Latest / The Winning Culture Podcast / Karina Stephens Talks About Never Giving Up On Your Dreams | The Winning Culture Podcast Ep. 2
Transcript
- speaker-0: All I ever knew was how to win! speaker-1: I'm gonna win speaker-0: Hello, hello, hello. I am your host Vernon Wiggins with the Winning Culture podcast. And today we have a very special guest all the way from the UK, London in the building with us, Karina. ⁓ speaker-1: Hi everyone, how you doing? Nice to meet you all. speaker-0: Yes, yes, yes, yes. So glad to have you on the Winter Culture Podcast. And my goodness, you've been doing winning, for sure. speaker-1: Thank you, thank you so much. speaker-0: You're welcome. You're welcome. yeah, look, we'll get into it. Look, saw you, you know, you came to the United States and you've you know, you've been doing a lot of great stuff. Look, I saw you on the World Star Hip Hop Podcast. speaker-1: Yes, that was amazing. I just had such a great time there. ⁓ I absolutely loved the whole team of WorldStar. Big thank you to everybody supporting the new song King and Queen and WorldStar took it to another level and Sound Factory as well. Thank you so much. speaker-0: ⁓ look, look, look. I mean, definitely took it to another level. You did that. Yeah. Look, I'm pretty strong. ⁓ go ahead. Go ahead. speaker-1: It's soon coming out guys, so world start, watch my page because it's soon coming out. speaker-0: Cool, cool. And mention real quick where he could follow you at too. speaker-1: Yes. You can follow me on my Instagram page at chaos underscore rocks one Twitter chaos rocks also tick tock chaos rocks and YouTube chaos rocks. I'll just Google my name, Karina Stevens, and I come straight up. speaker-0: Bam, bam, look y'all, there it is. I'm telling you, look, he's doing some amazing things, you know, all over the world, you know. So, yeah, you're welcome. Keep it up. So like, how was it, you know, to do the interview with World Star? You know, they've been around a long time. How was it? speaker-1: Yes, so the interview comes under Freesum TV under World Stars, different sector. So the interview was amazing. I did it with Alana and Yacina and it all happened after I performed. They said, we loved your performance so much. Would you mind staying a bit longer for TV interview? And I said, of course. And ⁓ they said, Karina, you're just amazing. It's really natural with you. It was great to, they're just trying to... find out questions about the new songs I'm gonna do or who I'm gonna collaborate with. I can only tell them a little bit. speaker-0: Look, I heard that. I'm telling you the honest truth. Whoever collaborates with you, they're going to be very fortunate and blessed to do that because look, listened to, you're welcome. I listened to the records, ⁓ you know, that you sent me and I'm telling you, they off the chain. Like, King and Queen, I must have listened to that about 20 times. I mean. speaker-1: Thank you. speaker-0: Yeah, hey look, you're welcome. Like, you really, honestly, you know, you got me through my day. Definitely yesterday for sure, because that song, I'm telling you, is amazing. Like, and I listened to No Pressure today. I love that one as well. speaker-1: ⁓ thank you. Well, I have to thank the artist that I worked with for King and Queen. that was USA rapper, Solis and UK MC, One Mass. And then for No Pressure that was featuring and my good friend Ice Beats Chills. So I absolutely love those guys. So thank you so much because they're a part of the song and I couldn't do it without them. And honestly. We like to think differently out of the box with music and that's what we like to bring you and something that everybody can relate to as well. speaker-0: Yes, ⁓ yeah, we definitely can relate. We definitely can. Great, great stuff. mean, ⁓ man, I was just like, look, the lyrics, chorus, the beat, like, I mean, it's great production. I enjoyed that song from start to finish. King and Queen, no pressure. I'm on that one too. speaker-1: I'm sorry. Thank you, thank you. So glad you love because we put our heart and soul into our music. It's just not done just for fun. It's like something that we feel and we can relate to. So we just want the whole world to feel that as well. speaker-0: ⁓ yeah, most definitely. Great job. Y'all keep it up. Keep it up for sure. So like, you're welcome. You're welcome. So how many days did you end up staying in the U.S. when you came down? speaker-1: Nine days we stayed, about nine and a half because our flight was delayed coming back. I don't think they wanted us to leave New York. ⁓ No, I mean, I've got a of my friends now who I've made from New York and they said, when are you coming back? We don't want you to leave. And honestly, I had an