Karen Lee Batten, Drinkin’ Song Review
Karen Lee Batten is a Canadian-based Country Music vocalist and songwriter. Her first distinctive musical memory came at the age of four when she memorized her father’s vocals as she watched him in concert. The young British Columbia native of Abbotsford was enamored with music, sang in choirs at the elementary and high school levels, and entered vocal competitions using Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” as her reliable favorite. As a young adult, she was bouncing between serving jobs, hosting karaoke shows, and performing intermittent gigs when an unwavering sense of purpose pushed her to devote full-time energy to the music. Confirmation for her new path came when she was a Top 10 finalist on Canadian Idol, giving her immediate national recognition and an exciting industry entry point. She was drawn to the country genre for its close-knit community and stylistic openness towards rock and soul elements, and that is where she placed her focus and songwriting. Batten’s new pursuits led her to release her first album, Every Moment, and her first music video on Canadian Country Music Television. Her sophomore album, Cause a Scene, arrived in 2014 and hit #1 in album sales and #40 on Billboard Soundscan in Canada in its first month, followed by four subsequent radio singles. Batten’s commanding stage energy has been seen and heard at Rockin’ River, Merritt Mountain Festival, Gone Country, Sunfest, Williams Lake Stampede, a showcase during Canadian Country Music Week, and she is an anthem favorite at NHL, CFL, and MLS games. For her third album, Under the Covers in Muscle Shoals, Batten teamed up with producers CCMA award-winning Mitch Merrett (MDM Recordings) and Michael Pyle (Bobby Wills) to create a set of hand-picked covers from the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. In its first week in Canada, the 2018 album hit #2 on Billboard Soundscan and #4 on iTunes, later earning Karen Lee her 7th BC Country Music Association Award for Female Artist of the Year. Batten is now releasing her party single “Drinkin’ Song,” which continues to lay the groundwork for a new 2021 EP, produced by Merrett and CCMA Award-winning Jeff Johnson.
[section label=”Bottom Line”]Bottom Line: “Drinkin’ Song” starts right on it, and the first thing you will notice is Batten’s enticing country voice with a rich timbre and stout delivery. The single is hot off the heels of her winning the BCCMA Fans’ Choice Award in 2020 and the success of that year’s single, “Too Strong.” “Drinkin’ Song” strikes a balance of electric guitars and acoustic instruments, giving the song a modern country edge. Batten’s voice remains the commanding spotlight throughout the song as the addition of vocal doubling, vocal harmonies, and multi-layered instrumentation fill out the music sound stage. The band kicks into overdrive for the cadential figure, putting the urgency on the last call. Overall, Batten’s voice is distinctive and intoxicating, with the production highlighting her brilliant artistry making “Drinkin’ Song” an outstanding bar companion. That’s the short of it!
Connect with Karen Lee Batten: Website |
Bottom Line:
<a href="https://staccatofy.com"><img src="https://staccatofy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/staccatofy-logo-w1.png" alt="Staccatofy" width="512" height="512"></a>