51

It's also just like what gear do I need? What's the you know so? So, yes, to answer your question, like um, now that I've slowed down for 45 seconds, which is great, and literally it's been what you know. This is saturday.

33:04 - Aaron (Host)

By the way, the gig was on monday and you're already talking with us, so you haven't really slowed down.

33:09 - Karina (Guest)

Yeah this week I've been on sirius xm, I've had a bass magazine interview. I did this interview with uh you know, it's called axe lords with uh d Hill. I've had like so many interviews this week and I've written so many songs and I've been in the studio and it's been incredible and all these things and whatever. But you know, so I'm laughing at myself saying that I'm slowing down because you're just not playing another direction, you know?

33:33 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah, but it's different.

33:34 - Karina (Guest)

I'm just not giggingging and for me, like I'm I'm so obsessed with gigs I just all I want is to play live. Everything, this interview, everything is just in order to keep playing live. You know what I mean like absolutely anything, um, which I don't think every musician feels that way. I think some people love being in the studio, people love being home, like you know, all these things and whatever, but for me it's all in service of of getting on stage.

33:59

I love getting on stage more than anything like almost wow degree, you know, and I'm like karina loves playing live. But yeah, now that I've been able to think about it, it's been a crazy year.

34:12 - Karina (Host)

It's been crazy it's nuts to watch well, and yet wasn't yesterday your anniversary of joyride?

34:17 - Karina (Guest)

just the, uh, the single, the song, yeah, the album came out. The album came out in in august, but this uh, yeah, it's been literally one year of that song hitting the airwaves.

34:27

But then, yeah, yesterday, we announced yesterday, a year ago, yeah, we announced the record and put out the song and yeah, I mean like I don't want to say that it changed everything, because like it, like things were going well, but like it definitely kind of changed, yeah yeah, you hit another gear, for sure, I you know, obviously we're not playing gigs, but yeah, we, we work hard, like we give up basically every weekend to do this invest invest.

34:58 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah, we're, we're traveling to festivals and doing all the stuff, and yeah, and and then like, for me personally, I'm doing like all our social media, I'm, I do all like the graphic design for the show. I do all the booking, oh yeah, all the shit all the stuff that you said you were doing.

35:16

And I know that like I get in a mode in myself where I kind of don't know what to do with myself. When that stops or I catch a break, I'm like still going and don't need the motion anymore. And it takes a while to adjust to slowing down. And I know that like my head gets full at some point, like I feel like I'm gonna blow up, yeah, and I have to figure out ways to like keep my head healthy when that's going and going and going. What do you do, karina, for yourself, like because I know that you have a lot of energy right, but at some that's finite, we're not superhuman like at what point? Like what do you do when you feel yourself reaching that? Like oh shit, I'm burning it at both ends and I I know it's coming. What do you do?

36:06 - Karina (Host)

besides take a bath. Yeah, we knew that one already, karina there you go.

36:12 - Karina (Guest)

You knew, you knew. Uh, yeah, by the way, still addicted to baths that's a good thing to be addicted to. I tried to quit at one point when I got uh you know ringworm on tour from one of those it just slowed you down a bit.

36:32 - Karina (Host)

Right, it didn't, it didn't I?

36:33 - Karina (Guest)

think I'm afraid to say that on the podcast, absolutely fucking not. Fucking not, absolutely not. By the way, easy fix Topical Go to the doctor. Yeah, exactly, um, I sorry to make it no no, it's all good. Nice question. Uh yeah, you know I don't know what I do. I feel like I'm from the jump of very self-protective person, like I definitely like protect my peace in a lot, and I feel like I come to the table with a lot of peace in me.

37:04 - Aaron (Host)

Right, I don't feel.

37:06 - Karina (Guest)

I feel like baseline. Karina is like the most zen, stable, comfortable, like I don't know. I had a very, very like you know, know, stable home life as a kid. I like my parents are like the beacons of stability. My mom's had the same job for 40 years, 43 years. You know my dad's like long, long, long, same apartment, same this, loving like I don't know. I feel like I come to the table very chill, secure and chill and whatever, so like when I invite all this lunacy into my life it's because it's always appealed to me.

37:40

You know what I mean, and it's always been like. Everything always felt so stable and normal that I wanted this crazy stimulation and I wanted that makes perfect sense.

37:51

Rock and roll and I wanted like all these things that appeal to me. They appealed to me then and they still appeal to me. Like it's because, like, I feel, like I just really, um, I can take it. I don't know, I feel like I'm sort of made a different stuff in a lot of ways, in that, in that way, you know, and I don't like, but like, of course I get frazzled like anybody and I get there is, it is finite, of course it is. But on, on that level, I don't know, I feel like I have this innate sense to like I'll tell people like no, I'm not doing that. Like I'm good on, I'm too stressed, I'm too this, I can't do it all. You know what I mean. You know when it's, when it gets to a point of just like yo man, I'm going to be home for two days and then I'm leaving again. All I want is to hang out, all I want is to do this, but I'm not, we're not doing that because I'm going to sit here and just recalibrate, whatever that means.

38:48 - Aaron (Host)

So you know how to set boundaries for yourself is what you're saying basically.

