So So Gay
Michele Karmin reinvented her sound back in 2009, and with her new album ‘Let Me Introduce Myself…Again’, we take another look at the NY songwriter.
Philadelphia raised, New York based singer/songwriter Michele Karmin has been hailed as Tori Amos meets Alicia Keys, which in musical terms is far from a bad thing. So without hesitation, So So Gay jumped at the chance to find out whether the self-styled ‘alternative singer/songwriter and electronic artist’ is worth the hype. And undoubtedly she is. While the Alicia Keys meets Tori Amos label is not far off the mark, we would like to point out initially that Karmin is an artist that will please fans of everyone from Diane Birch to Ólöf Arnalds and Delta Goodrem to Regina Spektor. With her sound centred around the piano, as opposed to aforementioned electronic, Karmin is a soulful songwriter with something to say.
Having unleashed her fourth studio album – the aptly titled Let Me Introduce Myself…Again – at the turn of 2012, Karmin has clearly left her electronic origins far behind her. Having started crafting music as a teen, Karmin took a long hard look at her musical output and her musical inspirations, while working on her third album in 2009, and decided to dedicate time to piano lessons to add depth and integrity to her compositions. The move was a wise one.
With her piano skills now fully fledged, Karmin is able to compete with her contemporaries. Having first made headway when her piano-led compositions ‘Six Years’ attracted attention, the haunting formula rears its head in various forms on Let Me Introduce Myself…Again. While the sparse ‘Six Years’ is easily the stand-out track on Let Me Introduce Myself…Again, the album boasts a number of noteworthy songs that warrant your attention.
Karmin excels when she works in a terrain similar to Delta Goodrem. Allowing the piano to take the lead, with her vocal serving as its servant, Karmin’s compositions take on a soothing depth. The beyond lush ‘I Need’ sends tingles down the spine as Karmin’s understated sexiness allows the tinkling ivories to tease. ’Pulling On The String’ sees Karmin enter Sarah MacLachlan’s sultry terrain.
Unlike many of her contemporaries who rely heavily of vocal acrobatics, Karmin keeps her vocal delivery honest straightforward. Equally, Karmin veers away from over-production, allowing her delivery to echo her initial composition. Honest and moving, Karmin proves herself to be an artist who doesn’t deal in overblown sentiment.
Let Me Introduce Myself…Again can be downloaded at Vibe Deck.
