Hallo. I'm Karyn.
I was born in London, England; I was brought to Canada as an 18-month-old babe in arms. Besides a brief period in New Jersey during high school where I played trumpet in the marching band -- I have lived most of my life in and around Toronto Ontario. Though I did recently spend some time in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountain eight hours north of Vancouver where, among other things, I wrote my newest album MORE THAN A HERO. Babbling rivers and moose, and such.
Don Kerr & I have been working together again on this album, which is coming out later this year (2013.) He and I co-produced my last album too: EVEN THOUGH THE SKY WAS FALLING, which has generated substantial positive press. The Globe and Mail named the album’s lead-off number, “Be My Girl,” an Essential Track, Canwest gave the record a 4 star review, Montreal Gazette called me "charming" and La Presse told readers "not to be fooled by Ellis’ naïve-sounding vocals," saying I am "a solid and insightful writer."
My albums have been playlisted across CBC networks and have charted on campus radio, both nationally and regionally. My music has also been acclaimed and playlisted internationally in places such as Australia, China, Russia and across Europe.
I have shared stages with Geoff Berner, Little Miss Higgins, Annabelle Chvostek, Justin Rutledge and Madison Violet, to name a few. I have appeared at the New Waves Festival in conjunction with Luminato, Edmonton’s NextFest, Wells BC's Artswells and BC River Days Festival. I have toured Canada and Europe several times.
I have lent my voice to a number of recording projects including those by Treasa Levasseur, Rob Szabo, Evalyn Parry and Kerri Ough (The Good Lovelies).
Several of my songs have been placed in TV and films including "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (Epitome Productions) on Much Music and syndicates; “Robson Arms” (Omni Productions) on CTV, Bravo and the Comedy Network; UK filmmaker Gareth Griffith’s “Happy Fridays”, at Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner in 2008; and Stand Alone’s “What is Indie” by filmmaker Dave Cool distributed by the National Film Board of Canada.
What else... Let's see.
I was crowned winner of the 2012 Canadian Social Media Blogging Challenge (Ariel Hyatt/Cyber PR and Songwriter's Association of Canada.)
My song, Little Grey Sparrow, was selected out of over 700 entries nationwide as one of five finalists representing Ontario in CBC Radio 3's "David Suzuki's Playlist For the Planet" songwriting contest, 2010.
My song, Motorcycle Ride, received an Honourable Mention in the Artswells Songwriting Contest, 2010.
I was shortlisted for the OCFF's Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award in 2009 and 2010 (administered by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals and the Ontario Arts Council.)
I was voted “Most Original New Voice” in 2007 by Humber College songwriting faculty that included artists Danny Michel, Dahmnait Doyle and US songwriter, Jules Shear.
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Visit my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/mathilde22cat