38:51 - Karina (Guest)

I think I do, I think I do, and even like, of course there are some occasions where, like you know, you would, I would tell you that, like if I say, oh yeah, I know how to set boundaries, and then you'd be like Karina, you're going from this to this, this, this. Why are you doing this? This is so useless for you. Like, you know what I mean, and I would just be like no, I really want to do it.

39:08

I really want to. You know, I, I, uh, I think I'm. You know my boundaries are probably different from your boundaries or whoever's. You know what I mean. Cause, like there are, there are those things where you'd be like, oh okay, like you really needed to do this, like really. But I think I learned some of those lessons earlier on in my life, you know and I learned?

39:26

I learned what it looks like to spread yourself too thin. I mean, look like, when I came in to being a quote unquote professional musician, I was at NYU during doing thesis and about to graduate I had a full-time job where I was the GM of a concert promotion company called Rock Pop, and then I joined Marco Benevento's band and had to learn 60 of his songs and then go and all at the same time. So I know what it feels like to be running a company in the back of a van, going to the gig and taking calls at soundcheck from angry agents, oh, who are yelling at you because you owe you know sick of it all ten thousand dollars, like or what. You know what I mean. Like it's like I, I like whatever I'm dealing with now, when, now that I've cut back, you know I don't have a full-time job, like I'm just Korean and the musician who obviously does a bunch of different shit, but like being Korean and the musician, it's the most natural thing in the world to me.

40:25 - Aaron (Host)

It's cake after doing all that shit.

40:27 - Karina (Guest)

It's easy I mean it's, it's fucking. Obviously it comes with a ton.

40:31 - Aaron (Host)

No, no, I get it. I get what you're saying.

40:38 - Karina (Guest)

All kinds of shit saying, all comparison, but like, when you think about what I was up to at 22, that's what I was up to at 22 and, by the way, I kept that job till I was uh 26 and I shared the world with marco I, you know, we.

40:46

I remember being in japan and having all this shit hit the fan with my job and people were calling me angry, this, that we didn't get the blah, blah, the writers fucked up. This guy didn't. Whatever, you know what I mean and I'm just like yo, like you know, and dealing with all of it all while being on the road with marco and doing all this shit like that was stressful. That was very stressful you know, what I mean. That will spread you thin and that will that will kill you. Um, so you know.

41:14 - Karina (Host)

But so like working for yourself and doing all of these things is way, I want to say, easier, but like kind of in a way, because you know all the answers, Right yeah. You can. You can like, reschedule or do whatever. You're not waiting for a third party or a fourth time zone or whatever. The heck is going on.

41:33 - Karina (Guest)

No, listen. I feel so blessed every day to have the thing that I worry about be me and my art. Yeah, you know what I mean.

41:40 - Karina (Host)

Yeah.

41:41 - Karina (Guest)

But like that's fucking insane, like who does this? You know?

41:46 - Karina (Host)

what I mean you do.

41:48 - Karina (Guest)

Allegedly I do you know, but like every day I think my lucky stars that I got to this point. You know what I mean.

41:56 - Aaron (Host)

Like, and if it all went away tomorrow, it would have been enough. You know what I mean, like, and if it all went away tomorrow, it would have been enough. You know what I mean. I think, too, it goes back to what we were talking about the very beginning, about, like you growing up in new york city. I think that growing up in that energy, in that environment, breeds a certain type of person that thrives in that motion all the time, and it's in you and, yeah, you could, just you could feel it when, when you see you in person and when you see you on stage like that, that thing is coming from you, you're from it, it's you, or when you I love seeing that post the other day or when you see 17 year old karina up there with scott from anthrax throwing down some bass.

42:36 - Apple (Host)

I was like hell yeah, that's metal.

42:40 - Karina (Guest)

I'm metal as fuck on the inside. Yeah, no, that stuff never left me. Man, that's real shit, like all of it. And you should say I mean talk about like when I like walk around New York city and I have the most aggressive music a blasting in my ears that gets me from point a to point b in like five seconds. You'd be like, damn, you know, I walked, you know what all my steps I walked yesterday yeah 24 000, 24 000 steps.

43:07

holy, who does this? Who does this? I have uh, it's great, you know it's ridiculous I and that wasn't, I wasn't even thinking about it, I was running. I literally my favorite thing to do and this I like when I go on tour. This is what I miss. I miss a lot of things, but what I really miss is is walking around Manhattan with music in my ears Like cause there's nothing that feels like it and like taking the subway and like you feel like you're in this movie that you curated for yourself, and you can just walk and walk, and walk and walk and see all this different and, guess what?

43:41

you're thirsty, cool. We have every different type of drink on the planet that you could start like what? You know you hungry, no problem. Every cuisine at your fingertips, cheap, expensive, whatever, it doesn't even matter. And then you know who you're gonna see on the way, every race and all creeds and every like. It's just humanity to me, you know.

44:05 - Karina (Host)

Yeah, all right, but I'm going on a diatribe no, it's like a big fishbowl and you're giving us a picture of your. I get it too, man with.

44:13 - Aaron (Host)

That was the thing that blew my mind like as a first time ever going to new york thing yeah I.

44:20

I was like am I going to be overwhelmed? You know like kind of nervous going in and as soon as we got there I was like this is fucking awesome, this is so cool. Like just to find the middle in that and let it all happen around you and like, like you said, I walking down the street hearing like 50 different languages and like smelling all these weird different foods, and just it was the best, it's it's a beautiful thing and it's like the richest person and the poorest person could be sitting next to each other on a park.

