KARIMA in Sings Authors

A return to one’s roots, rediscovering sounds, colors, and emotions that are part of a rich and varied artistic heritage. This is the starting point of Karima’s new album, Canta Autori, set to be released on May 28th (Jando Music|Via Veneto Jazz). An album through which the artist approaches with great love and respect the great singer-songwriters who have made their mark on Italian music and culture, with a personal, intimate, and at the same time passionate, elegant, and energetic version of their songs. These are the distinctive traits of a singer who, since her first artistic steps, has naturally approached black music, gospel, and jazz, demonstrating great versatility and the ability to express herself in different languages. In this new story that looks at Italy, the musicians who have always accompanied her could not be missing, such as Bernardo Guerra on drums, Gabriele Evangelista on double bass, and Maestro Piero Frassi on piano, by her side for 21 years now, who has arranged all the songs. The album is also enriched by the participation of Nino Buonocore, who sings his iconic song “Scrivimi” with Karima, and Fabio Concato, who gives us a beautiful duo version of “Buona notte a te”. The repertoire is completed by other songs of singer-songwriters who have made history in Italian music: “Anna e Marco” by Lucio Dalla, “Anna Verrà” and “Che ore sò” by Pino Daniele, “Il nostro Concerto” by Umberto Bindi, “Prendila così” by Lucio Battisti, and many others.
“This project – explains Karima – wants to tell a piece of Italian music history, respecting the melodies for which we are so famous all over the world but without taking away the shades of that black world where I have always felt at home and now I am known. One of the strongest motivations that led me to conceive this album was the audience that always responded with applause and enthusiasm to my interpretations of Italian songs during my concerts and partly indicated me the way. Moreover, at a certain point in your life you reach a desire to accept new challenges, throw your heart over the obstacle and want to test yourself in a repertoire that you have always loved even if you couldn’t find the way to give voice to your sound.”

Karima was born in Livorno and since she was a child, supported by her talent, she approached music by first participating in Bravo Bravissimo and then in Domenica In. In October 2006 she joined the program Amici di Maria De Filippi. She finished in third place and won the critics’ award, decreed unanimously by the entire technical jury, who considered her the most interesting new voice on the Italian music scene. In the same year, Karima signed her first record deal with Sony Bmg and recorded her first EP. In her powerful and meaningful voice, the colors of jazz, soul, blues, and even gospel coexist and are expressed. Despite her young age, Karima already has a long and varied artistic experience, including the Sanremo Festival in 2009 and especially the collaboration with Burt Bacharach. She is the only Italian singer to whom the “Maestro” has written songs and with whom she recorded her first album titled Karima in Los Angeles. In the same year, she was chosen by Disney to interpret the soundtrack in the animated film The Princess and the Frog, opened concerts for Whitney Houston, John Legend, Anastacia, Seal, and Simply Red for two tours! She participated in Tale e Quale Show 2015 and I migliori Anni on Rai 1 (2013). With Umbria Jazz, she represents Italy in international festivals and is very popular in China where she toured for two consecutive years with the project “Close to You,” singing at the prestigious Beijing Opera House. In 2017, in the musical The Bodyguard, she played the lead role of Rachel, a role played in the film by Whitney Houston. In 2021, the album “No Filter” was released (Parco della Musica Records|Jando Music) and in 2022 Xmas (Emme Record Label).

(Texts taken from the official website karimaofficial.com)