After finding success on The Voice and two great albums, Karen Lee Andrews (FKA Ms Murphy) took a step back from the spotlight. Now three years since her last gig as Ms Murphy, Andrews has returned with a brand new sound, and love for creating music.
The self-written and produced EP Far From Paradise is a reinvention of the blues genre, and on stage alongside her band Andrews gives the songs new life. Ahead of her east coast tour behind Far From Paradise, Karen Lee Andrews took some time to chat with Tone Deaf about reinventing her sound, and the music that’s inspired her throughout her life.
Watch: Karen Lee Andrews – “Love You” Live
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You retired from touring as Ms Murphy in 2015. What did you get up to between that and the new EP as Karen Lee Andrews?
In between that time, it was mostly just re-strategising. I wanted to step away from The Voice and step away from the name Ms Murphy a little bit. I wanted to kind of hone in on my own sound. I started playing guitar again in public and wrote this EP on my guitar. I spent time really trying to find what I wanted to express with this EP. It took a while but I got there in the end.
You described the sound of the new EP as new, but still familiar. How has it changed?
With this new one I wrote all the songs myself, I didn’t work with a producer or another writer. I had a little bit of help from my current band but it’s mainly just from me directly. I wanted to try and use the influences that I’ve had in my life to express what I actually wanted to say.
The hardest thing for me was to write simple lyrics. It’s always difficult to write simple lyrics with meaning and with impact, that’s what I wanted with this EP. The sounds are still familiar, but I wanted to make sure that the lyrical content was now and it was from me, so yeah.
What’s your favourite song on the EP?
Personally, it’s Love You. Both lyrically and musically that’s my favourite song.
Far From Paradise is a new style of blues music, what inspired you to take the blues genre and build on it and take obviously the influences of it but make it something new? What inspired you to do that?
I think the blues, with my type of voice and tone, is very natural. I naturally drift towards blues lines and vocals, I find them quite inspirational for me vocally and musically.
Because I live in Australia and I’m from a Polynesian family as well, I have a lot of influence with harmonies from my Polynesian heritage. Those sounds are very, very dominant in my process. When I write songs and put lyrics to melody and chords, those influences happen very naturally for me. I didn’t want to fight that, I actually wanted to bring that out more.
Who are a few artists that inspire your sound and inspire you?
In terms of newer artists Gary Clark Jr. and Alabama Shakes are awesome. Also Derek Trucks (Tedeschi Trucks Band), he’s an amazing guitarist and his wife is such a beautiful singer. More old school artists who inspire me are Etta James, Sam Cook, B. B. King and Marvin Gaye. A lot of soul artists and a lot of blues artists.
You’ve talked about your Polynesian heritage’s influence on your music. I know you also spend a lot of time performing in church and then became a band leader in your church. Has long has music been a dominant part of your life?
I can remember when I was so little and my mum would tell me, “Hurry up and get up there and sing something,” on the spot. So, it was always a part of my upbringing and I was so immersed in our family’s musical talent. We would just sit and sing together at every family function or church service or whatever. The most dominating things were always food and music. I was just immersed in it from childhood.
You had almost three years off after retiring Ms Murphy. Are you happy to be back performing and back making music?
Definitely, yeah. It’s my home. It felt like there was something missing that entire time. This has just kind of made me centre a little bit. It’s great to be back. I love performing.
Would you look at collaborating with other artists and producers or are you quite happy putting it all together yourself?
Maybe after the next EP. This current phase that I’m in now, I’m really enjoying just being confident with my own song writing and my own ability. I want to encourage and nurture that more before I step out and ask somebody to collaborate with me. I feel like at this time in my process, it’s something that I need to do.
Watch: Karen Lee Andrews – “Tell Me More & More & Then Some” cover
You’re heading out on tour soon, what can we expect from your live show?
Well, I’ll be playing guitar which I didn’t do on my previous tours. Outside of that it’s just the three of us and you’re going to expect a lot of soul, a lot of blues, a lot of love, and a lot of energy as well.
In Sydney, we’ll have a full band line up including a keyboardist and another guitarist who will be joining us. That will be really special.
The tour runs through November and then what can we expect from you after that?
I definitely want to tour more next year and I’m already looking at recording another EP to be released as soon as possible. Next year is going to be very exciting, there’ll definitely be more music from me.
Karen Lee Andrews heads out on an east coast tour this November. Check out all the info and listen to “Troubled Mind” from the Far From Paradise EP below.
Watch: Karen Lee Andrews – “Troubled Mind”
Far From Paradise Tour
Wednesday November 14
LazyBones Lounge
Marrickville NSW
Friday November 16
The Milk Factory
Brisbane QLD
Saturday November 24
Beyond Festival
Kangaroo Valley NSW
Friday November 30
Inland Sea Of Sound Festival
Mount Panorama NSW
Saturday December 8
The Grace Darling Hotel
Collingwood VIC