44:53 - Karina (Guest)

But you have no fucking idea you know what I mean and everything is, um, you know what I love about it?

44:58

it's like you know, when you go to a more like suburban or whatever you know normal environment, it's like this is my house in my car and this is your house in your car and that's what we display. You know what I mean? Oh, you know, and here you don't see any of that, because people live in apartment, like you're just, you're out on the street, you're out in the in the mix dude, and then sure, like maybe this person's apartment is nicer than this person's, but you don't even like never know.

45:29

I like that. You know what I mean. I mean it is if you go over there and then you're like okay, whatever. But I don't know. It's just a different, it's very different than you know the normalcy that you see, you know, whatever, I just I just love to like.

45:37 - Apple (Host)

I'm sure that's why you don't have a license. You don't need a car, you don't have to have. You don't need that there. That's the weirdest.

45:45 - Aaron (Host)

That's awesome.

45:54 - Karina (Guest)

Then that's why you walk 23,000 steps and then you're so like you know, and you know, to get back to that, I was, I was just you. You walk so much here without even thinking about it. But, like I love, I love listening to music and then when I have to do calls and stuff, I'm just out there. I'm out there and then I'm rolling calls. Next thing you know, you've walked 70 blocks. You're like, oh shit, okay, I got to walk the other direction now, or I got to get in the subway or whatever. You know what I mean. But it's just, I don't know. It's a very fulfilling, delightful experience to just, you know, immerse yourself and be able to walk that far and that long and still there's still shit. You know what I mean. Like you're just like, oh cool, all right. Well, now we're in this neighborhood, now we're here, like cool, I don't know big fan yeah, well, I mean that's cool that you have so much love for your city.

46:38 - Karina (Host)

That's rad thanks.

46:40 - Karina (Guest)

There's a lot of people don't feel that way about where they come. You know it's fucked up a lot of. You know, because when you grow up here, obviously like I barely knew anybody who wasn't from here right. So in high school and all that stuff, like it was, I mean I think most people were Manhattan fans, most people. But there's definitely the kids who were like the second, I can get out of here, I getting the out of here and I'm not coming back yeah, I could see how it's not made for everybody.

47:09 - Aaron (Host)

I get it not absolutely.

47:10 - Karina (Guest)

Oh my god, dude, it's like I would say it's very polarizing yeah, yeah, love it or hate it what I'm describing like. I'm sure some people are going to listen to this and be like what a nightmare like this. Well, I.

47:24 - Karina (Host)

I remember when we first talked to you and you were talking about being in the country during COVID and how it was like you appreciated it and it was amazing, but it was like, no, this is not my place.

47:36 - Karina (Guest)

I even I put it. I put a little boycott on that after we came back, just cause I was just like you know, you want to go upstate this week. I'm like you. You know you want to go upstate this week. I'm like you know, I do, but I don't. You know what I'm saying. Like it would be lovely, but I think I'd like to lick this pavement instead and, like you know, just not enjoy this.

47:55 - Aaron (Host)

So, as somebody that's, you know, constantly doing shit, what's going on?

48:01 - Karina (Guest)

What are you?

48:01 - Aaron (Host)

working on.

48:02 - Karina (Guest)

Album two yeah, diligent, diligently working. Now you know it's uh, it's hard. You know, I think there's some musicians who like go on the road and then write songs on the road and stuff like that or whatever, and that ain't your girl. That is not karina, you know. I mean, I definitely like have ideas and like I write stuff down, I record stuff, whatever, but like like real talk like the real, I have to shift gears in a big way okay personally, to go from from stage karina to like creative in that other way, like it's uh, it's a whole thing, which is why I'm very blessed for this june.

48:41

You know, this june that's like chill finally, kind of. You know what I mean, even though it's I, I, I don't like to say finally, cause you know, what I want is to be kicking.

48:50 - Karina (Host)

Yeah, yeah.

48:51 - Karina (Guest)

What I know that I need to do is be writing, you know. So this week already has been so fruitful and I, you know, I've had pockets throughout the year where I've been writing, of course, you know, but um, but this feels suddenly like I'm stepping into, like writing time. It's other, it's just a deep writing time, so do you have like a vibe for this?

49:10 - Karina (Host)

Do you just like getting out whatever you want, Like do you want to take it in a direction? What's your thought for album two?

49:17 - Karina (Guest)

Well, it's funny, you, I mean there, there are a lot of thoughts. There are a lot of thoughts and I'm very blessed to. I feel like my fans are so, um, you know, and it's sort of a product of the jam space, right, like people they're, they're, they're there with you and they have wide ears. They want you know, if it's fun.

49:37

Fun is my guiding light. You know what I mean. Like so, like if it, if it's more rock on one song and more dancey on another, like with grooves and stuff, like that's cool, like I'm, I'm here for that, you know. But basically I don't know. Now I just say to myself, like what's what's fun to play for a big crowd? What's what do you want? What do you like when you get out there, like I'm just like okay, like we want this tempo. You know why? Because I want people going. Yeah, you know what I mean. I'm just like, okay, like we want this tempo. You know why? Because I want people going. Yeah, you know, like fucking dancing at that tempo or whatever, Like, so that all happens.

