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.
Connect with Karen Lee Batten: Website |
Drinkin' Song
Drinkin' Song (single)
March 19, 2021
KLB Records
9.1