amazing time. So yeah, nine days. speaker-0: Oh, I'm sure he didn't, yeah. Oh wow. And look, I'm telling you like nine days, you know, that says a lot because you guys, you know, came to the U.S. and y'all obviously was like, look, we're going to get a lot out of those nine days. We staying that long. And I mean, from what I saw, mean, y'all got a lot out of it. seen y'all with the shit on Shade 45. I mean all kinds of like, aw man, they not playing. speaker-1: Yes, there's more to come guys. We've hit more national radio stations. This is just the beginning and honestly, I was living from taxi to taxi to taxi. Yeah, I was in Manhattan. I was in Brooklyn, New Jersey, New York, New Rochelle, everywhere. I loved it though. So yeah, an amazing time. speaker-0: ⁓ my goodness. Y'all got a lot out of the trip. speaker-1: Yes, a lot. it was fun. I didn't get much rest. It was like seven days workout of nine days, but it was fun. speaker-0: That is amazing. Wow. Wow. You're welcome. You're welcome. So like just the culture itself, ⁓ where y'all was at, like, you know, how'd you feel about it? Like, cause I know, you know, you guys have a lot of different things in the UK compared to the United States. So how was that like just, you know? speaker-1: Yes, thank you. To be honest, New York is very similar to London. It's a very busy city. So both cities are quite busy. And how I move in London was very similar to New York. So I didn't feel that big, that big change because London moves really fast as well. So when we have to put out things that music production, we like to hit it quick. So we know we get our music out there quick or we promote quick and we move around if we can, if we're given the nice opportunities to. we move fast, but New York pace was just another little step up again. I was like, yeah, I can see guys moving really fast and I loved it. I honestly, I had an amazing experience. It's similar. mean, obviously we're both, we're both English speaking countries and I've got American family as well. So to me, it's like a second home New York, if I'm being honest. speaker-0: So y'all blend it right in with no, it was, yeah. speaker-1: Yes, yeah, it was lovely. I got some people thought I was American until I started speaking. So they saw my American hat and I was singing and dancing and if she's American, and if I know she's British, she sounds British. So yeah, it's quite funny. But yeah, honestly, it was lovely. I had a great time. I just felt part of the family was lovely. speaker-0: ⁓ see, see, you have those kind of vibes, man. I mean, just good vibes and, you know, I'm pretty sure like, yeah, you like you said, you blend it right in. I mean, it's good vibes with you. Definitely. I mean, you're welcome. You're welcome. mean, I could hear it in your music too. So it's like, yeah, it makes sense. You know. speaker-1: Yeah, I've got a lot of energy. I'm high energy. I like to have fun and anything I do, I put my heart and soul into it. And I love music. There's nothing more I can really say. With music, I just eat, sleep, drink it all day. Yeah, it's easy with me. I'm easy to chill out and chill with and talk to. Very easy going. speaker-0: That's a great way to be in life right there, for sure. mean, and honestly, I could see why you're having so much success. mean, being that way, know, good things come to good people for sure. You're welcome, you're welcome. So, yeah, yeah. So tell me, how did this journey start, you know, for you with the music? You know, like, how did this all begin? speaker-1: Well, it began at three years old. was my mother who discovered my talent. So she said that the TV advert will come on. was like a cow anchor advert. And I would jump up and sing and dance. And that's when she said, ⁓ I think this baby's going to be a performer. Yeah. speaker-0: ⁓ hey, that's great. speaker-1: And then by eight, I was singing Whitney Houston, I Will Always Love You. It was one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists, as well as Mariah Carey. And then I was on the stage performing live at big shows by eight years old. wasn't, I wasn't stage fright. I wasn't scared. just, when it came to shows and performance, I was just confident and I never stopped. And then I started to song write at 10 and then it never stopped. I was ⁓ in a girls band by my teenage years of 15 and then I went solo and then that's it. I just kept going. I never stopped music. speaker-0: ⁓ how amazing is that? speaker-1: Thank you. It's by God's grace. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah, that wow, that is so amazing. See, I knew you were special. knew the I got to have on the podcast. I knew it. I knew it. speaker-1: Yes. I honestly, I love music. There's nothing that's never stopped me. It's always I would say you just need an opportunity. So, you know, if there's people out there watching this, don't give up on your dreams, you know, and, you know, just keep pushing, keep grinding as I've been told by my American friends, and you never know what opportunities can come for you. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah, wow, look, man, there it is. There it is for y'all right there. ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ That is so amazing. ⁓ man, that is so amazing right there. Thank You're welcome. So you've been, wow, since three years old. Yes. It sounds like you never had a drop off with it. Like you just keep on, keep on keeping on. speaker-1: Yes, I did. I just kept on. I self-believed in myself. I was given some opportunities when I was younger and it helped as well. I was mixing with lot of celebrities when I was younger, including Kate Bush. And I had privilege of meeting a lot of people along the way. And just I just said, this is what I wanted to do. I've always had a joy and a love and a passion for music. So. It's always been my heart and soul. So it was never a thing where I was going to ever stop. speaker-0: Wow, so it was never like, know, like, nah, I don't, don't know what I want to do. This is what I want to do. Can't nobody tell me nothing. speaker-1: Exactly. speaker-0: See, I feel like you could definitely be a spokesperson for people that are in the midst of it. then, know, they like, man, I don't know if it's not working out, it's not paying off because of this, that, and the other. I feel like you can be that voice to them to tell them, keep going, don't stop. You just gotta keep pushing. You know, I mean- Yeah, I mean, man, I see you doing that, you know, ⁓ for sure. Because, mean, believe it or not, there's a lot of people, you know, that they do it. And then it comes to a point in time, like, you know, they figure like, ⁓ nothing's happening or whatever. They come across a roadblock. They want to stop. You know what saying? So. speaker-1: They give up. speaker-0: Yeah, and I feel like you could make that difference, you know, as an example and show them like, no, you keep going. speaker-1: Yes, I'm a very determined human being. I've always been like that. I think it comes down to having some, I have faith in God and I've always told him what I wanted and he's always told me my ears, never give up, he's coming. And I was just like, okay, I'm going to just do it. And there's, I've always been told a story as well by my belated grandma who passed away. She's always believed in me and she loved, she would have loved this because she would want to see me do my music, which I am. And she's always said, when you get knocked down, that's more of a testament for you to get back up because you get knocked back in life. You know, you just dust yourself off and try again. speaker-0: Yeah. Amen to that. Look, you definitely made my day today with that. mean, wow, what a great message. I mean, that's something that we all need to hear for sure. Inspiration. speaker-1: You Yeah. Yeah, exactly. think in life, if you don't stay positive, you know, opportunities don't come your way. If you are a negative person, expect to manifest the negativity and you won't progress in life. So stay positive, keep grinding, keep doing what you love, whatever your dreams are for everybody out there. Don't stop your dreams. Do what you love. speaker-0: Yeah, wow, that's worth a million million dollars right there. speaker-1: Okay, you can give me the million pounds as well. I'll take that too. speaker-0: I heard that. Oh yeah. mean, you you, you're about getting it in. So she, yeah. Take, take it all in. Yeah. That's, that's, that's, that's, yeah, that's it. That's it. Um, you know, I, I see you also have a lot of motion going on down there in the UK as well. Oh, you got some things coming up down there. speaker-1: Yes, I'm performing at Ramsgate Lounge Bar 26th of June. I'm also singing at Bristol Carnivore with my good friend and who's on the track King and Queen, One Mass. Thank you. So we're looking forward to Bristol Carnivore because it's going to be a big one this year. So it's really nice. So we hit the stage there, opening up with King and Queen and then... Yes, I've got another big show coming up, but I can't speak about it. So you just have to watch my space. All right. Thank you. And I'm getting called back into New York. People saying, hey, I didn't know you was down in New York. We want you to come at our shows. And I was like, oh, no, I've come back to London. speaker-0: I will. I will. Yeah, yeah, yeah. ⁓ see that? See that? You got motion going on in both areas there. I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised. I'm