50:12

But of course, you know it's a hard process. Of course it's a process that doesn't come naturally to me. You know what I mean and it definitely, like you know the live thing, so natural to me, so easy it's. It's it's where I'm the most at home, is on stage. But when I have to like actually be like okay, here we go, Like what are you going to say? What are you going to what? And it's permanent. And it's permanent like permanence of it very much scares me, you know, even though I shouldn't. But, um, my, yeah, I don't know when. I we've been doing it a lot of different ways. I, this week, we wrote this song that's more like like faster than any other song and more straight ahead rock than any other song that I have and I'm like wow, that's fun as shit, Like I really love it you know Cause I'm a rocker at heart, like we talked at the anthrax and

51:01

whatever that shit pours out of me, like I'm, like you know, I don't know that's really fun and and I feel emboldened, I don't know, I, I, I'm, I'm lucky, lucky, lucky that, like I don't, I I feel like I can just be me. I, I really do feel emboldened to be myself in all of this, where I think a lot of artists would just be like, fuck well, we gotta do it, you know, yeah in keeping within the lines of this and that otherwise the fans are gonna turn their backs on us.

51:32 - Karina (Host)

I'll say this about the jam scene and and you in it, karina like you mentioned people's ears being wide, and that's so true, and like, because you are one of the few leading women out in that jam scene, you're so right. We want to fucking hear you. What do you got to say? What rock do you got to bring to?

51:50

us what kind of stank do you got for us? Like we're, we're about it and so, like that exploration of the self, it's not like oh, what do they want to hear? We're like bring it, girl, come on. Like what, what you got to say this time round two, we're ready for it.

52:05

Like Like, yeah seriously, because I'm I'm hanging out with all the guys all the fucking time and when we're here listening or like oh Karina's on, like there's excitement around that. There is a huge excitement around what you personally and what your band is doing.

52:27 - Karina (Guest)

I just want to let you know that, not for any pressure, just like we are hearing, we are listening, we are waiting like excitedly for sure you to say thank you yeah, no, it's.

52:31 - Karina (Host)

It's an honor to have this relationship with you and see your trajectory and like just putting yourself out there, because it's like raw and pure and it's like right on man, like you love where you're at, you love what you're doing, you're honest about, like yeah, it takes me, I gotta reel it in when I gotta write like you constantly are with people on stage collaborating this, that and that. That's exciting watching someone live their dream and actually like be about it.

53:04

Not like oh well, I made all these promises. Now I got to do it Like it's the energy behind what you're bringing out, that's exciting. So whatever you put out, is that already. You know it's already exciting because you got that energy behind you.

53:20 - Karina (Guest)

Thank you, that's so sweet of you to say. This is amazing, well, that you know there's so much to say about that and I appreciate it so much. But you know the the funny thing about how this all unfurled for me, when you really think about it, is like you know, because I you know it was marco that changed everything right and and that brought me attack like that. Nobody would know like it was marco right. And then people were like, oh, karina, this karina that, like you know, do you, oh Karina, like would you perform a set at this of your own? And I'm like I don't have my own anything, but I have Adam and Chris and we like to improvise together. So you know the band starting as this like complete all improv thing, and then, like I don't know, I felt like every single moment of all of this was just me playing catch up and and me, you know, getting the confidence to write songs and being like okay, and getting the confidence to be on the marquee and be the person.

54:17

You know what I mean Like all these things were coming to me for no reasons, or so. I thought, you know what I mean. I was just like why is this? Why am I opening for Krugman at the Capitol Theater when I don't have a song we're ready?

54:28 - Karina (Host)

for it. We're like for real. You're, um, think about just kind of like. During certain times in life, people are ready for something, they're ready for an answer, they're ready for a new way of living, they're ready for a new fucking food, their new sound, whatever. And you just happened to come with your cute little self into this scene blowing up in and they're like come on, give us more. What do you got going on like that's so sweet, that's so cool.

54:59

I mean, I'm so stoked because sometimes you can't see yourself through the trees. You know what I'm saying. Like you said, you're like gigging after gigging after gigging and like so. Like that just becomes like a way of life. You're not necessarily processing things, you're just kind of going, going. But when we're seeing like dates and then oh for fall tour dates, oh now summer dates. Oh well, now festy dates, and we're like dang Karina's on the freaking, like she's got Andy Frasco like legs dude, because he's everywhere.

55:29 - Apple (Host)

You know what?

55:29 - Karina (Host)

I'm saying Like it's same kind of a thing and like that I think is not given easily by fans and by the industry, and so for you to have it, naturally it's, it's, it's on purpose. I feel like it's on purpose.

55:46 - Karina (Guest)

Thank you.

55:47

I appreciate that. I just, yeah, there's so much to live up to. In a lot of ways, that's just, it's all. It's all just. You know, because when you go, when you think back, right like 2019, when we did Plants, right, plants, my first song, my first baby, like you know, and like going back to that, I'm thinking that the first song, like the first song that I wrote, was a five minute long instrumental that sounds like crumbin meets ratatat with this, like crazy shit and it's all. It's like so.

56:14

And and then me, not I was so nervous, really, oh my, I'm nervous about everything. I mean, I'm not, but I am, yes, and that again the permanence. My first song is called plants and it's a five minute long instrumental. And I'm again the permanence. My first song is called Plants and it's a five minute long instrumental, and I'm just going to put this out by myself. And then, all of a sudden, it gets a million streams and that summer you know that, like when I put that out it was it was four days before we opened for Krungbin at the Capitol Theater.

