Americana singer and songwriter, Karen Jonas, released her third album, Butter, out today. Not only is Jonas a working musician, she’s also a full-time Mom with four kids at home, and tours at least 150+ shows a year. Jonas says “whether I’m finishing up a gig at midnight or getting pounced on by my kids at 6:30 a.m., I usually feel like my life as a circus. So I started writing songs about my circus. Butter is a reflection of these triumphs and challenges in her busy life.
Butter was tracked at Wally Cleaver’s Recording Studio in her hometown of Fredericksburg, and was recording at nighttime after putting her kids to bed. She worked with a number of musicians, including her guitarist and musical partner for nearly ten years, Tim Bray. The instruments featured on the album are pedal steel, B3 organ, upright piano and seven-piece horn arrangements.
The album was produced by Jeff Covert, Jonas and Bray featuring Jonas’ signature sound of “folk and country roots.” A variety of genres that have influenced Jonas’ music are prevalent throughout the album including ragtime, blues, jazz and barroom soul.
“My first two albums featured a lot of heartbroken songs,” she explains. “That didn’t feel authentic for this album. Butter is about my story now, as a working musician and mother — about the challenges of each role and, especially, the challenge of balancing the two. It’s about baking my cake and eating it, too.”
Tour Dates:
June 1 – The Kenmore Inn – Fredericksburg, VA
June 2 – Pearl Street Warehouse – Washington, DC
June 9 – Bright Box Theater – Winchester, VA
June 22 – Blue 5 – Roanoke, VA
June 23 – Preservation Pub – Knoxville, TN
June 28 – Golden Pony – Harrisonburg, VA – Golden Pony
July 6 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY
July 7 – Dew Point Brewing – Yorklyn, DE
July 13 – Ashland Coffee & Tea – Ashland, VA
July 14 – The Blue Side – Frederick, MD
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