Keren "Karolina" Avratz (; March 19, 1971), professionally known as Karolina, is a singer-songwriter from

Eilat Eilat ( , ; ; ) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of , a busy port of Eilat, port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The c ...

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

. She is the lead singer of the trio Habanot Nechama.

Biography

Keren (Karolina) Avratz was born in

Jaffa Jaffa (, ; , ), also called Japho, Joppa or Joppe in English, is an ancient Levantine Sea, Levantine port city which is part of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, located in its southern part. The city sits atop a naturally elevated outcrop on ...

and raised in Eilat. Given the nickname "Karolina" by her grandmother, Karolina's musical influences came primarily from within her household, as well as from attending the Red Sea Jazz Festival. She listened to Greek, Arabic, Turkish and other music on a daily basis. Her brother, Joseph Avratz, introduced her to soul, jazz and new wave music, and she collaborated with another brother, Shlomi Avratz, in his project Madbooja. After a few lessons in classical guitar at the age of fifteen, she studied on her own.

Music career

At the beginning of her recording career, in 1999, Karolina recorded a track with Spoiled and Zigo under her given name "Keren". Later creating "MC Karolina" a concept project that initially focused on a solo sound system shows for the club scene. This project led to multiple recordings with various artists. In 2000, Karolina founded Funset with musicians in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

(bass: Uri Kleinman, keyboards: Shaul Eshet, drums: Atraf Moshe Assraf, dj: Yoav Rattner, sound: Guy Margalit, guitar: Shai Pertz). In 2004, she was invited by Israeli producers crew "Soulico" to record "Lo Tzipity" - an Israeli version of a track called "It's a Pity" originally released by

Tanya Stephens Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)All Woman: Tanya Stephens", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010

and

Seeed Seeed is a German Hip hop music, hip hop, reggae and dancehall band based in Berlin. Founded in 1998, they have become well known in Germany and its neighboring countries. Musical style and lyrics Seeed consists of eleven band members, inc ...

. Intending for the track to just be for fun, it eventually became a top 5 hit on the airwaves even though it was never officially released. That same year Karolina formed a trio, Habanot Nechama, with Yael Deckelbaum and Dana Adini. Their debut was an acoustic night at the Jah-Pan club in the Florentin neighborhood in south

. In 2005, Funset released their first album, a combination of Reggae, Nu Soul, and live Trip-hop. The album, called ''Ragga Pumpkin'' received an award from the ACUM for composition. Karolina continued to be featured on compilations and tracks, including the single ''Music is Ruling My World'' with Kutiman. In 2007, Habanot Nechama released its debut album, which went platinum in Israel and the track ''So Far'', written and composed by Karolina, won her second ACUM award for "Best New Song of 2007". Karolina's solo album “What Shall I Do Now?” (December 2009) which won an ACUM for its producing by Sabbo and Kutiman, blends rock, groove, funk, and soul. The first three singles released from this album, including “Happiness” and “Nobody is Coming for Me”, have been Top 3 radio hits in Israeli, and the album has been a number one seller in Israel since its release.

Musical collaboration

Along with performing with Funset and Habanot Nechama, Karolina has worked with other musicians, both Israeli and international. She has collaborated with Soulico, Kutiman and DJ Sabbo in Israel. In 2007, Karolina opened for

The Black Eyed Peas The Black Eyed Peas are an American musical group formed in Los Angeles in 1995, composed of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo (rapper), Taboo. Fergie (singer), Fergie was a member during the height of their popularity in the 2000s, and ...

as a solo acoustic set & for

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...

that same year. In 2008 Karolina joined bass player Yossi Fine, Sabbo and Kutiman to open for

Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...

. In 2010 Karolina and Kutiman created a music video for her single "Smile 2 Me" that has been placed on display at

Hammer Museum The Hammer Museum, which is affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles, is an art museum and cultural center known for its artist-centric and progressive array of exhibitions and public programs. Founded in 1990 by the entrepreneur- ...

in Los Angeles for the Flux Screening Series. Karolina also performed with

Ziggy Marley David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley (born 17 October 1968) is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is the son of Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He led the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers until 2002, with whom he released eight studio albums. After ...

in Israel on his tour in 2011.

Discography

* Funset - ''Ragga Pumpkin'', CD, 2005 (Nana Music, IL) * ''LO TZIPITI'', Single, 2005 * Polar Pair featuring Karolina – ''Over My Head''. 12”, 2005 (Tru Thoughts, UK) * Kutiman featuring Karolina – ''Music is Ruling My World''. 12”, 2007 (Melting Pot Music, Germany) * Habanot Nechama – Self Titled. CD, 2007 (Labeleh, IL) * Funset – ''No Blame'' (from ''Best Seven Selections 2''). CD, 2007 (Sonar Kollektiv, Germany) * Yaya featuring Karolina – ''Soon''. Single, 2007 ( Hed Arzi, IL) * Funset – ''Bring It Out'' (from ''cooking music''). Mix CD, 2007 (Honey Apple, IL) * Kutiman featuring Karolina – ''Losing It; Trumpet Woman; Music is Ruling My World'' (From ''Kutiman'', self-titled). CD & LP, 2007 (Melting Pot Music, Germany) * Karolina – ''Yom Bo Yakum'' (from ''Avoda Ivrit'') 2008 (Avoda Ivrit, IL) *Karolina - "What Will I Do Now?" CD, 2009 (B.M.usic, Israel) *Karolina - "Zohar" - CD 2012 *Karolina - "Shalosh" - CD 2017

References

External links