Keren Karolina Avratz, professionally known as Karolina is an award-winning singer/songwriter from Eilat, Israel. Aside from being a singer, she is also a composer, writer, producer, and dj. Not to mention she is a leader in the recently born groove scene in Israel, which she has influenced through many musical projects. She is also known for her work in Habanot Nechama.
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Born in Yafo (Jaffa), her family moved to Eilat where she was raised. Given the nickname "Karolina" by her Grandmother, Karolina's musical influences came primarily from within her household, as well as from attending the Red Sea Jazz Festival where she encountered musicians that transformed her musical interests. Karolina's versatility and diversity with music can largely be accredited to her upbringing in a diverse and musically driven household. Listening to music with Greek, Arabic, Turkish, and various other styles, her family's home was a cacophony of sound on a daily basis. Her brother, Joseph Avratz, introduced Karolina to soul, jazz and new wave music. Shlomi Avratz, other sibling, invited her to record on his project Madbooja, Karolina absorbed the musical experience and began discovering her own style.
At age fifteen, Karolina began learning to play the classical guitar. Attending a few lessons she decided to quit after one month and base her musical education on her own intuition.
At the beginning of her recording career, in 1999 Karolina recorded a track with Spoiled and Zigo titled "More and More" under her given name "Keren." Later creating "MC Karolina" a concept project that initially focused on a solo sound system shows for the club scene. This project led to multiple recordings with various artists.
In 2000, Karolina founded Funset with some of the most talented and promising musicians in Tel Aviv (bass: Uri Kleinman, keyboards: Shaul Eshet, drums: Atraf Moshe Assraf, dj: Yoav Rattner, sound: Guy Margalit, guitar: Shai Pertz), and started her foray into the club and lounge scene of the city where she met with underground success.
During 2004, Karolina was invited by Israeli producers crew "Soulico" to record "Lo Tzipity" - an Israeli version of a track called "It's a Pity" originally released by Tanya Stephens and Seeed. Intending for the track to just be for fun, it eventually became a huge hit on Israeli radio stations, becoming a top 5 hit on the airwaves even though it was never officially released. That same year Karolina met with two other Israeli singers, Yael Deckelbaum and Dana Adini and formed Habanot Nechama, one of the most successful folk groups of Israel.
In 2005, Funset released their first album, a unique combination of Reggae, Nu Soul, and live Trip-hop that enchanted crowds all over the country. The album, called Ragga Pumpkin received critical acclaim, including an ACUM (Israeli ASCAP) award for composition.[1]
Karolina continued to be featured on compilations and tracks, including the hit song, Music is Ruling My World with Kutiman.[2] In 2007, Habanot Nechama released their debut album, which went platinum in Israel and the track So Far, written and composed by Karolina, won her second ACUM award for "Best New Song of 2007".[3]
Karolina's solo album “What Shall I Do Now?” (December 2009) which won an ACUM for its producing by Sabbo and Kutiman, blends together the genres of rock, groove, funk, and soul to achieve a distinct 70's feel. The first three singles released from this album, including “Happiness” and “Nobody is Coming for Me,” have been Top 3 radio hits on Israeli airwaves and the album has been a number one seller in Israel since its release.
Karolina has recently embarked on an international career. Her tracks have been featured on compilations worldwide and on Kutiman’s recent album. Fader Magazine’s music editors called Karolina’s music “perfect for summer jamming purposes.”
Along with performing with Funset and Habanot Nechama, Karolina has worked with other musicians, both Israeli and international. She has collaborated with Soulico, Kutiman and DJ Sabbo in Israel. In 2007, Karolina opened for The Black Eyed Peas as a solo acoustic set & for Lauryn Hill that same year. In 2008 Karolina joined with bass player Yossi Fine, Sabbo and Kutiman to open for Erykah Badu.[4] In 2010 Karolina and Kutiman created a music video for her single "Smile 2 Me" that has been placed on display at Hammer Museum in Los Angeles for the Flux Screening Series. Karolina also performed with Ziggy Marley in Israel on his tour in 2011 [5]
Aside from her vast music collaborations, Karolina is also collaborating with artists of different trades. Notably, designer Victor Bellaish who dresses everything from Karolina to stage design to her tambourine.