56:39

That was the one song to my fucking name. Why, how you know? And then we, you know, the first festival we played was actually MoDown. And so, like, I'm booked on MoDown, I'm booked on Hulu, I'm opening for Guster, I'm all like all that year, you know, and it's 2019. I have no management, no agent, no, nothing. I'm doing this, it's all just people who just want I don't know, they wanted me to be there. I have no fucking idea. But then in my head I'm like wait, what, karina? You need songs, bands have songs. Like, why is this all coming? Like, you know what I mean.

57:15

So then, elevator came out that November, november, 2019. And then, fucking, a couple months later, we got the pandemic Right. And then, of course, that year, we somehow, by the skin of our teeth, recorded a city kids and dirty South, and those came out that year. And of course, that year, we somehow, by the skin of our teeth, recorded, uh, city kids and dirty south, and those came out that year. And of course, you know to think of all this happening like in a time when the world was shut down and you couldn't tour and you couldn't do this and you couldn't do that, and a song like city kids, just you know becoming.

57:38

It's certainly not my streaming hit, but it's my live hit oh, it's amazing, yeah that's the song that people want to hear you know in a lot of ways other than a couple others but, like that's, like that's, that's the one, and well, that bass line come on, that's like that's featuring you, the person that we're about.

57:54 - Karina (Host)

Like hell, yeah, it might not like you said, it might not be your biggest dream, but like we want to see that because that's you, you know right it is very emblematic of your girl. It really is lyrics come on, everything that you say about the city like it's all of it, it's it's like you in a song and live people really love it.

58:12 - Karina (Guest)

Anyway, all all of this is to say, like you know, like, and then to get to about, like you know, when we were playing Bonnaroo and Red Rocks, I had five singles to my name, like what is this, you know? And then then the album and that's like, okay, well, here's your album. Okay, well, well, now you gotta do enough. You know what I mean, and I'm just like constantly, just like in awe of like how it got to this that's and that's.

58:33 - Aaron (Host)

That's the that's right, best you should way it should be, because I feel like if it was contrived or like you strived for something, it would feel not genuine right, sure maybe that's what it is maybe that's what the genuine thing, like that.

58:52 - Karina (Guest)

Maybe that's why people are like oh, like yeah you know or like, and it's like, oh, she really loves this. It's like, yeah, she can't fucking believe this. Like she's shocked every single time somebody buys a ticket, every single time, like it's, it's so shocking the whole, thing, you know single time like it's. It's so shocking the whole thing, you know, and I think it's it's funny when you trace back the origins, you know what I mean.

59:11 - Aaron (Host)

To that first song, I think yeah, you take the look at the lineage back, you're like holy shit, how the fuck did I get here?

59:19 - Karina (Host)

people, people like to see other people do new things in real time. Think about the internet. Think about like a baby walking right when it takes its first steps, when it's taking its 50th step. No one cares about a baby walk get over here, kid but when you're doing like you know, you're barely making a song and then playing it like the next couple days.

59:39 - Aaron (Host)

That's like at the cap what?

59:42 - Karina (Guest)

that is fuck yeah man for, like the biggest band, like you know what I mean, like crumb what the fuck crazy? Yeah, it's been. You know it's been a long strange trip yes uh, it's been a beautiful. I mean, it's just so crazy, so that's why I don't know. I'm, yeah, reflecting on this oh yeah what? How is it even like? It's so crazy. So all of this to say is it's all been great and we're all very thrilled and I just want my foot to be kept on the gas. You know what I mean.

01:00:18 - Apple (Host)

It's on the gas.

01:00:20 - Karina (Guest)

I've never even thought of it in that way. You know what I mean. Like when I say keep your foot on the gas. It sounds like I like. You know what I mean. Like when I say keep your foot on the gas. It sounds like I like.

01:00:27 - Aaron (Host)

You know what I mean.

01:00:27 - Karina (Guest)

Like, I just like just living life, man, I'm whimsically just doing what I feel like doing you know, what I mean and it's fine, like when you look back, like let's for two seconds, like plants right. Five minute long instrumental elevator. I'm singing for the first time and it's a three minute long poppy dance song right you know what I'm saying. So that's why it's like okay. And then the next year we got we got city kids, which I don't even want to try to describe this fucking song.

01:00:51

It's like, you know, uh, fun in a song, that's what that is it's super fun, you know, and and I'm, and I'm, and I'm doing the fucking beck slash lou reed slash david burn, fucking that. I'm talking, talking, talking to you, my audience, you know what I mean. Like whatever, as opposed to frequent fire going up, going up, like things are different, you know. And then the next tune is another instrumental. So like what am I even fucking thinking dude? And then joyride, sugary sweet pop, dance music, you know what I mean. And then this and then this and then this. So like to think that, yeah, I've arrived at this point and I feel emboldened to do whatever the fuck I want.

01:01:30

Yeah, I am you wait a minute you know, because it's I've been doing whatever the fuck, I want this entire time here's the thing, don't change it.

01:01:37 - Aaron (Host)

I know you won't, but that's just another little encouragement don't change it, because that's what's more than working coming, coming from the world that we came up in, the jam world and and just the music scene in general. It totally makes sense, karina, like your music is a reflection and a product of your what you like, what you've experienced, what turns you on, what you've experienced, what turns you on, what makes you happy, what excites you and those influences that you've had in your life. So it stands to reason that that's what comes out of you, because that is what you've put in right.

