Karl Blau

Karl Blau is an American indie rock and country-western vocalist, producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Philadelphia, PA, but originally from Anacortes, Washington. A member of the Knw-Yr-Own/K Records collective, he is known for his prolific musical output, exhilarating live shows, and do it yourself approach to recording and distribution. The incredibly eclectic Blau incorporates elements of folk, dub, R&B, bossa nova, grunge, hip hop, drone, country, & worldbeat.

Karl Blau
OriginAnacortes, Washington, United States
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter,
multi-instrumentalist,
record producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, saxophone
Years active1996–present
LabelsBella Union, Knw-Yr-Own,
K Records,
Kelp Monthly,
Marriage Records
Associated actsD+, Earth, Generifus, The Microphones, Laura Veirs, Your Heart Breaks, LAKE

Career

Blau has released more than 40 records in 20-odd years, many self-released in handmade packaging and mailed to subscribers as part of his Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism series, and others on iconic indie Northwest labels K Records and knw-yr-own. Blau has also toured and recorded for years with Laura Veirs, the Microphones/Mount Eerie, Little Wings, D+, Your Heart Breaks, LAKE, and Earth.[1]

In the 1990s, Blau worked at The Business record store in Anacortes.[2][3]

Blau was referenced in a song carrying his name by the London punk band Video Nasties.[4] The Microphones' album, It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water, also has a song titled "Karl Blau."

Discography

LPs
  • Doin' Things the Way They Happen (Knw-Yr-Own 1997)
  • Shell Collection (Knw-Yr-Own 1997)
  • A Second Culling (Knw-Yr-Own 1999)
  • Clothes Your I's (Knw-Yr-Own 2001)
  • Beneath Waves (K Records 2006)
  • Dance positive (Marriage Records 2007)
  • Nature's Got Away (K Records 2008)
  • Zebra (K Records 2009)
  • Introducing Karl Blau (Raven Marching Band/Bella Union 2016)
  • Out Her Space (Bella Union 2017)

Singles
  • "Slow Down Joe" b/w "Lake King's Daughter" (K Records/OnPurpose Records 2006)
  • "That's How I Got To Memphis" b/w "Forest" (collaboration with Mount Analog) (K Records)

Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society series
  1. Dark, Magic Sea
  2. The Coconutcracker
  3. Turning Tutu, Turning Leaves
  4. Dunkel Blau
  5. Purple Heart
  6. Deep Sandwich
  7. Remember Tomorrow
  8. Lore of Ears
  9. Dubble Dooty Booty
  10. Trust in Sirens
  11. It Was Hot, We Stayed in the Water
  12. Welsh Phantoms and Other Ghosts of Western Europe
  13. Sea/Saw
  14. Stereoearrings
  15. If I Knew Zen What I Know Now
  16. AM
  17. Sing Together/Lonely Under the Covers
  18. Beer & Chai
  19. Flotsam & Jetsam
  20. Let It All Out
  21. Sigh Lens
  22. Bread-n-Grease
  23. Trunkal Howl
  24. LAKE
  25. Free The Bird
  26. Dance Positive
  27. Good Lovin' County
  28. In Return From Ghost Country

References
  1. "Karl Blau | Bella Union". bellaunion.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. "About". The Business. October 15, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. "Anacortes Magazine (Issue 2, August 2012)". Issuu. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. "Video Nasties - Karl Blau". YouTube. October 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
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