Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Mansfield.
Hi Karen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been interested in music and sound for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was fascinated with recording and how records were made. I loved singing, but I was just as interested in what was happening on the other side of the microphone.
I started performing live in October 1986 at the Monmouth County Hunt Meet, so this year marks my 40th anniversary as a performing artist. I spent much of the late ’80s and ‘90s working in the Asbury Park music scene, playing solo and with bands like Bleeding Knees, Karen’s Lizard, Mansfield Electric, and Summer Nationals. I was writing songs, playing clubs, recording, and doing everything I could to build a career in music. It was an exciting time, and I worked very hard at it.
When my daughter was born, I made the decision to put my performing and recording career on hold and concentrate on being a mother. Music was still very much a part of who I was, but my priorities had changed. I also wanted to be able to support us, so I went back to school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in music from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and eventually a master’s in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. My interest in recording and production had been there since childhood, so in many ways I was coming full circle.
Over the years I’ve released several recordings, including one that reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Mid-Atlantic Heatseekers chart. I also started my own independent record label, Willow Bella Music, which became the business through which I taught private voice, piano, and guitar lessons, along with drum circle classes.
One project I’m particularly proud of is the Asbury Park Love Contingent, which I started during the COVID lockdown. I wanted to do something to help people experiencing homelessness, so I came up with the idea of bringing local musicians together to record a song by Melanie Safka. I approached Steve Greenwell about collaborating on the recording, came up with the name, and secured a deal with Deko Entertainment. George McMorrow edited the music video, which went on to receive more than 100,000 views and won an award at the Garden State Film Festival. That project meant a great deal to me because it wasn’t about promoting myself. It was about using music to help other people.
More recently, I’ve expanded Willow Bella Music into publishing. I released my first children’s picture book, Baby’s Birthday Party Day, based on a song that’s been in my family for generations. I’m also working on other creative projects that have been waiting patiently for my attention.
And now, 40 years after my first live performance, I’ve released a new single, I Only Have Eyes for You. I recorded, performed, produced, mixed, and mastered it myself. That’s a pretty big deal for me, because I’ve spent a good part of my life working with other producers and engineers, and this time I wanted to make the record I heard in my own head, without anyone else’s suggestions.
I don’t really think of my career as a straight line. There have been different chapters, and some have been more challenging than others. But I’ve always been a musician, whether I was onstage, raising my daughter, teaching, studying, or sitting in front of a mixing console.
I’m still making things. I have a lot more I want to do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road? Not even close\! But I don’t know many people who’ve devoted their lives to music who would describe their journey that way\.
There have been some wonderful opportunities along the way, but there have also been plenty of disappointments\. In the early ’90s, I was working incredibly hard, performing constantly, writing, recording, and trying to take my career to the next level\. I had recording projects that never saw the light of day, including an album that was never completed after I signed a record deal\. That was difficult, especially after investing so much of myself in the music\.
When I became a mother, I made the decision to step away from performing and recording\. I had worked hard to build my career, and I still believed in what I could accomplish musically, but raising my daughter and doing a good job of it was more important to me\. I wanted to give her the time and attention she deserved\. I don’t look at that decision as a sacrifice or a setback\. I made a choice about what mattered most to me at that point in my life\.
Returning to music after stepping away presented its own challenges\. The industry had changed, the local scene had changed, and in some ways I had to reintroduce myself\.
I’ve also learned that talent and hard work don’t necessarily guarantee commercial success\. There’s a business side to music that can be frustrating, particularly for independent artists who don’t have a team or a substantial budget behind them\.
More recently, I’ve had some significant health challenges that have affected my ability to perform live\. That’s been difficult to accept, but it’s also encouraged me to concentrate on recording, producing, writing, and publishing\. There are still plenty of ways for me to be creative\.
I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that success doesn’t always look the way you imagined it would when you were younger\. I’ve had to redefine what it means to me\.