01:02:19

Cultivated. I mean, I hate to bring it back to Phish, but look at Phish like a song, like Y, or acdc bag, or those are two completely different things or shade black furry creature from mars or rocky top or whatever they're, none of that, shit's the same.

01:02:37 - Karina (Guest)

But that's, that's why those guys and ween and like that's, you know it's. It's less about the jamming. For me, it's more about the like, the fact I'm so emboldened by these bands. Yes to just so it makes sense, you write, you mix it up, that's like it's so and and the fans are here for it do you know what I mean they're here for the through composed.

01:02:59

You enjoy myself. That's the most beautiful, incredible piece of you know it might as well be bach. You know what I'm saying, and then you got. You know bach for people on lsd, whatever. And then you get uh, yeah, whatever, fucking waste you name it, you know axel, whatever the yin yang I'm here.

01:03:19 - Apple (Host)

I'm curious about something, because this goes back when mel was like that, went that like kind of flattery I have it's not a comparison but this is a place you've made it to like, where I hold you in my heart.

01:03:31

One of my favorite people, women and people in the world is Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and, like the whole New York thing, the way you approach the base, your baselines, you made it in that space in my heart and I just love what you do. It takes me back to that and not much does and I'm just curious, like me growing up in new york and everything like that was sonic youth in your library all the time. Okay, in a big way.

01:04:03 - Karina (Guest)

Well, I love all that like, even like you, you know, yes, the big answer is yes. But like I love Kim Deal, I love, like you know, fuck it From the Breeders to Sonic Youth to whatever. I'm also just like a total. It's kind of funny how much I love the 90s. Why do I love the 90s so much?

01:04:20 - Aaron (Host)

Because it was fucking awesome.

01:04:23 - Karina (Host)

It's so, dude, I'm born in 93.

01:04:25 - Karina (Guest)

I'm a child throughout all of it. I miss all of it, and so everybody my age has not, like I have a fucked up like kind of encyclopedic autistic knowledge of 90s music in a big way. You know, and people going to you know we could talk, you know all of those bands but also just like weird, like fucking, like I'm into, like into, like you know, hum and dishwalla and oh wow, I don't even know. But, like you know, built to spill and pavement, dino junior and like all of those bands and actually like the that I wrote this week everybody's calling it karenasaur junior yeah because it's like that.

01:05:02

It's like, like you know, heavy poppy, 90s like and it, and yes, there's so much Sonic Youth in there and there's so much like you know. Somebody else was like why you got to be Kim Deal. Yeah, I'm like, oh, I like that. I like that you have so much energy.

01:05:18 - Apple (Host)

You have all the energy and everything. Like it just blew my mind. We were talking about Kim Gordon is going on a worldwide tour and it blew my mind when I saw that she just recently turned 72. I was like I didn't know. She was old and she's still out there just killing it because, like you, she lives, it breathes, it, knows it, it's life and it's you're gonna be rocking. Well, you're like 80s or 90s that's my boy.

01:05:42 - Karina (Guest)

That's my boy. Yeah, I like this guy.

01:05:46 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah, no, thank you, thank you, thank you you know talking about all these influences and writing your own shit. What's it like for you when trey shows up and is playing on your tune?

01:06:02 - Karina (Guest)

I mean what do you think it's like? I mean you know, you know, no, it's, it's, it's it's, uh, that whole thing was what was and is. I mean like you know that's it's. It's almost hard to process, like even not even now, maybe even more now than when it was happening. Right, yeah, know what I mean. Like now you, you can, like you look at what, like exactly what he did for me in that and you're like dude, like that's insane what he did for me. You know what I mean. Like we and I obviously at the time you're just like what? Like seriously? And he's saying, like dude, like he is just the coolest, he is out, like he is, he should be protected at all costs. He is a golden god. He really is that guy. You know what I mean.

01:06:48

And he, um, and of course, like you know it, it wasn't until like I was writing my own tunes and he ran up to me and he was just like dude, we like he named all of my singles to me by name. You know it was just like oh, we listen to this. Like you know, it's like sick is amazing plants elevator. Like we listen to stuff all the time in my house. He's like but you need an album. And I was like, yes, trey, this is in 2021, by the way, at the peach festival, you know. And I was like, yeah, no, I'm, I'm working on it. And he was like, oh, you know. And then all of a sudden he lights up, you know, because he values you know, pushing the art. He, it's all about original music for him, all about original music for it. Like he's and to see, like young person, people, a person, people, whatever, doing, uh, doing that and carrying it forward. Like, and he was just like.

01:07:37

He was in and he gave me everything the studios, his time, the way that he came into that studio session when he recorded on Joyride and fucking Run of the Mill and All that you Wanted and Trampoline and Fever Dream. He plays on all these songs. He came in with an iPad of all these ideas and whatever. And he was just like. I was thinking for this, if we took the chorus but we reharmonized it and put it at the end, that's a great outro and what about this and what about this? But, like, if you don't like any of this, tell me to go fuck myself, throw it in the trash. Like he came to the table with the most humility of like, wow, I don't know, he just wanted me to. He's like we're making karina one, you know what I mean. We're not making trey, anything. We're making karina one, you know, and I just whatever you, you know, this is big, you know and and there's not a living musician, uh, from whom this would have meant more to me.

