Katja Koren on SoundBetter

Versatile artist/singer (jazz, world, soul, funk, pop, rock, fusion), session vocalist, background singer, songwriter & producer. 20 years of experience. Cristopher Cross, Strange Jazz Universe, Ron Bruner Sr., Eurovision Song Contest. Love to create new stuff, especially arrangements for back up vocals, lead melody & lyrics. I read & write music.

After more than a decade of performing and working as a session musician in Europe, I have moved to US to get a feel for different artistic scenery. My recording studio debut was at the age of 7, I’m a native of Slovenia & I speak 5 languages (English, Slovenian, German, Croatian, Serbian). I had a privilege to perform at international music festivals around the globe. I’m based in Los Angeles.

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Credits

1 Reviews

Endorse Katja Koren

by Audrey Karrasch
I have had the pleasure of seeing Katja perform multiple times and every time I am more blown away. Her amazing stage presence and powerful vocals give everyone chills. She has an ability to captivate any audience with her timeless voice. She adds so much character to any arrangement. If you have found Katja’s page looking for a vocalist, look no further and just hire her. You will not be disappointed. You’ll be coming right back for more.

Interview with Katja Koren

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I think my debut album was the biggest challenge and I learned a lot. Now I’m trying to evolve the sound and I’ve have a privilege to work with producers and musicians who worked with Ray Charles, The Temptations, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Dr.Dre, Jill Scott, Ledisi, Gretchen Parlato, Thundercat, ...
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I’m working on several different things. I’m also performing a lot, so it’s alwsys a nice balance and it keeps me growing.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Kelsey Karrasch is deffenitly a good address for great singing and songwriting.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog, it’s wormer.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I’ll do my best.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: It’s creative and it gives me the way to express myself also through others.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: What do I think... And then I tell them. Lol
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: There is many but hey, let’s focus on music ;)
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: “What kind of vibe would you like?”
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: With good communication we can always find the way to express what we want and hear and I’ll always do my best to make that happen.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Phone, headphones, mic, charger and I would need a generator probably.. lol
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I’ve been doing this for more then 20 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My first decade of my professional career I was mostly working as background singer with give me skills to blend into different styles. Mostly I tried to be soulful and as honest as a can be.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Björk is definitely one of my big inspirations lately. She is educated singer that still keeps her natural voice and gives us thousands of expressions.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Work with the best. :)
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Jazz, pop, soul, funk, salsa, house, rock,..
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Arrangements for background vocals and lead vocal.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Voice is the most natural sound and with lyrics it’s even more powerful. I like bring some warmness witch usually happen with harmonies or just emotional expression on lead vocal.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I try to feel what I hear in my head and then I’ll write it down or record.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: It’s a simple home studio set up with condense mic, sound card and Cubase. But lately I’ve been recording on Garage Band via iPhone 8 and it works great. It’s clean and I can expand sound with VoiceJamStudio,VoiceRack:FX.. it’s fun. :)
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I like rough, still clean and expressive sound especially for soulful & groovy stuff - as natural as it. From Aretha to Robert Glasper. On the other hand, I also love world, traditional stuff but I bealive as a musician it’s always good to expand the knowledge of music genres.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Usually they give me an instrumental and write and record all the vocals.