“In The Moment”…….That’s how New York-based Musician/Singer/Songwriter, Criso Kardia goes about living her life and defining her sound…. With a style and presence all her own, Criso Kardia, clearly embodies much of what this blog is all about: being original and expressive; while creating your own sound, on your own terms. Hailing from The Bronx, but raised in Long Island, Criso began playing piano at age 8, but her mother stopped her after a few years because she wasn’t taking it too seriously. It wasn’t until she was around 12 years old, fighting against the battles of being in junior high, that she says that "the piano began to call out to me, and I began practicing everyday.” The piano became her friend and filled a void in a time when she desperately needed to someone to talk to. She says "It listened to everything I had to say." From there, she started performing and doing open mics when she got into college, and eventually became winner of the 2nd Annual Singer-Songwriter Contest at The Waltz-Astoria in Queens. Prior to this, Criso says that she felt "very timid in terms of using her voice because she hadn't had any professional training". Winning the Singer-Songwriter Contest gave her the confidence she needed in order to focus on projecting her voice and feel all-around more comfortable vocally.
Criso’s stage name is actually derived from a Greek term meaning “Golden Heart.” It is with this heart that she strongly believes in the significance of music and the healing power that it provides. She says “I want to give back to others, what music has given to me: friendship, comfort, and an outlet to express both happiness and sadness.” Kardia’s sultry, alto voice perfectly compliments the tone of the chords that she plays on the piano. Her music is deep and very much reminiscent of her own experiences of discovery, love, and self- acceptance- themes that we all can certainly relate to.
“I Don’t Aim High For The Lifestyle
I Aim High To Give Back That Which Music Has Given to Me…
My Strength…
My Belief…..
My Essence…..
& Everlasting Friendship…”
- Criso Kardia
I recently had the opportunity to watch this amazing performer “Rock the House” at Ella Lounge on the Lower East Side, and needless to say, she was phenomenal…..She just completely took command of the stage; all the while performing a great range of tunes that had the audience both dancing at times and reflective at others. She is an artist who is not afraid to experiment with different sounds and techniques until she finds what works best for her. For instance- she performs rhythmic, up-tempo tunes such as “Two Golden Dragonflies”, “Intrigued”, and “Super Moon,” by keeping time with her hands (or with a tambourine), and somehow still manages to play and sing without ever missing a beat. This really stood out to me because it’s not something that I've ever seen a performer do….To master singing, playing, and practically being your own percussion section is an amazing feat- one that most musicians will tell you flat out that they couldn't do…..and especially not at the same time.
I also had the chance to talk with Criso to see her insights on life, songwriting, and current state of the music industry. Here's what she had to say:
Harmonious Flame: Who are some of your influences?
Criso Kardia: SarahMcLaughlin and Tori Amos are definitely some of my early influences as far as female singer/songwriters go. In terms of contemporary acts, there would be Jack White because I love his way of thinking in terms of songwriting, and the way he does things “ in the moment.” He is very much someone that I would absolutely love to work with. Also, India Arie is a huge influence for me because she is genuine, stays true to who she is, and writes songs straight from the heart.
Harmonious Flame: How would you describe your sound?
Criso Kardia: Blues, Indie, Soulful. I never wanted to fit in any one specific category. I usually start out a song; it takes its form, and pretty much writes itself.
Harmonious Flame: How do you feel about the current state of the music industry?
Criso Kardia: Saddened and disappointed. The industry is much more image-driven, and doesn’t really focus at all on what’s being said at all. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that image and how you present yourself as an artist are important because it does have to do with the way you express yourself; but image is only one aspect of the music. In my opinion, the music that you present should also be on equal footing with your image. I believe in having a message, or something of importance to say that is relatable to the masses. Alot of what you hear on the radio today is very synthetic, too machine and studio-oriented. I’m much more into very raw, original material….Artists who like to experiment with different sounds. That’s what I miss about music from past generations....the fact that they kept it real to the actual music. There's not enough of that today.
Harmonious Flame: What does being an “Indie Artist” mean to you?
Criso Kardia: It means showing emotion and just taking more of an experimental approach to things. One of my favorite Indie acts is “The Cure.”
Harmonious Flame: How do you go about writing or composing music? What is your process?
Criso Kardia: In the beginning my music was less structured and much more piano-driven. Now I think that I focus more on structure, lyrics, and vocals. I’ve learned to step away from the piano and become more vocally driven. Usually, the melody finds me, and the words just kinda trickle along. Other times the lyrics come to me first, and then the actual music. I have very different processes for each song, but all are nonetheless, exciting.
Harmonious Flame: What drives you to be a songwriter? What do you find to be most rewarding?
Criso Kardia: The ability to help other people with the power of words. You can provide so much influence by just having the right song at the right moment. The two main challenges a songwriter has to face are: “What do you want people to walk away with?” and “How can my song be relatable to the masses?”
Harmonious Flame: What do you hope to accomplish with your music? What message do you want to convey?
Criso Kardia: To give back what music has given to me, and to get it out to the masses. In my music, I like to show the process of life and what it entails. I want to express that life is going to have its ups and down; it will be a rollercoaster ride.
Harmonious Flame: Do you have anything else that you want our readers to know about you? A favorite quote? A particular anecdote regarding music?
Criso Kardia: “In The Moment”- means living each day as though it’s your last because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. I realize that I could have easily been that girl who stayed in the comfort of her living room singing, or maybe even just gave up. But I came to music on my own terms and fought for what I love.
To hear more of Criso Kardia’s amazing sounds, check out her YouTube page:http://www.youtube.com/user/CrisoKardia333. She will also be recording an EP later on this year with talented producer, Drue Baron Davis (http://red-clay.com/).
Upcoming Shows:
Sep. 29th- Waltz-Astoria (Queens)- 9pm
Oct. 24th- Ella Lounge (Manhattan)- time TBA
For Booking, contact: dreamingtina238@yahoo.com
Until Next Time.....