01:08:31

Yeah, personally, you know what I mean and it really it's. It's an incredible, incredible thing. And just to look back now and just be like wow, like you gave me all that, like wow you know, and he was he's like he would just be, like you know.

01:08:45

He's like you know. I see in you what carlos santana saw in me, and when I was your age you know what I mean and they helped and he helped me so much and I want all I want. You know what I mean like shit, like that where you're just like, did you just say that out loud.

01:08:59 - Aaron (Host)

Like is it hard when you're working with somebody like that and you hold them in such high regard and like you've gotten past, like, oh my god, it's fucking. You know that part of it. And now you're working together and and they're giving you ideas, right? Is it hard to shove aside the fan and and be analytical about? Okay, I don't think that'll work it was.

01:09:24 - Karina (Guest)

It wasn't hard. It was funny really, because me and it like is mean it's there.

01:09:28

There was, there was a great moment. I have a song called beacon. I don't know if you're familiar, but beacon, beacon's a song very close to my heart. I really like that. When we wrote beacon I felt like, oh shit, like this is an adult song. You know what I mean. Like this isn't like some goofy bullshit, this is like actually like a fucking searing tune, you know, and I really love beacon and and the scrappy nature of how it all came together. I won't bore you with it but whatever. But that was the tune.

01:09:54

So funny, like in the studio, trey was like playing acoustic guitar along with it and and and came up with like these ideas that would like extend it and whatever. And I, that was the one where I was like, yeah, no, don't think so. You know what I mean. I think we're gonna keep Beacon the way it is. I think you know, and I was, and I said out loud which is the funniest shit ever. I have a great. It's so fucking funny. I literally was just, like you know, wouldn't want Beacon to turn into adult contemporary and, like you know, we had a good laugh about this and he was just like Karina songs have chords in them. And then he pulls up you know my Bloody Valentine tune and he's just like, yeah, like, yeah, it's cool, you know whatever.

01:10:36

We just had a fucking great riff on all that. And then there's one thing where I'm like filming Trey in the studio or whatever, and I'm like Trey, what am I not supposed to be afraid of? He's like garbage can. Don't be afraid of garbage, can Anything I play throw it out? And then he goes Karina's afraid, he goes, karina's afraid I'm going to turn her record into adult contemporary. And I turned the camera back on me and I'm just like why did I say that out loud? You know, it's just I don't know, is that?

01:11:03

that wasn't hard, it was just silly. I don't know it was I know. And also like when we cause we took all that stuff and then me and gave my producer we, we took all of what Trey played and we cut out so much of it to put in the Trey that would that. You know we of course you don't want it to sound like a Trey record, but you want those amazing moments that to me like joy rides. Not joy ride without that Trey solo and the.

01:11:28

Trey, outro and all those things and all that you wanted is not all that you wanted without the Trey, but you didn't want Trey for four minutes. You know what I mean. You want them in specific parts and all that stuff. But it is funny when your favorite guitar player and you're like okay, get rid of that. Get rid of that, get rid of that, get rid of that. Keep that, definitely keep that. You know, it's just a funny experience, you know what.

01:11:48 - Karina (Host)

If that isn't the biggest nod to you're in the right place in the right time in the season of your life.

01:11:54 - Aaron (Host)

You know what I'm saying that's just like you worked your ass off. None of this is by mistake. It might not have been by design, but it's through your hard work that you got where you're at and you deserve all the shit that's around you right now. You deserve all of it, karina, and thank you so much for hanging out with us today. Oh, come on, I love hanging out with you. So much for hanging out with us today.

01:12:27

Oh, come on, I love hanging out with you guys Love hanging out with you too. It's fun.

01:12:30 - Apple (Host)

I wanted to say one last thing. I wanted to give a shout out to somebody that you are a really good friend, Andrew Sachs.

01:12:38 - Karina (Host)

Some sexy art. That's one of my favorite posters that he did, the poster he did like your trajectory everything that's happening.

01:12:46 - Apple (Host)

I one of my favorite posters that he did. Like your trajectory everything that's happening, happening. I love the way he captured it. You're like being beamed up with that classic pull like your head back jamming. We just love him.

01:12:55 - Aaron (Host)

These two are trying to adopt him if when we met andrew I said if you and I ever had a wook child, it would be Andrew. He's our Wook son.

01:13:08 - Karina (Guest)

I love that. That's the best. He's so lovely. He made that incredible art for that show that like just it was so emblematic of, like what I wanted that show art to look and feel like you know he nailed it, he just knocked it out of the park.

01:13:22 - Apple (Host)

He's good at getting in people's head and not messing with it, just stepping in and being oh yeah, yeah he captured it beautifully.

01:13:30 - Karina (Guest)

We're very grateful to Andrew Sachs for this.

01:13:33 - Aaron (Host)

Karina, when you come through Portland again, let us know, let's hang out.

01:13:37 - Karina (Guest)

November, baby November. It's come out in two weeks, so you know you'll be pleased.

01:13:44 - Apple (Host)

Well, we should be seeing you in September at Cascade Equinox Festival, when you come up here and play. Get ready to have fun there.

01:13:52 - Karina (Guest)

Dude, my shit, that is going to be sick. I was like yo like we're on the same stage as Marc Rebillet and that's my like. I'm like I'm all about what's happening over there. Let's fucking go.