telling you, I'm not surprised. Like, I, in fact, want to, you know, catch one of your live performances. I definitely do. You know, because the King and Queen, I'm just so hooked on that song. ⁓ my goodness. ⁓ The chorus you put down. ⁓ my God. It's still in my head. speaker-1: Yeah, I wanted something in your face and I knew the song was a great song when I heard the beat. So I said this has to go high. So I went high on that. I went falsetto and I just said, let me just give you something fresh and something in your face. speaker-0: You did that. You did that. mean, whoo. speaker-1: Yeah, yeah, love and respect. speaker-0: Yes, indeed. I'm going to listen to it again today just to let you know. You got it. You it. So you said, ⁓ you said it was a carnival. Y'all performing that, right? speaker-1: ⁓ thank you. Yes, Bristol Carnival. It's happening on Independence Day for America, so that's 4th of July. speaker-0: That's gonna be huge. Y'all ready? Y'all ready for that one? speaker-1: We're ready, we're ready. We're ready to go. speaker-0: Yeah. Hey, ⁓ my goodness, man. Please, if possible. Yeah, I want to definitely see some footage on that one, because I know it's going to be so electric in that place. speaker-1: Yeah, our carnivals are massive over here in the UK. It's one of our biggest events. It is actually the biggest event. I did Nottingham Carnival last year and it holds just under two million people. So that's pretty a lot for us, for London, being that such a small country compared to USA. So yeah, it's really huge. So Bristol Carnival brings about the same amount of people. every year it's very popular so we're looking really excited. speaker-0: I can only imagine. ⁓ my goodness. That is going to be so electric. Goodness gracious. speaker-1: I'll you the footage, I'll give you everything so you can have a little party and dance speaker-0: Please, please, please, please, please. Look, I'm a supporter of yours. I'm a fan of yours. I mean, ⁓ man, I can't wait. I'm looking forward to it. speaker-1: Thank you. We're looking forward to this too. Yeah, so just keep watching our space. We're gonna drip drop everything. We got so much going on at the moment. I haven't even released anything hardly for New York. So you guys are gonna be seeing that on my page, what we did in New York. And yeah, there's so much, a lot of fun. speaker-0: ⁓ yeah, yeah, yeah. So let me ask you this question. So, you know, I you came down to the US and you went to New York, had a blast. So is it in your plans, like, you know, when you come to the States, you may eventually go to LA or Atlanta or something. Is that kind of in the cards? speaker-1: Definitely, if I get invited, if somebody calls me and says, hey, we like you in LA, we like you to do a show, we want to interview you, et cetera, come down, of course, I'll definitely come. speaker-0: Yeah, ⁓ yeah. Hey, I'm such a... You gonna love Ellie. I'm telling you. speaker-1: Awesome, I would love to come if you're inviting me I'm coming speaker-0: ⁓ for sure. ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yeah. I totally see that happening. I totally see that happening. I mean, you would instantaneously, like, you go down to LA, look, you're gonna blend in right away. You're gonna love it. I mean, it's so much going on on there. speaker-1: ⁓ lovely, that sounds amazing. I've heard good things about LA so it'd be really lovely to come. I would love that. speaker-0: Yeah, absolutely. So, I mean, your career is, I mean, it's super hot. You you're doing some great things. You're trailblazing. So do you foresee like any ⁓ movie opportunities or anything like that you may want to do in the future? speaker-1: Yes, I did drama school and I've done acting and I've been on West End shows in London. So I played Grace Ferrell in Annie. I also staged as well Mick Jagger theatre show. I was the lead singer and actress. So yeah, I would love to be in movies. I pick up lines really quickly. My drama teachers told me I was one of the best, not showing off but... They said I would go to Korean acting if I wanted one. So I thought, okay, I would love that. If I could be in a movie in LA, yeah, why not? speaker-0: Look, let me tell you. I mean, I already see it. It's definitely gonna happen. It's no question in my mind. Yeah, you're gonna be doing that. Because from what I get from you, it's like everything that you put your mind to, you do it. Like, you do it. And I don't see you having no issues whatsoever with anything. speaker-1: Yes. speaker-0: Yeah. Goodness gracious. I mean, you put in the work with whatever you're doing. I'm fascinated by it. I think it's fantastic. It's great. speaker-1: Yeah, I've never been brought up to be lazy. We wasn't brought up with gold spoons in our mouth. We were hardworking people and my mum's always taught me and my dad, know, hard work pays off. So put the work in and you will receive the benefits at one stage in your life. And that's what I've been taught. speaker-0: Wow, yeah, that's truly, truly remarkable. Remarkable. Great, great, great. