Karen David - Tantalising with her amazing voice
Karen David – Sizzling the Dhandia dance floors, singing Jazz, tantalising with her melodious voice…
Words by Ashanti OMkar
Pictures by Akin Falope
Unusual to say the least, Karen David, a distinctive talent in herself; born at the foothills of the Himalayas to parents of Chinese and South Indian heritage, spills her heart out about herself, her current project, ‘Strictly Dhandia’ and tells us about her part in ‘Batman Begins’, an honour bestowed upon her that takes her from her upbringing in Canada all the way to Hollywood! She tells us about her music: “most importantly finding that Karen David sound that I can say is uniquely mine.” Having worked with the legendary AR Rahman and having threaded the path of all visual arts, from TV to Theatre to live music shows, Karen is undoubtedly one of the hottest Asian talents to watch out for in 2005.
Tell us about your heritage, background and upbringing.
My mother is of Chinese background - she was born and brought up in the North Eastern part of India in a place called Shillong which is in Meghalaya, not too far from Assam. My sister and I were both born there, as well. My Mum considers herself very much to be Indian, although she has Chinese blood. The whole community there is known as the Khasi Tribe. My father is from the South, he’s from Madras (Chennai). It’s been interesting growing up to say the least, because I have always felt that I’ve been caught between two cultures - although I was born in Shillong - I was brought up in Canada. I was just a year old when we came to Toronto. I very much feel Canadian - and at the same time, as I have got older, I have been immersing myself in my roots.
Would you say that you were a precocious child, in terms of making decisions for yourself and getting your first acting role, all by yourself?
I really don’t know – my parents, my father sat us down every Sunday and he would read the current events in the newspapers, and I would get so bored and I would get tuned into the comic section and I naturally gravitated towards the entertainment pages and there was a huge article, looking for cute kids for a Bill Cosby ‘jello’ commercial – ‘parents please call’ – so I just tore the page out and snuck into my parents room, because the phone was in there and I called up myself - I happened to get the casting director on the phone and she was tickled that a 7 year old girl was calling her up to make an appointment for herself. When I told my parents afterwards, my mother was freaked out – she said I wasn’t allowed to give the number out to strangers, both my parents were quite touched and impressed that I was determined enough to do that. My father just said that if this means that much to you then we will take you to the audition. I ended up getting the part and that started everything - My parents have always been supportive of both my sister and I in whatever we do; as long we show the initiative and we work hard for it, Precocious maybe! Just terribly driven, I think, when I was younger - and I still am.
The story of your move into acting and music – tell us all about it in your own words.
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an actress and a singer. I was determined right from then to try and accomplish something big or small, everyday, to take me that much closer to making my dreams come true. I went to an arts school...like FAME, in Toronto when I was 13, and I trained in drama and voice studies. When I was 15, I started going back to auditioning. I also got myself an acting agent and was working again as an actress and singer. I met my best friend, and now my brother-in-law, Rob Wells when I was 15 and we started writing songs together. My folks said that my publishing deal to EMI Music was one of the most "pleasant surprises" for them...they were thrilled....and so am I.... I love writing. It’s so therapeutic...who needs a shrink, when you can write songs as therapy?! My acting has definitely made me a better writer, as I like telling stories and adding quirks, twists and turns lyrically. I love playing with words. My Toronto acting agent was ironically from London, and she really wanted me to train intensively at a reputable drama college over here in the UK...you're well respected if you train in England as an actor. They take you and your craft much more seriously. When I finished drama college, I was supposed to base myself out of New York for awhile, but I was approached by a bunch of acting agents over here and there were so many opportunities presented to me, so I would've been a fool to have turned them down! I met Simon Long, my manager, a year after graduating from Guildford School of Acting, when I was in the original cast of Mamma Mia! The rest is yet to come, with my music and movies e.t.c.
Have you ever been back to Shillong, your birthplace? You have a track entitled the same – how did that and its lyrics come about?
The last time I was in Shillong was when I was 8 years old, when my grandmother was ill. I would love to go back with them sometime this year....just have to find the time with my work schedule! I come from a very small family, so we're all very close to each other and ever since I lost my cousins, Ben and David (who were like my brothers, as we were close in age) in a tragic accident, my whole life changed. I did a complete U-turn and wanted to embrace my roots, my heritage - everything that made up a part of me, and Rahman was the one who felt that it was really important to write a song about where I came from...my people...why I look the way I do, or think the way I do...a song about my birthplace, Shillong. He said he wanted to put Shillong on the world map, so to speak. Rahman has a habit of double naming his songs, doesn't he? Chaiya, Chaiya...Shillong, Shillong!
