KARNEY delivers three new protest-themed tracks with her FREE COUNTRY EP, available October 2, 2026. With a full length album on the way in 2027, these songs are a taste of what’s to come next from the impassioned and prolific artist.
KARNEY was invited to perform her social justice songs for one of the No Kings rallies in San Francisco, which inspired her to write the song “Free Country (No Monarchs Welcome Here)” to address the topic directly. “I drew on songs I learned as a young songwriter by a group called The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE),” says Anna. “My parents had a record of their songs from the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, which inspired me to write ‘Free Country’ as a No Kings-themed protest song.” Like a tap was turned on, one new song led to KARNEY writing and recording two more. “My song ‘Anymore’ is a result of feeling lost in a place that I used to call home,” she says. “I included some uncomfortable chords and let my feelings of rage flow. But because I don’t like to stay in a dark space for too long, I decided to connect with nature in my song ‘Just for Now,’ which serves as an antidote to those dark feelings.”
The track “Free Country (No Monarchs Welcome Here)” features KARNEY on acoustic guitar and vocals together with Ben Dubin on string bass and harmonica. “Just For Now” and “Anymore” also features KARNEY on acoustic guitar and vocals and Ben Dubin on bass, together with James Deprato on guitar, Mike Anderson on bass, and Kyle Caprista on drums. All songs were recorded and co-produced by long-time collaborator Michael Rosen at East Bay Recorders.
On her last full-length album One True Song, KARNEY explored a variety of instrumental configurations and a broad range of energy. The album featured several prominent Bay Area musicians showcasing an extraordinary blend of soulful folk rock and alternative singer/songwriter acoustic arrangements. In addition to the artists featured on the FREE COUNTRY EP, the One True Song album also included guitarist Erik Smyth; bassists Kevin White (Chuck Prophet Band) and Uriah Duffy (Fantastic Negrito, Whitesnake); Phillip Bennet (Jefferson Starship) on Hammond organ and keys; violinist Anthony Blea (John Santos Sextet); and Faisal Sedan (The Qadim Ensemble) on darbuka drum, Arabic riq, and frame drum.