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. ⁓ So yeah, let's see. So you, okay, so any albums or anything coming out soon from you or? speaker-1: What I'm thinking about, I've got lot of unreleased songs that we are working on now currently. So King and Queen's been the first of the single. So we're thinking to release it as an EP, King and Queen being the main driven single on the E &P with a few other songs that you've heard, no pressure. We think that's strong enough. then yeah, we'll bring an E &P out later in the year and drop it. speaker-0: I be paying attention to that because I want that album. I definitely want to be bumping that, for sure. speaker-1: Thank you. It's going to be a really cool album. You're going to have fun because we like things a bit vibesy, maybe just one or two ballads, but the rest is going to be like good party, good vibes. speaker-0: Good, good, good, good, good. So great, great. So you say it's possibly an EP y'all will put out first and then. Yeah. speaker-1: Yeah, could be an album. I mean, I've got enough songs for an album. So if people more call for an album and EP, then we'll give them an album because that's easy. speaker-0: Awesome, Great, great. So tell me this, ⁓ obviously the finished product, it's always great, especially from what I heard from you. So tell me about the process, like, you know, when you go into working on a song, you know, just what's the process like for you? speaker-1: So basically it's, like to have the beat first, the rhythm. So I work with many different producers. and then I will listen to a array of songs and they will say, Karina, we've got something for you. Have a listen to these. So they'll give me like 20 songs. And then I listened to them and they say, pick your favorites that you want to work with. And then something will just strike me out of that. The beat is always the beat. The rhythm calls to me basically. So once I like something. then I will pick it and I say, okay, thank you guys. I really like these three or these four I will take and I will work with them. And then once I have it in my possession, then I start to think about the concepts or the feelings. So I just start singing and then the words are coming to me and it always is normally a chorus first. So I get the chorus in my mind and then everything just flows from there. Yes. And then after the chorus is done, the... The verses are out of the way really quickly because I just relate it to this concept of the chorus. I would say the chorus is the most important thing because that's given the real message to everybody. Yes. And because I've been songwriting since I was 10, I just find it quite easy for me. Once the rhythm is what I love, then writing the song is easy for me. I just find it easy. It's not easy for everyone, but for me personally. I can write that song within 20 minutes. ⁓ wow. Yeah and I just like and then it's rhythmic reason so what I like to do I like to perfect everything so even if I've got the song and I've got the verse then I'm now perfecting the rhythmic sections of the verse and the chorus and once that's perfect I normally give myself another seven to ten days to get all the harmonies perfect before I go and record that in my studios. speaker-0: Wow. Wow. Hey, y'all look, see, that's a music artist right there. My goodness. You're welcome. you, wow, what a preparation method right there. I mean, so, so you make 100 % sure that you give the listeners a really good record. You. Yeah. Wow. Wow. That is that that's amazing. So, okay. So like, does it change a little bit like from when you're on the song by yourself and to when you have featured artists, do you approach it differently or is your process the same for them? speaker-1: It's similar. We're the featured artists. I normally, once I'm working with them, we work out what we like to do, but we're quite easy going. So normally they say, Karina, I definitely want you to do the chorus. You're going to be the uplift of the song. You can jump on a verse with me or if you just want to do the chorus. So I got a lot of freedom when I work with ⁓ other artists. They normally like me to do a verse and a chorus and then they jump in on a verse. and etc and it depends on how long the song is. Sometimes we have two or three artists that we're working with and then the process is very similar but again I'm always given the song first. If so if I do a collaboration they give me the song first because they want me to do the chorus and from the chorus they now can figure out their lyrics for the verse and the storyline. Yes so then for me I'm always the first one to start. And then basically once I've done my sections, I do it in like a rough recording so they can hear it. Nothing too heavy. Well, I've gone into the studios just in case if they don't like it, then they will say, yeah, I'm feeling that I've never had nobody come back to me actually after I've done my chorus and verse. ⁓ no, it's not me. There was that. