It includes the single “Maria João”, featuring the Portuguese duo Fado Bicha. A queer anthem inspired by Fado
“I’ve never lived in Portugal and yet I’ve always felt at home. I grew up in Luxembourg, experiencing the culture from afar and up close at the same time. Growing up in a diaspora, for me, meant having a strong sense of community; it was like living in a small bubble, surrounded by my family, who always made me feel safe. During our annual trips to visit my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, that feeling continued because I love my family. Portugal for me was a picturesque place, a safe harbor, a perfect community. It was only last year, when I spent more time in Lisbon without my family, that this picture became a little clearer and I saw the flaws, the queerphobia, and the misogyny that persist. This didn’t make me love Portugal any less, but it allowed me to think more deeply about my relationship with the country, about my prejudices, and the underlying question: where do I belong? I’ve always said I felt more Portuguese than Luxembourger, but these experiences made me wonder if I’ve ever truly felt Portuguese or if I was just strongly attached to my idealized image of the country. With “Maria João,” I tried to reconcile these feelings, memories, and ideals.”
– Karma Catena –
“It’s very difficult,” laughs Karma Catena when asked if there’s a right way to peel an orange. The title of her debut album how to peel an orange, released today, September 13, is a metaphor for the method of self-discovery, or the lack of it. There isn’t a guide that works for everyone, but families, friends, and other supporters have their ways of guiding those going through the process. For Karma, this album is a reflection of her journey of self-discovery and her community. “I want it to be an honest reflection of my human experience,” she says.
Her process of musical self-discovery began at 14 when she played in squats with her first punk band in Luxembourg, her homeland. Shortly after, the 22-year-old wrote her first song as C’est Karma, lacking a birthday present for her younger brother.
The three EPs that followed described her impressive personal and artistic development, from singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar (‘YELLOW‘) to her first indie-pop sonic experiences (‘Farbfilm‘) to a bold statement of hyper pop and avant-garde (‘Amuse-Bouche‘).
It is this remarkable evolution, coupled with the strong experience of international performances, both in North America and across Europe, that gives Karma extraordinary maturity and confidence. On this basis, C’est Karma manifests her unique artistic identity in a debut album that celebrates contemporary music and pop culture, as well as cultural diversity and community.
how to peel an orange was created during a three-week residency in Lisbon, allowing Karma the reflection and focus she needed to develop this soundscape. Working with American producer Margo XS (Alice Longyu Gao, HarmonyTividad), the duo delved deeply into Karma’s intimate relationship with the place. The album was finalized in Hamburg with producers Valentin Hebel and Sebastian ‘MUXI’ Muxfeldt.
Despite the sunny memories of sitting on the porch peeling oranges with her grandmother and great-aunts, Karma landed on the citrus fruit as the titular star in the process, although it kept appearing throughout the creative process. Its juice may be sweet, but it stings when it hits an open wound. Some oranges are harder to peel than others, just as some people are harder to understand. Their parallel sweetness and acidity spoke of Karma’s exploration of comfort (the sweet) and discomfort (the acidic).
In how to peel an orange, C’est Karma dissects her own story in three languages, exploring her Portuguese heritage and processing individual and collective traumas. Musically inspired by strong women who maintained their creative integrity in the music industry, such as Kate Bush, Imogen Heap, SOPHIE, Björk, and Caroline Polachek.
Despite the many touchpoints and languages, C’est Karma creates an impressive and unifying work with her debut – a symbol of resilience and hope. Together with her fans and her band, she will celebrate this to the fullest at her upcoming concerts!
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