Karima Francis released her debut album, ‘The Author’, in 2009.
Signed to Kitchenware Records, the Newcastle upon Tyne based label – home of The Editors and Prefab Sprout, the Blackpool born signer songwriter was pegged as the ‘No 1 one to watch’ by The Observer Music Monthly in the same year.
Compared to Joan Armatrading, and citing Carole King as an influence, Francis reportedly made a powerful introduction at the Manchester Music In The City conference – ‘silencing the room’ with impressive vocals and laid bare content.
Produced by experienced studio duo, Bacon & Quarmby, ‘The Author’ received mixed reviews; balancing ‘the meatiness of voice and subject matter’ against ‘enervated pop-rock melodies and some watery lyrics.’ (Hermonie Hoby – The Guardian, Mar 15th ’09).
Although Chris Long surmised it as ‘a sublime, often astonishing debut’ for the BBC online music review, with her vocals widely recognised by peers and media.
Karima Francis reportedly took ‘some time out’ after the velvet glove reception of her debut, admitting personal problems that ‘took her away from her music’.
She then signed to Mercury imprint, Vertigo Records, in 2011 and has been working on her new album – ‘The Remedy’, with producer Flood; the industry stalwart behind PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, U2 and Glasvegas.
Open and candid about her three year hiatus, Francis was on the road with her new material in 2011, stating, “it was amazing, the amount of people that came – and we were playing a completely new set. We were silencing rooms, and I never thought I’d get that back.”
‘Wherever You Go’, the first single release from ‘The Remedy – Francis’ second album, is out on May 14th.
Karima Francis comes to The Glee Club on April 26th. Ed King will be there for the Birmingham Review.
For more on this, and other gigs at the venue, visit http://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham-music
For more on Karima Francis, visit http://karimafrancis.com