Karen Harding's metamorphosis in catchy indie-pop single "Devil In The Mirror"

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Karen Harding releases Devil in the Mirror
Karen Harding

Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based folk/pop singer-songwriter with a passion for sharing a relatable expression of human emotion and inner experience within her music. For Karen, music is not only an outlet for expression of her feelings and emotions drawn from a lifetime of experiences, music is a soul conversation, that allows the masks that we hide behind to fall away for a moment of sharing, a moment of mutual understanding, in a language that does not discriminate in any form.

Music has always been a part of Karen’s life, beginning piano lessons at the age of 6 and singing lessons at 14. She has played at many cafes and bars around the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in a combination of solo, duo and band performances, that have contributed to the sound that you hear today. Her debut single "I Didn't Realise" released in May 2021 marked the beginning of a musical and personal journey of exploration. Karen has since been pushing the boundaries of creativity, collaborating with a diverse range of artists and producers from around the world.

With her first track for 2023, Karen Harding unveils a metamorphosis, moving away from her previous emotional ballad releases of 2021 and 2022, with her indie-pop single "Devil In The Mirror". Within it  - a catchy track filled with driving drum rhythms and 80’s style bass lines, with an underlying ambience of bell synth pads and binaural beats - the devil acts as a metaphor for the judging voice in our heads that is constantly putting us down, and leaving us feeling inadequate, whether that be through body image, relying on acceptance from others or not achieving what we set out to do. The haunting illustration within the artwork for "Devil In The Mirror" was designed using the power of AI art and then incorporated into the final image by Karen Harding.

In our modern world, we are constantly faced with images of what we should look like, how we should behave, who we should be and a bar of impossible "perfection" that society expects us to live by. Karen’s self-written, recorded and produced track, "Devil In The Mirror", mixed and mastered by Edwin Kraus, dives into the way that many feel when they don’t see themselves as measuring up. With this single, Karen confirms once again that her music is characterized by lyrics and melodies that touch upon the human experiences and emotions that connect us all. The rhythmic, haunting chorus will be stuck in our ears for days, reminding us to not listen to those self-sabotaging inner voices that push us to think we are not enough. I have supported Karen since I met her online through this blog, and it's been amazing to see and hear her evolution as an artist and songwriter. I really recommend that you also check out her previous music!

Karen shares; "Like so many people, I have spent so much of my life being afraid to put myself in front of a camera or for people to see the whole me. My ‘devil’ would tell me stories that I didn’t measure up or that I didn’t look how I was supposed to look. I wanted to share this song because I believe that we’re in a pandemic.. that people everywhere are striving for impossible, unreachable versions of themselves. I want them to know that they ARE good enough just by being themselves. They finally have the chance to break the mirror and conquer their devil".

Karen's collaborations have included working with Argentinian P&M Records, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Canadian producer Landao, Melbourne Hip Hop artist Serif, and an inspiring project with Misia Julia. Her talents have also been recognized through awards and nominations, including winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank sponsored Radio Eastern songwriter talent show, being nominated as a top 10 winner for the World Songwriting Awards, and a nominee for Best International Artist on Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards in February 2022.

For Karen, music has been a world of discovery and possibility, as well as a tool for therapy and personal growth. As she continues to explore her musical talents and creative potential, Karen Harding is sure to captivate audiences with her unique voice and innovative approach to songwriting.

"Devil in the mirror"

I wanna know if it’s you or just me.. Who’s that woman staring back at me?

The reflection is a stranger, a lie , Telling me I'm not good enough, I wanna cry

Is this experience one of a kind?, She’s whispering words into my mind

But the devil in the mirror, oh she knows

that I’m hiding thoughts behind my fancy clothes

There's a devil in the mirror , Tellin me that I’m not enough 

Make me feel like a sinner , I just can't get rid of this stuff 

I try to change her, she's always the same 

Reminding me of my mistakes and all my shame

I wish that I could break free from her hold 

But she's a part of me, a story to be told

I don't want to live in this illusion 

I want to be true to myself 

I'll break the mirror, I'll make a revolution 

Karen Harding releases Devil in the Mirror
Karen Harding
Linktree: Karen Harding

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