Kara/M Perspective on Walk in the Sun
Kara/M is the songwriting/production team of Kara Millerhagen and Stanford Felix. Kara, who is from Northfield, MN writes the lyrics, the melodies, and sings all the vocals. Stanford, who lives in Farmington, MN composes and arranges all backing tracks, records and mixes the songs, and is the producer and publisher.
Kara and Stan both have a rich history of singing and performing country, as well as many other genres of music. Because both of us grew up in rural Minnesota, Walk in the Sun, which has the same name as our debut album, is in the country genre.
Kara wrote this song for her niece after she lost her mom. She spent a year in a warm climate, walking beaches. She thought about how the sun can be so warm and yet you can still feel completely frozen inside. Despite effort, there are seasons in life dependent on the passage of time to move something. Maybe next year, maybe then.
Kara took voice lessons with Stan for four years before bringing him one of her tunes to listen too in the summer of 2023. It was the start of the collaboration later to be called "Kara/M". In the last year and a half the team has written over 50 songs in different genres, with "Walk in the Sun" being their debut country album. Since Stan has had a career in singing (mostly opera and musical theater) and playing saxaphone and flute in jazz and funk ensembles, their future albums will be using a little more disonance and counter melodies with the use of strings and horns in more of a chill/pop/rock style.
This debut album "Walk in the Sun" is in the country genre, with a bit of bluegrass, pop and rock mixed in. Kara’s influences are her Nordic heritage, church songs and hymns, and her own life experiences. Her Norwegian influences are made evident in the depth of her soulful, empathetic lyrics that call out human truths. Her faith has informed positive and inspirational messages that unite the hearts of listeners. Kara seeks to create music that challenges, uplifts and is fun and entertaining at the same time.
It uses soulful, empathetic lyrics, with upbeat and positive motives. Ballad like at times with fiddle, banjo, mandaline and organ often making an appearance.
We hope they have a positive and warm reaction. It's fun music with great lyrics!
One thing we've found, especially since the pandemic, is that music is very therapudic to the artist as well as the audience. Success would be the music bringing the player or listener to that peaceful center in themeselves where they are in the moment and enjoying life. Personal success (ie proficiency on your instrument) is the result of years of practice and performance where technique and emotion can blend to create a memorable experience.
For musicians to get the respect and recognition they deserve!
Having an open mind, ready to except new and different points of view.
Singing and composition. Both can free you to use your imagination and natural instinct to produce, in musical form, what is deep inside you.
We can't live without it!
To go for it, and not be afraid to show the inner you!
Everyone makes mistakes. It's how you handle those mistakes that define you as an artist and a person.
Stan here: Pavorotti, Led Zeppelin, Charlie Parker. They are all the best at what they do.
We practice all the time. We appreciate the process more now, instead of just the mechanics of it.
Everything! Waiter/waitress, Lyft driver, sales clerk, teacher, butcher, fry cook, factory worker, etc.. All were secondary to the music goal.
The very opposite. I'm less lonely when I'm when I'm singing or playing my instrument. I loose myself in the moment and don't have time to be lonely.
To open our minds and hearts. Music is vibration, and vibration is the conduit to spirit.
Genuine, Genuine, Genuine.
Big stage with all the best equipment and performers.
