{"id":47109,"date":"2014-11-25T21:36:48","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T02:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=47109"},"modified":"2015-01-01T09:41:38","modified_gmt":"2015-01-01T14:41:38","slug":"inteview-with-karen-stever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/inteview-with-karen-stever\/","title":{"rendered":"Karen Stever talks Idiot Savant<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Marija Brettle<\/span>
\n– Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her creativity has inspired others to feel free to express their feelings and individuality. Canadian, Karen Stever is a Metal, Progressive Rock, Alternative Rock singer and songwriter that has been creating music in a genre all on her own. In a world where being conventional and part of a mainstream record labels is the norm, Stever stands apart from the rest. <\/p>\n

In 2008, with the help of producer Frank Gryner, multi-talented Stever released her first album Playground Isolator<\/em>, which has been considered as a true inspiration for many of her ever growing fans. <\/p>\n

This year, following the release of her new record Idiot Savant<\/em> (October 31st), Hardrock Haven caught up with the Los Angeles-based Stever, to talk about her genuine love for music. We also talked about her music heroes, her personal journey with her first and second album and more …<\/p>\n

\"Stever<\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven: Hi Karen! I gather it\u2019s been a very exciting and busy time for you lately, with the release of your new record and two brand new videos. So tell me more about the process of making of your new album Idiot Savant<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Oh yes, it has been a whirlwind autumn! (Laughs) I really wanted a record where I was story-telling as opposed to just making it about my anguish. My goal was to tell a story which would inspire others to get back to the playground. As it turned out, I fell in love with writing again. For me, writing it in poetry-format first and having it work on paper was the most important part. Then things like piano, guitar, bass, strings etc were added.<\/p>\n

HRH: How long did it take you to finish the whole album and what made you settle on the title Idiot Savant<\/em>? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: I spent more time immersing myself in the history of the 30s era and finding how messed up it was. Then once I got the concept in my head, each song was half written on paper one day and finished the next. Then, putting basic chord progressions were 12 sessions with my co-producer Frank Gryner and we had acoustic songs on a small recorder. The album itself didn\u2019t take so long. Life getting in the way forcing me to back-burner it sucked up the time.
\nAs for the title, I go into more detail in my About section on my site. Essentially, I set it in the ’30s because I love that era but believe it set some very bad patterns that are still present today. This makes the title of the record actually timely, not archaic or politically incorrect. <\/p>\n

HRH: How did you come up with all those great ideas in the videos \u2018Green\u2019 and \u2018Juggernaut\u2019? I read that you did all the staging, choreography etc. <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: My whole idea of stage is in lyric writing. The videos basically just represent weird things in the lyrics. I always keep the process very shoe-string budget, so I visit a lot of garage sales and warehouses to finds that are not only cheap, but unique. <\/p>\n

HRH: Do you have any favorite songs in particular, that you want to tell us more about?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Because it is a concept record, they all belong into the puzzle. I can\u2019t imagine any of them missing. It\u2019s one large song, really. I love the intensity of \u2018Virtuoso\u2019, but I love singing the title track, \u2018Idiot Savant\u2019 because it just feels good to hit the long \u201csooooo\u201d in the chorus. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

HRH: On both of your records you have been working continuously with two exceptionally talented guys; the LA producer Frank Gryner (that has worked with the likes of Rob Zombie, The Crystal Method) and Mark Miller. How did you end up working together? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Frank Gryner is a genius and he is so humble. He\u2019ll hate me for saying it. (Laughs) I am lucky that he just \u201cgets it.\u201d Frank and I have co-produced many records together, but I started off doing digital editing for some of his work like when we worked on the \u2018Methods of Mayhem\u2019 record together. We had a website where musicians could submit their parts to records like Tommy Lee\u2019s. Frank thinks a lot like I do. We have our own gauge of what is cool … and we go by that. Basically, if it\u2019s cool, we keep it. If it isn\u2019t, we ditch it.
\nMark Miller can not only play drums really hard, but he has built the majority of props you see in the videos. The three of us are making this all come to life now … and having a lot of fun doing it.<\/p>\n

HRH: When I listened to your first record Playground Isolator<\/em>, it seemed like you poured a lot of your emotion into it. It also seemed like you drew most of it from your childhood; songs like \u2018Sicko,\u2019 \u2018Funeral Mute,\u2019 \u2018Skin\u2019 or \u2018Get Outa My Head\u2019 … Would you say that your second record is just a continuation of that \u2018life journey,\u2019 which digs deeper into your early childhood memories?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: The first record, Playground Isolator<\/em> was very direct. I was suffering with depression and didn\u2019t care who heard it. Music was my therapy, my healer my go-to Doctor. Playground Isolator<\/em> is really cryptic, but boy did I have some anger. (Laughs) Between a string of bad relationships and my plunge into depression, it just hurt all over. The second record Idiot Savant<\/em> is the reunion with the child that was stolen from me and the child I squashed myself. Idiot Savant<\/em> was about getting back in touch with my inner child and the spirit of play. My hope is that it will inspire others. It isn\u2019t about my life directly so much as illustrating what has happened to us to get us off the playground and what we need to do to get back there!<\/p>\n

