Name
Karen Lane
Title
Director/Singer-songwriter
Company
Kushgroove Productions
Location:
UK
A brief explanation of your company and where it sits in the corporate landscape: Krushgroove is a small entertainment company we set up to manage my career as a singer and songwriter. We focus on the independent production of jazz-based albums, marketing and promotion of CD products and providing high-end corporate entertainment.
Job last held in Perth when you left it: My last job in Perth was as a speech therapist. After graduating from Curtin University in 1989, I worked for six months at Fremantle Hospital and the Homes of Peace in Subiaco. I then moved to Sydney to pursue my singing career, as I had known from aged eight that I wanted to be a professional singer. What is your current role: I am the director of our small company, which means I am responsible for keeping track of the income and outgoings of the business. I perform in London several nights a week at venues ranging from big international rooms with my full five-piece band to small bars and restaurants. I am also promoting my album Once in a Lifetime, which was released earlier this year on 33 Records. I also pitch for corporate entertainment work, which usually comes through a number of agents specialising in this area.
What other roles do you play in your industry or local business community: I teach singing one night a week at the City Lit Institute for adult education in Covent Garden and give private singing lessons in my local area.
Outline your office culture: There is no office culture as such. At home when I am hustling work, practising or writing songs I am generally alone which can be a bit isolating. You need to be focused and self-disciplined. There is gig culture. You come, you play, you leave.
How much commuting do you do: I commute into London to teach one night a week and usually sing on two or three other nights as well. It takes an hour each way so that is about six to eight hours a week by train or car, which can be tiring. I only work part-time as we have two girls aged three and six.
Does your job involve travel, if so how much, where to and to what purpose: About once a month I travel out of London to do regional jazz clubs, such as Brighton or Reading. It is about two hours drive to get there and one and a half hours to get back late at night. Occasionally I go to France for corporate work.
How well did your work in Perth equip you for your current job: I didn’t really do much singing in Perth as I was busy studying and left shortly after graduating.
Can you see yourself returning to Perth? If so, at what time and under what circumstances: Although Perth is a beautiful place I can’t really see myself returning to Perth to live. We visit every second year but since my husband and I both work in entertainment-related industries bigger cities are where the work is.
What is your email address: kgroove@btinternet.com