Throughout her storied music career, Anna Karney has performed across the country and released an incredible catalog of chart topping and critically acclaimed music. Always keeping her mind on social justice and positive messages, KARNEY channels her love for the planet and the beauty of the earth into her powerful new fulllength album CREATURES IN THE GARDEN, set for release August 18, 2023.
Using themes of climate change awareness and respect for the planet as a focal point for her writing, CREATURES IN THE GARDEN showcases an incredible blend of soulful and dreamy acoustic arrangements, easy indie rock beats, dusty distortion, winding bass lines, and astounding indie, emo, and shoegaze rock styles, all as KARNEY weaves images of nature throughout and incorporates a high-spirited positive message about finding solutions to our current climate crisis.
CREATURES IN THE GARDEN features several prominent Bay Area musicians. Longtime drummer Jeff Herrera plays on several tracks including “Peace Is More,” which also features guitarist Erik Smyth and bassist David Doucet. A special lyrical addition to this track is the quote by Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers), “Peace is far more / than the opposite of war.” The title track along with “Sinners and Saints” and a powerful cover of “Rainbow In The Dark” by Ronnie James Dio all feature James Deprato on guitar, Kevin White (Chuck Prophet Band) on bass, and new addition to the Karney crew, drummer Kyle Capistra. The Dio cover particularly resonates with KARNEY as a contemporary comment on the recent unjust laws that are hurting the lives of LGTBQ+ people. KARNEY is honored to feature two Santana band members on CREATURES IN THE GARDEN, trumpet player Bill Ortiz on the track “Across The Planet (remix)” and percussionist Karl Perazzo on the track “Wildfire.” The track “Eternity (remix)” features slide guitarist Gawain Matthews.
It was an overwhelming experience for KARNEY to work with so many creative and talented musicians, in addition to the great collaborative chemistry shared with her co-producer Michael Rosen (Rancid, Tesla). Everyone poured their hearts into the music and achieved heights far beyond anything she could have ever imagined. Anna Karney’s lyrical content offers an impassioned and straightforward approach to many of the issues facing people today. Her musical influences include Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Patti Smith, John Lennon, Sheryl Crow, Chrissie Hynde, and Joni Mitchell. As an arranger, pianist, and guitarist, she has worked with artists such as George Clinton, Linda Perry, and Dennis Bovell.
In 2022, KARNEY released Gonna Be Beautiful, an exciting collection of originals along with some freshly conceived versions of old favorites. In 2021, songs from the KARNEY EP release Better received stellar airplay on Triple-A and Americana radio stations, including the title track and her powerful cover of “Ramble On,” one of Anna Karney’s favorite Led Zeppelin songs. She released a series of singles throughout 2021, including her personal and heartfelt original track “Be Together,” and a cover of the Neil Young classic “Heart Of Gold.”
Other previous KARNEY releases include her 2018 album No Mercy; a series of singles from 2016 called Manifest Destiny, Vol. 1 EP and Restless Wind, Vol. 2 EP; the 2012 album Love & Respect; the 2003 album All Connected; and her debut release Karney from 1999. Anna Karney has worked with producers and artists in the SF Bay Area such as Producer/engineer Mark Pistel (Michael Franti, Grace Jones, Chuck Prophet), Producer/Engineer Michael Rosen (Rancid, Tesla, Smashmouth, Santana, and Papa Roach), and Adam Munoz (Herbie Hancock, Dave Mathews, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Chester Thompson, and Lyle Lovett).
Anna Karney has had a diverse musical career, having spent many years composing music for games such as Star Wars Galaxies, Monkey Island IV, Armed and Dangerous, several SimCity titles, Metal Dungeon, Death Jr., and many more. She received the esteemed “Dreamcatcher” Award from the Visual and Performing Arts division of the San Francisco Unified School District for her work as a choral teacher and conductor for middle and high school students, as well as her contribution to the furthering of music education in the San Francisco public school system. Additionally, Anna Karney has scored ballet and modern dance pieces as an artist in residence at Mills College and San Francisco State University. She also composed her Opus 1 Chaconne Sur Sept for nationally renowned contemporary music group Earplay Ensemble.
“Huge Sound and Powerful Lyrics!”
-Girl.com Australia
“A statement of defiance in the face of our era’s adversity.”
-DMME.net – Let It Rock
“Hard hitting stuff for hard hitting times.”
-Midwestrecord.com
“Karney consistently releases intriguing music.”
-MusicStreetJournal.com, Gary Hill
“She has a great soulful voice and the music is unique and interesting. Not your average pop
junk. It “goes places” you don’t expect which I find very refreshing”
-Collected Sounds – A Guide to Women’s Music
“Local musician Karney is hitting all the right notes.”
-Joel Selvin – SF Chronicle Datebook
“Karney has well-written songs, an awesome band backing her up, and top-quality recording,
making this a great record by yet another talented local musician.”
-Remy Armstrong – Zero Magazine
Band Member Biographies
Erik Smyth
Erik Smyth has been a local San Francisco Bay Area musician playing the clubs since 1988. In the 90’s he was a founding member of the large ensemble funk/soul group The Mo’fessionals. The Mofessionals got to share the stage with many large acts, Rage Against the Machine, The Fugees, Parliament, Wall Flowers, and War to name a few. The Mofo’s recorded two albums together, “Live at Slims” and “Finally Over”.
Jeff “Trump” Herrera – Drums
A third generation native San Franciscan, Jeff has been playing drums and percussion professionally for over twenty five years. Jeff’s versatile and dynamic playing have provided him opportunities to back some of San Francisco’s premier vocalists in the Latin, Jazz, Rock, Singer Songwriter, Reggae, Hip-Hop and World Music genres. Jeff has performed at acclaimed Music Festivals such as Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (CA), South by Southwest (Austin, TX), and North by Northwest (Seattle, WA). He has also headlined such historic venues as The Fillmore Auditorium, The Great American Music Hall and the Herbst Theater. Jeff is also in demand as a recording artist, contributing to records, projects and Soundtracks for TV, film and theater. Jeff is currently working with a variety of musical acts in the San Francisco area. Jeff loves exotic stamps, desserts served on fire, warm puppies, fishing in Lake Titicaca, exact change and the smell of new civic buildings.
Kevin White plays with a dizzying array of artists. He has been bassist for Will Porter and the California All Stars, GRAMMY winners Al Wilson (“Show and Tell”) and Billy Preston as well as soul legend Barbara Lewis (“Hello, Stranger”), The Coasters, and The Drifters. Then former Counting Crows drummer Steve Bowman recommended Kevin to be the bass player for Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express, with whom Kevin currently plays. Kevin be-gan playing bass when he was 11 years old, had his first professional gig at the age of 14 and has been on the road, on the stage, or in the studio since.
Contact:
Karney@karney.org
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