How did the AR Rahman experience come about?
The casting director, David Grindrod, brought Rahman to see ‘Mamma Mia!’ one evening and that night; Rahman saw me perform and asked David about me. The next thing I know, my agent calls me up and asks me if I can go over to this man's house at 11:00pm...it sounded pretty dodgy at first...not knowing who he was, and going to a stranger's house in the middle of the night. I told my parents, and my mother said, AR Rahman? She couldn't believe it and told me who he was and said, "You better go and meet him!" So that was the start of my creative relationship with Rahman. I helped develop all the songs for Bombay Dreams with him, Don Black and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was great to be a part of the creative process and work with such a talent like Rahman.
Was there a reason why you didn’t actually perform in Bombay Dreams, seeing as you have the looks and voice to be on stage, not to mention the experience?
I didn’t do Bombay Dreams because I didn’t want the contract - when you sign into West End plays or Musicals, they are usually for a year, certainly for Musicals they are. ‘Mama Mia’ was the first ever Musical I had ever done, it was such a great learning experience, having just come out of drama college – it was very good training, knowing what it’s like to do 8 shows a week and trying to make the 462nd show look like it was your first…but Rahman did insist on me being on the album ….and I do get to feature on one of the tracks even though I wasn’t in the Show!
‘Batman begins’ – you have a role in this very high profile, highly anticipated film – tell all…
My character Claire is a reporter for Gotham City and it was just for two scenes in the courtroom scenes in a very pivotal moment. I even had to sign confidentiality forms. It was absolutely wonderful; I had the opportunity to act in my scenes with Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Katie Holmes and Larry Holden. It was just wonderful and I tell you going to rehearsals and doing a line run with these actors in the same room – at first it was the most unbelievable moment, I was so nervous and it felt surreal to me, I was more gob-smacked that I had these famous actors sitting next to me just running lines with me.
Tamasha – how did you get involved with them and the role in ‘Strictly Dhandia’?
I think it’s really important for actors to do live theatre, because it keeps you on your toes, I think it hones your skills as an actor, especially when you’re working with a great director. Christine Landon - Smith directed Strictly Dandia and she really makes you work hard for everything in a good way and really pushes you and helps you with developing your character and just trying to get the best out of you. Strictly Dandia is a take on Baz Luhrmans Strictly Ballroom, but with an Asian twist. It talks a lot about the Gujarati community and their complexities. The dancing is very intricate - there were moments when I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to pull off the dancing – I would go home from rehearsals in tears – and I remember saying to my manager - that if I could pull this off I would really have achieved something!
You have recorded with AR Rahman at his Chennai studio – tell us about that experience.
What can I say; they make amazing Masala Chai tea! It’s a therapeutic experience to write music with Rahman and a spiritual experience; it’s about knowing that you are going to come away with a song that is going to be really special, because Rahman just writes with his heart and his soul.
How did you enjoy Chennai? Was it your 1st visit there or do you have relatives there?
The last time I was in Chennai, before I came to Rahman’s studio was when I was a baby. I have relatives over there in Chennai and it was nice to know that. I did see some of my relatives on my father’s side and it was a wonderful to know I was coming back to my dad’s hometown where he grew up and on top of that, working with a genius songwriter, it was wonderful.
Topbuzzer – tell us about this MTV show, I believe that you are a major part of it? Is it already on the air?
Topbuzzer is the first ever ‘dope opera’ on TV, it’s about two Cannabis dealers called Lee and Sticky and the lives and the laughs of the people that go in and out of their flat, to try and score! I play a girl called Scarlet, who is Boring Dave’s little sister and it’s extremely funny. The show is airing now on MTV and all the other 5 MTV channels. It’s already developed a cult following. It’s going to be showing on Channel 4, hopefully later this year and across Europe. In fact by the end of March most of Europe will be seeing it...
Being such a beautiful and talented young lady, do you have a significant other in your life?
There’s maybe someone special – but I am going to keep it that way …that’s cheeky… sorry!
Any messages for your UK fans?
