KARI SMITH
vocals, keys, acoustic guitar
and booking, marketing, web team, and everything else! ;)
Influences
My influences are from all different genres of music, so although my music has an "alternative country" label, it has a pretty diverse sound! My favorite musicians are just as diverse, and range from George Strait, Patty Griffin, Mindy Smith, Gavin Degraw, Mary J. Blige, Sara Bareilles, Emily West, Alicia Keys and Alison Krauss - to name a few!
Pre-order Kari's Nashville debut CD "Gypsy of Love" (shipping December 9, 2008)!
Buy Kari's self-titled CD (10 songs)
Buy Kari's EP "go with you" (6 songs)
Sounds Like
Me! There are SO many styles of music that I enjoy, and so few styles that I don't listen to, so what I do is a combination of pretty much everything! I really enjoy mellow music when the time calls for it, but I also love to rock it out. I love bluesy stuff, I REALLY love a good beat in R&B or hip-hop. I sing a lot of country (hey - I live in Nashville!) but I try to bring a unique sound to it that's a little bit less 'vanilla' than you might expect! If you hear me sing covers, expect to hear Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Patty Griffin, The Eagles, Sam Cooke... and my originals are just as diverse! Enjoy...
Nashville-based Kari Smith gathers crowds with her fresh vocal style and contagious smile, whether it’s local fans in a crowded coffee shop, or on stage performing for thousands. Rather than waiting to be discovered, Kari finds her audience in local and regional venues, and fills her time outside of performing with writing, recording, and teaching music. In addition to solo acoustic performances, Kari performs with other bands in a variety of genres as a vocalist, keyboardist, and rhythm guitarist. Through these experiences, she has had the opportunity to share the stage with such national acts as Huey Lewis & the News, Sugar Ray, and Switchfoot. Her powerful rendition of the National Anthem has been heard at Richmond Braves games, concerts including The Doobie Brothers and Hootie & The Blowfish, the Extreme Fighting Championship in Richmond, VA’s Coliseum, sporting events at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena in Nashville, TN, and the Toughest Cowboy rodeo in Nashville’s arena, The Sommet Center.
"As a vocalist, Kari is mature beyond her years," says producer Matthew Roberts. In 2005, she independently released EP "go with you", including the bluesy, driving rhythm of "I Call It Love," which was featured in independent film "Middle of the Road" (August 2005, Red Cactus Films). Producer John Henneberger says that her writing is “superb and reflects that of a seasoned veteran while maintaining a freshness in approach needed in today's musical landscape." In August 2006, she followed up with an independently released full-length album, self-titled "Kari". Her third record will be released in December 2008 by Music Row producer / engineer Dennis Money on independent label Vanillity Music.
Her first TV appearance in October 2007 featured an acoustic performance of her original music on PBS show “The Music Seen”, and her first network appearance on CBS’s “Virginia This Morning” aired in January 2008.
Kari made the move from Richmond, VA to Nashville, TN in 2006 to further her pursuit of performing and writing. She also holds an AA in Liberal Arts. Kari is a member of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) and ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers.)
Hey sassy... Same thing here... Just WAY too crowded. Stepped out for air and just decided to go home. Had fun though...and I really enjoyed getting to hear you sing. Great pipes girlie! Hope to see you again soon. Cheers! :o)
Hello Kari, nice to see ya. It's been a loooong time. You're just as lovely as you used to be...LOL Hope all is well. I see you will be outta town in a coupla days. Be careful and have a great Christmas.
Hey lady!! I hope your holiday season is going well. I am trying to head up to Nash within the next month or two, so we need to plan to get together again. I had a blast last time!
I just hope when you do hear what we do you don't wish you hadn't...hahahahaha. We play both types of music - country and western. Thanks again for the add Kari - can't wait to rock wif you!
oh and thanks! about the profile pic...it is actually from like last year...my hair is shorter and redder now...lol...but its groing back out and i cant wait!
we are gonna try to make a video of it for you...then i will upload it to my myspace...and i will try and make a video of one of my songs too...it might take a while...but it will happen...lol