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, we'll go with that. ⁓ Yeah. So it's really nice. And then what I do, I said, okay, I'm glad you guys like that. speaker-0: Good, good. speaker-1: What I will do now in a week's time, I'm going to take that to my studios, professionally record it, get the harmonies down, and then I get it mixed. And then after my vocals is mixed, it gets sent off to the other artists. They do their thing. They finish it off and then we just master it and it's ready to go. speaker-0: See, that's why the song is so great because look at the preparation that's put in today. speaker-1: Yes, yeah, yeah, we don't muck around. I've been doing this for a long time. I mean, different artists do it different ways, but this is how I work. And it always works that way. The method works. Don't fix what ain't broke. speaker-0: That's right. That's right. Yes. Amen to that. Now see that right there. Okay. Yeah. Look, everybody looking at this, look, take notes right there. If you want to put out great music, you have to have a great preparation method right there. And Karina Harris said she has. You're welcome. You're welcome. ⁓ my goodness. That is so amazing. So. speaker-1: Thank you. speaker-0: I'm not gonna lie, I would love, ⁓ I would be so happy if a music video for King and Queen, ⁓ my God, I'm telling you. speaker-1: Yes, everyone's saying that. We're going to do a music video. ⁓ Everybody's loving that song. So we thought let's just see how it goes if we release it first, see how people react to it. And to be honest now, we've hit national radio station nearly every country. So I think it's calling for a music video. speaker-0: I know I'm gonna have it on repeat on my end. speaker-1: I love these. Thank you. Yeah, we're definitely going to do music videos. So watch out. We'll get that sorted out and later this year we'll release one. speaker-0: Cool, cool, I'm gonna be looking forward to it. I will be looking forward to that. speaker-1: Thank you. Yeah, we know that the concept of King and Queen love and respect, think a lot of people can relate to that or want that in a relationship they're in. And that's what we're just trying to display, you know, love and respect. Once you have that, you know, the world's a better place. speaker-0: ⁓ absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, you guys are the trendsetters for sure. ⁓ I take good note of that. I take good note of that. You're welcome. You're welcome. So, so yeah, look, I look, I definitely, like I told you, I'm a huge supporter of yours. I love what you're doing. ⁓ Keep it up for sure. Keep it up. You know, man, the sky's the limit. Definitely. The sky's the limit for you guys. So I definitely want to say thanks for coming on the Winning Culture podcast. My goodness, you are a winner for sure. speaker-1: Thank you. speaker-0: You are welcome. You're welcome. Yeah. Anything else, anything else you wanted to mention? You want to give your social media information one more time and where you can get the song at and stuff? speaker-1: So King and Queen is out on every platform. So please support us. We're on iTunes. You can stream us. So we're on Spotify everywhere. It's featuring Solis and One Mass. And honestly, we are so appreciative already. We've had a massive following because of this. We've hit national radio. cannot. We just got beyond what we expected within less than three months of the single being released. We really appreciate you. And if you can keep up with our socials, so follow me on Instagram at KS underscore rocks one. I'm on Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and you can just Google my name, Karina Stevens. I come straight up all my social media sites. You get to see me. speaker-0: Thank you. Thank you so much for that. ⁓ We are blessed and fortunate to have you on today on the winning culture podcast. ⁓ You're welcome. You're welcome. Just can't say enough about you. Keep up the great work. And thank you so much for coming on the winning culture podcast. speaker-1: Okay. Farley enjoyed. Thank Thank you. See you later. speaker-0: All I ever knew was how to win!