01:14:07 - Aaron (Host)

It's going to there. Let's fucking go, it's gonna be dope, heck. Yeah, last year that festival was. It was sick and and the festival grounds are beautiful and and the weather is just perfect and you're gonna love it it's great, I'm so excited, oh, and I get to see you guys yeah, we're gonna.

01:14:18 - Karina (Host)

Be there podcasting from there screaming from the top for karina what?

01:14:22 - Karina (Guest)

what a beautiful thing. I cannot, cannot wait, you guys, it's so exciting.

01:14:26 - Aaron (Host)

Right on. Well, we'll talk soon. Love you, sis.

01:14:28 - Karina (Guest)

Can't wait Love you back. Thank you for having me guys.

01:14:32 - Aaron (Host)

Have a wonderful day.

01:14:33 - Karina (Host)

Later you too Right on, Karina.

01:14:37 - Aaron (Host)

Yay, karina, let's hear it for Karina.

01:14:42 - Karina (Host)

The other day I was at work and that song came on, that she puts on before she comes out Corina, corina.

01:14:49 - Aaron (Host)

Oh, yeah, yeah.

01:14:50 - Karina (Host)

I think about her all day after that.

01:14:54 - Aaron (Host)

Like just thinking, dang, if there was a person that I know, that like, that person is New York City. If somebody asked me that, like, who do you know that's new york city? It's karina, a thousand percent she really does like have.

01:15:13 - Karina (Host)

She's like the statue of liberty of new york you know what I mean.

01:15:16 - Apple (Host)

Like she is it?

01:15:17 - Karina (Host)

she's got that fire and holding it down and beaming for everyone to see that and just a staple.

01:15:26 - Apple (Host)

That would be the funnest tour guide for New York in the world. Oh my God, Like how they have, like you can go on the tours with it. I could see her like with a rickshaw A rickshaw.

01:15:35 - Karina (Host)

A rickshaw.

01:15:35 - Apple (Host)

A ricochet. A ricochet. I got those mix-ups but like on a tour with her and her just pedaling. You got to get your shoes on, on point with that like slayer playing over the speakers now we're gonna do this.

01:15:52

No, she's always amazing. So much energy and like when we talk about that, when she brings up kim deal and stuff too, like her, her anthem, hey, like can't that song cannonball yeah, yeah that's, that's karina. Like shot out of a cannon so much energy. I cannot picture her just like, like she said, go upstate New York. Like laying on the couch doing bong rips, like not doing anything, Feet kicked up like, oh, like you know, yeah, I wonder, like with people that have that much energy when they stop.

01:16:30 - Aaron (Host)

I'll bet it's hard stop.

01:16:32 - Karina (Host)

Full stop.

01:16:33 - Aaron (Host)

Boom Out Like there's no cruise control mode. It's go stop.

01:16:42 - Karina (Host)

Yeah, I can understand that kind of energy. I love it. Yeah, you have it. I live with somebody like that yeah, I just don't have you know that specifically I'm pouring it into, but you know it's all energy and then when it's done, it's done.

01:16:54 - Aaron (Host)

Yeah I I love.

01:16:56 - Apple (Host)

Well, you guys probably saw the clip too, when you just said full stop, because it made me think of radiohead. So I said the other, when she was playing national anthem oh yeah. That bass line with her playing it. It's just so.

01:17:08 - Karina (Host)

And she's wearing her Barbie outfit tonight, so that's pretty awesome.

01:17:11 - Aaron (Host)

If y'all haven't caught a live Karina show, please do yourself a favor, go do it.

01:17:17 - Apple (Host)

Make plans, get that in your schedule.

01:17:19 - Aaron (Host)

I mean somebody that is coming from the place of. I want everything to be fun. Go see the show and watch what happens. It's a thing. We will have a link in the show notes to Karina's website and all her tour dates and merch and other stuff are there if you want to find out more information, and we're done for now.

01:17:43 - Apple (Host)

Yeah, we're done for now.

01:17:44 - Karina (Host)

Mel's taken off. Yeah, got a baby shower to go to and a store grand opening to go to.

01:17:52 - Aaron (Host)

And then Blue Egyptian is coming to the house and we're doing an interview with them today and it's a busy, no Simple Road afternoon Busy bees.

01:18:01 - Karina (Host)

We're trying to get up to that Karina level, we're trying.

01:18:04 - Aaron (Host)

I'm not. I'm not trying, that's a, we're trying to get up to that Karina level.

01:18:06 - Karina (Host)

I'm trying, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not trying, I'm definitely not trying.

01:18:07 - Aaron (Host)

That's a lot of leveling.

01:18:09 - Apple (Host)

Yeah, that is a lot of leveling.

01:18:11 - Aaron (Host)

I'm enjoying the ride right now. All right, everybody.

01:18:14 - Karina (Host)

Until next time, would you say. You're having a joy ride right now.

01:18:17 - Aaron (Host)

Oh shit, yeah, I will. Is that right? Until next? Everybody take care of each other. Smile at a stranger safety. Third, hydrate and um, you know what? It's springtime and if you have a pet, give give them a nice spring bath. They need spring cleaning too. They, you know, go into the season. Clean, that's right. Give them a good brush, that's right.

01:18:37 - Karina (Host)

Tell your friends you love them love y'all peace.