Interview with Karina Zeviani
by John Farris

Karina is the singer and leader of the eponymous band Karina.

JF: So, Karina.

K: Hey, John.

JF: Tell me something.

K: Anything you want.

JF: How did you go from being the silent model to the vibrant dynamic songstress you are?

K: well, it was a long way, it took me a few years. It's just like changes in life, you know? I think it's related to confidence and what you're doing, if you're enjoying it.

JF: I agree with you, because I had begun to hear you when I first came to NUBLU about two and a half years ago, you were performing with Forro in the Dark. You were such a gentle, dear soul.

K: I was just stepping into a new land, everything was so new to me, and I was like - starting to create my own space, but not as much as I'm now. Now it 's diferent feels more independent.

JF: It seems to me that you have evolved from someone singing querulously with the band, to a musician who is totally integrated with her instrument, being the band, and her voice. How'did that happen?

K: It was a natural process. I arrived here, two and a half years ago, started coming to NUBLU wich very quick became my second house and I pretty much met whoever was around. Some of them where people I eventualy started working with. It took me a while though, to get to the boys there are there now, like over a year to start meeting them. It's not out of the blue, you know, you have to work with many people, see what you get, keep on trying. It took me some time to find out what everyone I worked with was about. Had to keep on making changes till you got what you wanted and needed. Finally happened, few months ago.

JF: I watched that happen.

K: Yes you did. And I watched you sitting on that corner watching everything that happened at NUBLU.JF: Well, how did you get this band together?

K: I don't know, just happened. I met each one of them through other people I know. By singing with Forro I met a bunch of musician and heard their suggestions like "maybe you should try ??? on guitar and ??? on bass". ...I'd listen to them since they knew lots of musicians I didn't know. Kept on trying till I felt happy.

JF: It's a very good band, tell me who they are.

K: Ben Zwerin on bass, Guilherme Monteiro on guitar, Yayo Serka on drums, Clark Gayton on trombone and Fred Rubens on keyboards and laptop, He's also my producer. Ah! and me on vocals. (laughs)

JF: (laughs) And you on vocals. So how do you feel about that band?

K: Great.

JF: What makes you like them?

K: Well, we have fun playing music, we are getting a very organic sound, wich I like it a lot, searching for that sound and getting excited about it makes the whole thing easier and fun, you know, everything flows, everybody feels good about it, not only me.

JF: I've watched you evolve, and part of that evolution was, you went on tour last year. Who was that with? Where did you go?

K: It was with "Thievery Corporation". We started in the US, followed by Canada, and Europe in a 3 months tour.

JF: And that made you grow?

K: Oh yeah, definitely.

JF: Are you going to record with this band?

K: Oh yeah, I'm going to be part of the next CD. But they didn't even start producing the next one yet. So it's gonna take at least another year.

JF: We're looking forward to it.

K: Me too.