To continue reading the interview click the number link below:
\n<\/p>\n

\"KarenHRH: Looking from the outside, anybody would say that you\u2019re just \u2018a perfect picture of happiness\u2019 … one of those girls, who had it all, beauty, talent, career and a great sense of self-worth. What advice would you give to all those people out there, who like you suffered with this condition? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: I don\u2019t think it ever goes away. The black dog can devour you, nip at you, stare at you, stalk you or visit periodically, but for me, it is nearly impossible to kill it completely. The advice that helped me most was a quote from Joan Baez who said, \u201cAction is the antidote to despair.\u201d More doing, less thinking keeps us moving. A depressed state keeps us stagnant. Generally, people see shiny happy people as being immune to depression. It often is a front … and can be deadly.<\/p>\n

HRH: Throughout each step of your work in the making of Idiot Savant<\/em> you\u2019ve been very honest and open with your fans. Many other artists would keep their fans guessing till the end. Why so open?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: What a great question… \u201cWhy so open?\u201d I think I could do an entire blog on that very question. (Laughs) When I was hurting, I had some people come up to me and were able to put their arm around me and say, \u201cYou know what? I was where you are.\u201d We don\u2019t always understand that something life-changing for another person can come from our own Hell. Why shouldn\u2019t it? It\u2019s good to know it wasn\u2019t all for nothing. As far as sharing my own creative process, my hope is that someone will ignore the \u201cI can\u2019t do this\u201d voice in them and just try it. It doesn\u2019t have to be expensive, take up a lot of time or be so hard!<\/p>\n

HRH: In your earlier videos and on the new \u2018Green\u2019 video, there is a lot of animation and dark humour. Would you say that through your art, you are trying to reach deeper into your soul and share it with your fans, who you often call \u2018my friends\u2019?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: I am silly and intense. It\u2019s my truth. After I quit caring what others thought of the real me, I could boldly just do what I thought was cool or fun. It doesn\u2019t really go much past that. My Father was a twisted weirdo. I get it honestly. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

HRH: You are one of many independent artists these days that chose to go alone and release your records independently. What was the real reason for that?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Earning pennies on each record and being told what to do doesn\u2019t appeal to me! (Laughs) <\/p>\n

HRH: Or maybe you wanted to push the bounders creatively, musically?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Yes, it\u2019s essential for me not losing my creative freedom! I like having direct contact with my friends online and telling the story how it needs to be told. I get a lot of inspiration from real people.<\/p>\n

HRH: So, what would your advice be, to the many new bands who also want to work independently, trying to avoid the big labels controlling their work and music direction? <\/p>\n

\"KarenKaren Stever: I would say never put the pressure on the art to make you money or it will be raped or prostituted. I would also encourage other artists to revisit WHY they make music. If it is sincere and from a real place where it is like an appendage you would never cut off, you will do it even if nobody is watching or listening. Art and music should be naturally integrated into our lives for fun or expression. Once the reason goes past that, it will suffer. Art and music are their own spirits and we must treat them with dignity. I would also encourage others to have a bigger reason for sharing than just to make money!<\/p>\n

HRH: You often say that you make music for the sake of art and so far, there are no limits to your artistic\/creative outlets; musically as well as staging everything in the background of your videos, like making clothes, puppets etc. How important for you are the visual aspects of your music? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: It isn\u2019t as important as the words, but it sure is crazy FUN! I like that the lyrics came first because all I do now is have fun visually representing them. I don\u2019t go back and re-write. I guess it\u2019s like \u201cOne fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish\u201d. You just start drawing fish. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

HRH: Who would you consider your biggest musical influences and what was the biggest turning point for you, when you knew that music was your calling?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Beethoven- the Grand-Daddy of ROCK! (Laughs) I just wanted to grind a furrow into my brow like that man. I was electrified by his intensity mixed with glimmers of hope. I was a weird kid who would conduct my teddy bears with chopsticks. There was no turning or pivotal moment where I knew I should be doing it. However, there was a great moment on the last record where I made a conscious decision not to care what others thought and THAT gave me a beautiful freedom to discover words and my true self.<\/p>\n

HRH: What\u2019s next for you? Are there any plans for touring? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: I try not to view this whole project as a band touring a record. I want it to be a creative movement amongst listeners where I can inspire people to reunite with their inner child, build home music or art studios again … and play again. <\/p>\n

To continue reading the interview click the number link below:
\n<\/p>\n

\"KarenHRH: I hear you\u2019re writing a book at the moment? <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: I am writing a book and want it to become a larger visual like on stage and film. <\/p>\n

HRH: You are often described as an exceptionally talented independent music artist. How would you describe yourself in three words?<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Compassionate, Intense, Weirdo!
\nMy compassion is both an asset and a weight, though. I worry about everyone and everything.
\nMy intensity makes for good orchestral arrangements, but can set others on fire in an argument.
\nThe weirdo part is inherent. I am stuck with it. (Laughs) I just embraced it and life became more extraordinary!<\/p>\n

HRH: Thank you Karen for making the time for Hardrock Haven. It\u2019s been a real privilege talking to you! Best of luck with Idiot Savant<\/em>! <\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Thank you, Marija! I hope this body or work inspires you to find YOUR inner child and get back to the playground!<\/p>\n

Karen Stever: Introducing IDIOT SAVANT<\/em>
\n