I only hope I can do everyone proud – and repay the fans support.
Words by Ashanti OMkar
Pictures by Akin Falope
Unusual to say the least, Karen David, a distinctive talent in herself; born at the foothills of the Himalayas to parents of Chinese and South Indian heritage, spills her heart out about herself, her current project, ‘Strictly Dhandia’ and tells us about her part in ‘Batman Begins’, an honour bestowed upon her that takes her from her upbringing in Canada all the way to Hollywood! She tells us about her music: “most importantly finding that Karen David sound that I can say is uniquely mine.” Having worked with the legendary AR Rahman and having threaded the path of all visual arts, from TV to Theatre to live music shows, Karen is undoubtedly one of the hottest Asian talents to watch out for in 2005.
Tell us about your heritage, background and upbringing.
My mother is of Chinese background - she was born and brought up in the North Eastern part of India in a place called Shillong which is in Meghalaya, not too far from Assam. My sister and I were both born there, as well. My Mum considers herself very much to be Indian, although she has Chinese blood. The whole community there is known as the Khasi Tribe. My father is from the South, he’s from Madras (Chennai). It’s been interesting growing up to say the least, because I have always felt that I’ve been caught between two cultures - although I was born in Shillong - I was brought up in Canada. I was just a year old when we came to Toronto. I very much feel Canadian - and at the same time, as I have got older, I have been immersing myself in my roots.
Would you say that you were a precocious child, in terms of making decisions for yourself and getting your first acting role, all by yourself?
I really don’t know – my parents, my father sat us down every Sunday and he would read the current events in the newspapers, and I would get so bored and I would get tuned into the comic section and I naturally gravitated towards the entertainment pages and there was a huge article, looking for cute kids for a Bill Cosby ‘jello’ commercial – ‘parents please call’ – so I just tore the page out and snuck into my parents room, because the phone was in there and I called up myself - I happened to get the casting director on the phone and she was tickled that a 7 year old girl was calling her up to make an appointment for herself. When I told my parents afterwards, my mother was freaked out – she said I wasn’t allowed to give the number out to strangers, both my parents were quite touched and impressed that I was determined enough to do that. My father just said that if this means that much to you then we will take you to the audition. I ended up getting the part and that started everything - My parents have always been supportive of both my sister and I in whatever we do; as long we show the initiative and we work hard for it, Precocious maybe! Just terribly driven, I think, when I was younger - and I still am.
The story of your move into acting and music – tell us all about it in your own words.
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be an actress and a singer. I was determined right from then to try and accomplish something big or small, everyday, to take me that much closer to making my dreams come true. I went to an arts school...like FAME, in Toronto when I was 13, and I trained in drama and voice studies. When I was 15, I started going back to auditioning. I also got myself an acting agent and was working again as an actress and singer. I met my best friend, and now my brother-in-law, Rob Wells when I was 15 and we started writing songs together. My folks said that my publishing deal to EMI Music was one of the most "pleasant surprises" for them...they were thrilled....and so am I.... I love writing. It’s so therapeutic...who needs a shrink, when you can write songs as therapy?! My acting has definitely made me a better writer, as I like telling stories and adding quirks, twists and turns lyrically. I love playing with words. My Toronto acting agent was ironically from London, and she really wanted me to train intensively at a reputable drama college over here in the UK...you're well respected if you train in England as an actor. They take you and your craft much more seriously. When I finished drama college, I was supposed to base myself out of New York for awhile, but I was approached by a bunch of acting agents over here and there were so many opportunities presented to me, so I would've been a fool to have turned them down! I met Simon Long, my manager, a year after graduating from Guildford School of Acting, when I was in the original cast of Mamma Mia! The rest is yet to come, with my music and movies e.t.c.
Have you ever been back to Shillong, your birthplace? You have a track entitled the same – how did that and its lyrics come about?
The last time I was in Shillong was when I was 8 years old, when my grandmother was ill. I would love to go back with them sometime this year....just have to find the time with my work schedule! I come from a very small family, so we're all very close to each other and ever since I lost my cousins, Ben and David (who were like my brothers, as we were close in age) in a tragic accident, my whole life changed. I did a complete U-turn and wanted to embrace my roots, my heritage - everything that made up a part of me, and Rahman was the one who felt that it was really important to write a song about where I came from...my people...why I look the way I do, or think the way I do...a song about my birthplace, Shillong. He said he wanted to put Shillong on the world map, so to speak. Rahman has a habit of double naming his songs, doesn't he? Chaiya, Chaiya...Shillong, Shillong!
