News

Whitsundays Destination Ambassador

An exciting announcement:

A new partnership with Tourism Whitsundays was announced today and I am thrilled to get the word out about this absolutely glorious region and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. Welcome to the Wonders of the Whitsundays!

Read the PRESS RELEASE here:

Premiere: Mackay to Manhattan Sep 27, 2020

Big news: after the rollercoaster of this year, the premiere of my show Mackay to Manhattan is now scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, 2020 in my hometown Mackay at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. XOXO

About the show: At the age of seven in her home town of Mackay, Karen Jacobsen saw Olivia Newton-John on television and knew what she wanted to do with her life. She wanted to become a professional singer and move to America.

Karen returns to Mackay to premiere a musical memoir of that journey. Solo at the grand piano, and part concert, part motivational experience, “Mackay to Manhattan” follows the story of a small town girl with big dreams who believes “It’s Never Too Late To Recalculate” to reach your destination in life.

Along the way Karen’s speaking voice ended up in over a billion GPS devices and as the original Australian voice of Siri in iPhones. Be ready to be entertained, inspired and hear the “only voice men will take directions from” in this very special event

Tickets and more info at this link: The Premiere of Mackay to Manhattan

Navigating with the Today Show Australia

If you had told me in January I would be navigating the Today Show Australia around my hometown Mackay in September…well like most of 2020’s developments that was unexpected. Thank you @timdavies for asking me about my show #MackaytoManhattan Mackay Tourism reached out, out of the blue as my friend Kay Direen let them know I am in the region at the moment. The sun shone, the crew was a delight and we made the segment into a fun escape to lift the spirits of viewers. #youhavereachedyourdestination

Behind the scenes video over on Patreon:  LINK to Navigating around Mackay

 

 

* A Virtual Concert *

As I Made My Way Across the Sea…it is 20 years this week since I left Australia for adventures and music and love and life in NYC. Join me for a live virtual concert this weekend to celebrate! xoxo

This week marks 20 years since I made my way across the sea from Australia to New York City.

To celebrate: the first in a series of live, virtual concerts from home this weekend.
A love letter to NYC and songs to uplift and bring love and joy.

This weekend:

Friday, May 29th 7PM USA East Coast
Friday, May 29th 4PM USA West Coast
Saturday, May 30th 9AM Australia EST

Join on YouTube or FB Live

VIRTUAL CONCERT LINK

Do You Have a Song Request?

I put out the word on social for requests – let me know if there is a song of mine or beyond you are bursting to hear and I will do my best to include it.

LAUNCHING PATREON

Here is the link to check out all the goodies on my Patreon page, where you can see the behind the scenes of my creative process. I’m writing songs more than ever and excited to share works in progress.

Check Out Karen’s Patreon By Clicking Here

It’s going to be a whole new experience performing from home for you – and being able to interact in real time and I can’t wait xoxo

Review: “The Only Woman Men Will Take Directions From” – Carly Mayberry, About Town

Lesley Everett of personal branding methodology company Walking Tall hosting Karen Jacobsen during the one-woman show “Mackay to Manhattan – a musical memoir” (Carly Mayberry — Herald Correspondent)

By CARLY MAYBERRY | seablue@earthlink.net |

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March 18, 2020 at 5:22 p.m.

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While you might recognize her as the voice in over a billion GPS devices and the original Australian voice of iPhone’s Siri, there’s actually a lot more that has navigated the life of Karen Jacobsen than directing drivers on their route.

Jacobsen shared her journey of reaching her dream to be a singer/songwriter in America, as well as the many times she’s had to “re-calibrate” along the way, during “Mackay to Manhattan – a Musical Memoir” on March 8 at the Junipero Serra School.

Jacobsen performed at the grand piano while intermittently sharing stories with the intimate crowd of about 50, which included the event’s host and branding expert Lesley Everett and Staci Alzeibler-Perkins, executive director of Gathering for Women. The event was in recognition of International Women’s Day with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Monterey nonprofit.

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The crowd at Junipero Serra Mission School during during the show “Mackay to Manhattan – a musical memoir” (Carly Mayberry — Herald Correspondent)

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“I have not been short of big dreams and relationships with disappointment,” said Jacobsen. “… When you have to re- calculate in a major way, special gifts appear.”

Jacobsen was born in the small town of Mackay, Australia but knew from an early age after seeing fellow Aussie Olivia Newton-John perform on television that she wanted to become a professional singer and move to America.

Since moving to New York City years ago, she has not only shared the stage with the likes of Norah Jones, Neil Sedaka and Christopher Cross but also performed the national anthem at major sporting events at Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium, among other venues.

Jacobsen has also gone on to be an international speaker giving directions for life and business, showing how to navigate change with her “Five Directions for Re-Calculating.”

During her Carmel appearance, she garnered plenty of chuckles from the audience with her quip “I’m the only woman men will take directions from.”

She also offered a special piece of advice from her lifetime of taking chances and chasing her dreams.

“That inner GPS – it will not steer you wrong,” said Jacobsen.


Click Here To See The Article in the Monterey Herald

I Want To Be Somewhere Else Doing Something Else With Somebody Else

The River of My Life was written the year before I moved from Australia to New York City. Everyone around me was moving on with their lives. Following their dreams.

I noticed I wasn’t. My dream for as long as I could remember was to become a professional singer and move to America. After ten years of life and performing in Sydney, it was time to make the move to New York City.

The beautiful footage for most of the video was from the talented creators at pexel.

