Folksinger Karen's new solo EP

Karen Killeen-Jones with her new album. Photo by the artist.

Folksinger Karen’s solo celebration of the lives of women.

By Pete Willow.

Popular Nuneaton folksinger and songwriter, Karen Killeen-Jones celebrates the lives and experiences of women when she releases her first solo EP, A Woman’s Work this week.

Featuring six songs about women – two traditional and four self-penned – all voices and instruments are provided by Karen and recorded by Warwickshire singer and producer, Mick Bisiker.

Karen had often considered taking on solo musical projects, but to date she has enjoyed great success with her songs arranged and recorded with husband and musical partner, Colin when they formed the highly acclaimed folk duo, KC Jones – something she’s extremely proud of.

Karen and Colin as KC Jones. Photo by Pete Willow.

She says, ‘I wanted to do songs specifically about women which meant I could record new versions of a couple of traditional songs I used to love singing as a solo artist and write some other songs for this EP. I've also included an old song I wrote that didn't fit on any KC Jones albums’. 

On the recording, Karen provides vocals for up to 4-part harmonies and plays multiple instruments including guitar, piano, whistle, piano accordion and percussion.  

The collection includes Karen’s own arrangements of traditional songs, The Blacksmith and All Things Are Quite Silent, while one of the original songs, Poor Polly Button is a reminder of the true and tragic story of Nuneaton ribbon-weaver, Mary Green who was allegedly killed by her married lover John Danks in 1832. Karen had appeared in Katherine Fear's folk opera The Undoing of Polly Button, an experience that inspired the song, performed on the EP with accompaniment by cajon and other percussion to imitate the sound of the weaving loom.

A Woman’s Work is officially released 19 May and Karen will be performing these songs for the first time at Banbury Folk Club at the Three Pigeons, Banbury on 22 May when she plays support for Daisybell. And KC Jones are among the acts appearing for CVFolk in Coventry's Upper Precinct on Sunday 2 June as part of the city’s MotoFest weekend.

The EP will be available to purchase directly from Karen at gigs, on Bandcamp at kcjones4@bandcamp.com, or email direct at kcmusic1@gmail.com.