First Person:

I grew up in Brooklyn, in a little area known as Canarsie… I started playing guitar when I was nine, putting aside the recorder and kazoo. I’m happy to say I grew up when there were only four channels of television, no computers, no cel phones (still don’t own one), and vinyl was all the rage. I have my older brother to thank for his extensive record collection and excellent taste (at five, I was happily listening to the rolling stones, grateful dead, joni Mitchell, zeppelin, and cat stevens). And my older sister taught me how cool girls looked when they sang and played guitar.

I’ve been living in new york city ever since finishing college, where I majored in English. I still want to write a novel. I’ve played lots of places that aren’t here anymore – CBGB’s, Brownies, and many many many east village dive bars. I used to have a hard rock band, Pets, until it transformed itself into something a bit different.

Oh yes, and I’m indebted to Francis Tabone, Eugene Lavenue and Jon Sharkey for being incredible musicians and hanging out with me.

Third Person:

With a dreamy melodic sensibility and meticulously crafted lyrics, Karen Ires is a singer-songwriter who’s garnered numerous credits since the debut of her self-titled CD. A finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, she has contributed music to the films, AKA Tommy Chong, Dog’s Life and Anarchy TV, MTV’s Undressed, and Boston’s prestigious Nemo Compilation CD.

As a vocalist, Karen collaborated with ATB and Alexander Perls on the song, Desperate Religion, a track featured on ATB's new double cd release, Trilogy. She's also sung on several TV commercials, including one for Moët Champagne. She is regularly featured on such internet sites as radiofreevirgin.com, as well as many FM stations.

Supporting her CD, Karen’s video for the song, “Hotel Room,” was directed by F. Scott Schafer. This video features Karen and child actress, Lucy Walsh, and was shot in Manhattan’s quirky Carlton Arms Hotel, with portions filmed at Rockaway Beach.

Whether solo or with band mates Francis Tabone and Jon Sharkey, Karen regularly performs in her hometown of New York City. Recent shows include the Just Plain Folks Road Trip, the CMJ Music Marathon, the Boston Nemo Festival and a benefit where she opened for Lloyd Cole. She continues to contribute music and voice-overs to commercials and film.

So what are the critics saying?

“Her sense of character and bizarre narrative could make her a great short-story writer…she takes a half-heard scrap of conversation and fills in all the blanks, thus, creating these intimate, arresting songs.” – Mark Kirby, MusicDish

“Her vocals are cloaked in a kind of velvet atmosphere that puts her in a category all her own,” – GnomeAudio

“Karen Ires could convince anyone to try to love again…she sings with that aching pop goddess indifference that has qualified artists as different as Nico and Fiona Apple.” – Tropia.com

“F--king hell, she’s great.”
– AMC, Limerick, Ireland

TV, FILM, COMPILATION CDS, & MISC COOL STUFF!

Contests
International Songwriting Competition
2nd Place - Star, Singer-Songwriter Category

John Lennon Songwriting Contest
Finalist for Great Beyond - Folk Category

Just Plain Folks / Singer-Songwriter Category
2nd Place - Star
4th Place - Album "Karen Ires"

BillBoard Songwriting Contest - Honorable Mention
Star, One Closed Eye, Hotel Room, Faithless

TV

MTV Undressed, TV
Songs: Hotel Room & Star

FILM

AKA Tommy Chong
Directed by Josh Gilbert
and featuring Tommy Chong.
Song: Trouble (written by Yusuf Islam - aka Cat Stevens)

Anarchy TV, Film
Directed by Jonathan Blank
and featuring the Zappa kids.
Song: Evol; under the name PETS

Dog's Life , Film
Directed by John Knapich
Song: Suburban

DISCOGRAPHY & COMPILATIONS

Karen Ires, 2003

Hotel Room Video, 2003

5 Songs at Temple of Soul

Pets, 1998

NEMO Compilation CD
Song: Star

MP3.com Best Alternative Rock on the Net
Compilation CD
Song: One Closed Eye

Digital Heroin Compilation CD
Song: evrylsthwy

Deep South II, Compilation CD
Song: Out of Sound;
under the name PETS

Arlene Grocery,
"Making a Scene" Compilation CD
Temperamental Records
Song: Evol; under the name PETS