My name is Karen

Singing TUESDAY Night in Chinatown w/ dope musicians. Feat. DanMichael - keys, Nikko - drums, Osmar - bass // Art of Verse - rapper. Free sounds & chill vibesss. ✨Flyer artwork by @tre3art #jazz #hiphop #bossa (at General Lee's Cocktail House)

Heyyy there! Happy Just-Another-Normal-Day-of-the-Year.. Day! 🙂💖 Also.. Fuck Valentine's Day 😀 -it's just another capitalist consumer trap!! If anything, I think everyone should wait till post Valentine's day to buy all your fav heart-shaped chocolate candies on sale! ☺️ Also, everyday should be Valentine's day.. everyday we should live with the intent to love and care for one another/treat each other with kindness. 🌻 Lastly, you are a perfectly imperfect & wholly valued human being all on your own. Your worth isn't determined by others. Have compassion in your heart for yourself and for all of those around you. ✨ #hugsallaround #duh #commonsense #youareloved #ily #selflove #yayperiodpower #saveyourmoneyspendqualitytime #makeart #valentinesday #itsatrap #okonemorethingtho #iluvfrancesco #hahahaha

The sky is dark, yet my burdens feel light. And although the air is cold, my heart feels warm tonight. ☺️ #imaworkinprogress #takingeachdayatatime #gratitude #mindfulness #stayellow #yellowstainedblue #recovery #selflove #anxiety #depression #trauma #learningwhilefeelinglost (at Chinatown, Los Angeles)

✨TONIGHT✨ Annais and I have put a lot of energy into preparing for tonight's show! Show will begin promptly at 8pm & end at 10pm (with a short intermission between both of our sets). • 8pm - Oh, Pleas // Annais' original music is v v beautiful/poetic & will feature chorales, strings, electric guitar, & grand piano ballads. I've had so much fun rehearsing for her set & I know you're not gonna want to miss it! • 9pm - Kintsukuroi // In just 2 weeks, I've put a show together w amazing friends to express the traumas that have affected me throughout my life, as well as create a space for celebration & healing. I've had insomnia & panic attacks preparing for this show lol, but I am also very excited to present new materials/try something totally new! Projector visuals brought to you by Gabe Bennett, sound/effects by April Gerloff! (at R.O.D. Music Hall (Calarts))

updated selfie

Kintsukuroi - There is beauty in the broken. A recital by your truly. Projector visuals by Gabe Bennett. Flyer by the amazing Kain Summerlin @kainywainy Hey guyzzz I have recently decided to organize a recital as an opportunity to purge/express and explore my feelings concerning the complex social issues & traumas that I have dealt with throughout my life as an Asian-American female, as well as my attitudes toward our current tumoltuous political circumstances. This will be presented in a safe artistic space at the ROD performane space at the college that I attend (California Institute of the Arts). In just these past two weeks, I have created some completely new works (that are still in the "making" and have collaborated with talented artist and musician-friends that I admire and am inspired by. I will perform some of my reg "hits" lol, but most of the content in this show will be unlike the typical material that I perform and as a courtesy warning- may be too intense/and or triggering for some audience members. Regardless, my goal is ultimately to understand & heal. As always, I welcome and appreciate anyone willing to listen. This recital will be part of a double-billing. My lovely friend, singer/songwriter Annais Linares is performing her beautiful set at 8pm (which I will also contribute to), and my show will follow promptly at 9pm. The recital is free and a reception of refreshments will follow afterwards. 🐢 (at R.O.D. Music Hall (Calarts))

Today I practice self-compassion. I can do anything, but not everything. I shall make time for rest. I shall make peace with limitations. The time we have now is all we ever have. 🌾

Although I had another nightmare this morning, I'm glad to say that I awoke to a great day at school. In my Experimental Voice class, I got to do my favorite past-time -scream "Fuck you!" over and over, sniff & hug my fellow classmates, and sing into other people's bodies. 🙂💖 (at California Institute of the Arts)

i've got my blanket cape on.. im ready 2017!!

Fucc whoever ripped this poster. //Bless whomever taped it back together👍✨ #notmypresident (at California Institute of the Arts)

My first week back at school has been nothing short of amazing - full of many firsts // I got to challenge my perspective on creativity and expression on many accounts. In the Art Lande jazz course, I surprised myself when I felt safe enough to abandon all melodic ideas & instead scream, wail, and curse during an improv meditaton --and was relieved to be met with an acceptance and lovingness from my peers. This moment was also a breakthrough for me because I had never truly connected liked that to my body before--ignoring the overly analytical constraints of my rational mind & metaphysically getting "lost" in the music. // In hip hop class, I got to participate in my first cypher and rap whatever hilarious nonsense that came out of my mouth. The camaraderie displayed among the class was refreshing and beautiful -everyone's voice was unique and valued. I imagine that if activities like this were required in primary education, people would be less judgemental, and more happy, compassionate beings. // In my sad poetry class, I read aloud my writings, cried without shame, and witnessed other people being honest and vulnerable. // I also got to be the only female person-of-color in a group project where our casual conversation consisted of significant social issues and where the existence of white male privlege was miraculously acknowledged by white males as a universal truth in our society. // I have never in my life been surrounded by so many culturally, politically, and environmentally conscious, and self-aware individuals that are open to exploring ideas different from their own. The catastrophic norms of ignorance that have plagued our society today, luckily isn't so prevalent in my current educational environment. I have much to work on, yet am slowly seeing that I am finally in a place and state where I am able to learn and heal at the same time..

🐢🍪🎤📷: @meztonalli_

Improvisation w/ Art Lande "You are a human being." "The space/silence between (what you do) is alive." Drawing of our class by talented pianist, Cooper :) ✨ #firstdaybackatschool (at California Institute of the Arts)

QUICK! SOME1 HELP ME BREAK SOMETHING #nuggetsofwisdom #discountstorewisdom (at Daiso Japan)