How did the AR Rahman experience come about?
The casting director, David Grindrod, brought Rahman to see ‘Mamma Mia!’ one evening and that night; Rahman saw me perform and asked David about me. The next thing I know, my agent calls me up and asks me if I can go over to this man's house at 11:00pm...it sounded pretty dodgy at first...not knowing who he was, and going to a stranger's house in the middle of the night. I told my parents, and my mother said, AR Rahman? She couldn't believe it and told me who he was and said, "You better go and meet him!" So that was the start of my creative relationship with Rahman. I helped develop all the songs for Bombay Dreams with him, Don Black and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was great to be a part of the creative process and work with such a talent like Rahman.
Was there a reason why you didn’t actually perform in Bombay Dreams, seeing as you have the looks and voice to be on stage, not to mention the experience?
I didn’t do Bombay Dreams because I didn’t want the contract - when you sign into West End plays or Musicals, they are usually for a year, certainly for Musicals they are. ‘Mama Mia’ was the first ever Musical I had ever done, it was such a great learning experience, having just come out of drama college – it was very good training, knowing what it’s like to do 8 shows a week and trying to make the 462nd show look like it was your first…but Rahman did insist on me being on the album ….and I do get to feature on one of the tracks even though I wasn’t in the Show!
‘Batman begins’ – you have a role in this very high profile, highly anticipated film – tell all…
My character Claire is a reporter for Gotham City and it was just for two scenes in the courtroom scenes in a very pivotal moment. I even had to sign confidentiality forms. It was absolutely wonderful; I had the opportunity to act in my scenes with Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Katie Holmes and Larry Holden. It was just wonderful and I tell you going to rehearsals and doing a line run with these actors in the same room – at first it was the most unbelievable moment, I was so nervous and it felt surreal to me, I was more gob-smacked that I had these famous actors sitting next to me just running lines with me.
Tamasha – how did you get involved with them and the role in ‘Strictly Dhandia’?
I think it’s really important for actors to do live theatre, because it keeps you on your toes, I think it hones your skills as an actor, especially when you’re working with a great director. Christine Landon - Smith directed Strictly Dandia and she really makes you work hard for everything in a good way and really pushes you and helps you with developing your character and just trying to get the best out of you. Strictly Dandia is a take on Baz Luhrmans Strictly Ballroom, but with an Asian twist. It talks a lot about the Gujarati community and their complexities. The dancing is very intricate - there were moments when I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to pull off the dancing – I would go home from rehearsals in tears – and I remember saying to my manager - that if I could pull this off I would really have achieved something!
You have recorded with AR Rahman at his Chennai studio – tell us about that experience.
What can I say; they make amazing Masala Chai tea! It’s a therapeutic experience to write music with Rahman and a spiritual experience; it’s about knowing that you are going to come away with a song that is going to be really special, because Rahman just writes with his heart and his soul.
How did you enjoy Chennai? Was it your 1st visit there or do you have relatives there?
The last time I was in Chennai, before I came to Rahman’s studio was when I was a baby. I have relatives over there in Chennai and it was nice to know that. I did see some of my relatives on my father’s side and it was a wonderful to know I was coming back to my dad’s hometown where he grew up and on top of that, working with a genius songwriter, it was wonderful.
Topbuzzer – tell us about this MTV show, I believe that you are a major part of it? Is it already on the air?
Topbuzzer is the first ever ‘dope opera’ on TV, it’s about two Cannabis dealers called Lee and Sticky and the lives and the laughs of the people that go in and out of their flat, to try and score! I play a girl called Scarlet, who is Boring Dave’s little sister and it’s extremely funny. The show is airing now on MTV and all the other 5 MTV channels. It’s already developed a cult following. It’s going to be showing on Channel 4, hopefully later this year and across Europe. In fact by the end of March most of Europe will be seeing it...
Being such a beautiful and talented young lady, do you have a significant other in your life?
There’s maybe someone special – but I am going to keep it that way …that’s cheeky… sorry!
Any messages for your UK fans?
I only hope I can do everyone proud – and repay the fans support.
posted by Ashanti OMkar at 7:13 pm
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