“I want to be somewhere else

Doing something else

WIth somebody else”

The River of My Life

From the album Here In My Heart

©Kurly Queen

Written and Performed by Karen Jacobsen

 

Visit me on Patreon xoxo

I Made My First Music Video and I Can’t Believe It

It has been a rough few days. I am used to feeling bouncy and I am so completely solution oriented, that the weight of the reality of this time knocked me down.

I have one word for you.

CREATIVITY.

Oh, I have another word for you.

FRIENDS.

My friend Francesca made a music video and when I read about her experience it totally inspired me.

My friend Jenny was listening like such a good, good friend to me about how darn upsetting this all is (yes, I know, privilege, and yes, I know, very fortunate) and I asked her how on earth she makes the amazing videos she makes for her music.

One zoom tutorial later I have MADE MY FIRST MUSIC VIDEO!!

The song Merry Go Round is from long ago – and it is on my record “Melting Moments”/”Kissing Someone Else”.

May it uplift you – these actors look so beautiful and happy in this footage. Super gratitude to the creators on pexel and dashable.

What do you think? XOXO

AND Visit my new Patreon Page for behind the scenes, creative process and unreleased material xoxo

http://www.patreon.com/karenjacobsen

I Touch Myself Project – International Women’s Day Launch

When I was first asked to be involved in this project, it was humbling to think I would be part of sharing such a life saving message.

I Touch Myself Project launched in 2014, following the passing of celebrated diva, Chrissy Amphlett of Divinyls.

Chrissy was passionate about spreading awareness of the importance of early detection and wanted the global hit song I Touch Myself to be adapted as an anthem for breast health around the world. The Project was created in Chrissy’s honour with a mission to create educational forums to remind women to check their breasts regularly and to take action if there are any changes.

Watch the Video Here

Share with the women in your life so we can all be empowered around our health.

“When you ask one of the world’s most recognisable women how to check your breasts, she doesn’t know.

But when it comes to the male anatomy, she knows everything. She can tell men how to check for signs of testicular cancer. And she responds equally to any other number of euphemisms, slang words or pet names we use to describe testicles.

Why the gender bias?

She’s not alone. Other voice assistants also can’t answer important questions about breast health. The I Touch Myself Project partnered with the woman behind the voice, Karen Jacobsen, to help. Because every woman should know how to touch herself.”

Australia Day Dreaming – January 26th Show in NYC

Australia Day Dreaming Concert launches regular music showcase in NYC

Three Aussies walk into a bar…three Aussie songwriters to be specific. The bar, UT47, a hip Korean-fusion cafe tucked away inconspicuously amidst the thrashing theatre district of Midtown Manhattan. With a desire to create a regular platform for original music, a plan was hatched.

NYC based Australians, Karen Jacobsen, MiG Ayesa and Tracey Yarad collaborate to bring you AussieMusicFestivalNYC a regular showcase of down under songwriters living in and visiting the big apple. Launching the project with a concert, the founders will be joined by Nadia Ackerman on January 26th, 2020 at 230PM at Soapbox Gallery.
“The number of Aussies living here has increased tremendously. I wish this opportunity and kind of community had existed when I first arrived”, explains Karen, who is about to celebrate twenty years in Manhattan.
“We are also excited to provide a space where visiting Aussie songwriters can be presented to an audience as plugged in as New Yorkers are”, adds Tracey Yarad, who has been based in Brooklyn for three years, pursuing her passion for jazz and creativity following a decades long career as an award winning songwriter and performer in Australia.
 
MiG Ayesa has had an extraordinary career, performing on Broadway (Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor), the West End (Rent, We Will Rock You), on television, film and releasing his songs internationally. Calling NYC home since 2010, MiG became known to US television audiences as a finalist in the ROCKSTAR:INXS reality television show.
Karen Jacobsen moved to NYC in 2000 realizing her childhood dream. Her speaking voice unexpectedly ended up in over a billion GPS/smartphones and as the original Aussie Siri. She has been a clue in The New York Times crossword puzzle, called hypnotic by Harry Connick Jr on his talk show, and is currently recording her 10th album.
Tracey Yarad’s musical journey has seen her perform regularly on live television, with the who’s who of Australian music and releasing seven albums. She has lived and toured extensively in Japan, Europe and her native Australia and has a love for music education that was expressed in the music academy she founded in 2004 in the Blue Mountains.
Singer, Songwriter and Illustrator Nadia Ackerman arrived for good in 1998 and released her sixth album The Well in 2019. Uniquely, she draws and writes each song, which led to her brand and store Natchie at Blackbarn in Chelsea. Nadia’s designs are available as prints, homewares and gifts. She has an international following for both her art and her music.
Australia Day Dreaming will have an emphasis on stories, short film, song and real life experience about growing up in Australia. Enjoy Aussie wine and snacks provided by Grounded, at Soapbox Gallery, 636 Dean St, Brooklyn
For Interviews and additional materials, contact info@aussiemusicfestivalnyc.com

 

 

I Believe You

In late 2018, Vali Bennis and Karen Jacobsen wrote the song I Believe You, an anthemic power ballad dedicated to women and men who have survived the trauma of abuse, assault and harassment which left them feeling alone, ashamed, isolated, vulnerable and disempowered. It is written as healing song with its comforting, soothing, uplifting words. Lyrics by Vali Bennis and Karen Jacobsen. Piano and Vocals by Karen Jacobsen. Music Video directed by Vali Bennis and Tony Bennis.

The live world premiere of the song took place at the Broken To Brilliant audio book launch of Terror to Triumph, in July, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia.

We would love you to help us get the word out by sharing the video.