At this point in my life, being able to make the music I want to make, on my own terms, is enormously satisfying\. I still have ambitions, and I’m certainly not finished\. But I have a much greater appreciation for the journey than I did when I was younger\.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a singer-songwriter, guitarist, recording artist, and producer. I’ve spent 40 years making music, mostly in and around the Asbury Park music scene, and over that time I’ve worn quite a few different hats.
I’ve always been drawn to music that has something to say, whether it’s through the lyrics, the melody, or simply the way a recording makes you feel. I’ve never been particularly interested in fitting neatly into one genre.
I suppose one thing that sets me apart is my musical background. I started out playing in an almost all-girl cowpunk band and eventually found myself studying classical voice at a music conservatory, singing opera and art songs. That’s quite a range, and I think all of those experiences have influenced the way I approach music.
I have a contralto voice, which has always been a recognizable part of my sound. A recent review in A&R Factory described it as a “smoky contralto,” which I thought was a pretty good description. My classical training gave me a greater understanding of my instrument, but I’ve never felt the need to sound like a classically trained singer when I’m making my own records. I use what serves the song.
For much of my career, I was known primarily as a singer-songwriter and live performer. These days, I’m spending more time on the production side of things, which is something I’ve been interested in since I was a kid. I love the entire recording process, from the first idea to the final mix. There’s something very satisfying about hearing something in your head and figuring out how to bring it to life.
My latest single, I Only Have Eyes for You, is a good example. I performed, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered it myself. I wasn’t trying to recreate the original recording or make something that sounded like anyone else. I wanted to explore what the song could sound like through my own musical sensibilities.
I’m also an independent publisher through my label, Willow Bella Music. My first children’s picture book, Baby’s Birthday Party Day, was released this year, and I have other projects in development.
What am I most proud of? That’s a difficult question because there have been so many different chapters. I’m proud of the work I’ve done, the musicians I’ve worked with, the recognition some of my recordings have received, and the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to the local music community.
But I think I’m most proud of the fact that I’m still creating. I’ve had plenty of reasons to stop over the years, but I never lost my curiosity or my desire to make things.
They say with age comes wisdom, and the wisdom I’m gaining is teaching me discernment—how to trust myself more, how to rely on my intuition, and ultimately, how to accept that I don’t need anyone else’s approval.
I’m not interested in comparing myself to other artists. I’ve developed my own voice, my own way of approaching music, and my own ideas about what I want to create. And I’m learning to trust all of that.
There’s a certain freedom that comes with it.
What makes you happy?
Hearing my songs on the radio! Haha! Seriously, after 40 years, it’s still a thrill.
So many things make me happy. Music, of course. Singing, playing guitar, listening to a great recording, or spending hours in my studio creating something. I can completely lose track of time when I’m working on a project.
Knowing my daughter is living a vibrant life makes me happy. She’s a creative herself and started her own magazine in Chicago focusing on arts and culture. I admire her bravery, imagination, and creative spirit, and it makes me happy knowing she’s out there living life on her own terms.
Nature makes me happy. This magnificent, multicolored autumn we’re having in New Jersey is absolutely breathtaking. I love animals, children, preparing delicious food, and sharing a good meal. I love real, meaningful conversations with people who aren’t afraid to go a little deeper than the usual small talk.
I’m also happiest when I’m learning something new. I’ve always been curious about music, art, history, and how things work. I love discovering something I didn’t know yesterday.
And I’m learning that happiness doesn’t always have to come from accomplishing something. Sometimes it’s just appreciating a beautiful day, enjoying some peace and quiet, or being comfortable in my own company.
I think what’s making me especially happy these days is the growing freedom to simply be myself, trust my instincts, and appreciate my life as it is, while still looking forward to everything I have yet to experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karenmansfield.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmansfieldmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMansfieldMusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-mansfield-16aa057
- Twitter: https://x.com/karenmansfield1?s=11&t=PStdUGq8aWCk-Y-wfGRIzA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@karenmansfieldmusic?si=q7E4TEstOQalI9UM
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/RLUBGdFSYUu6bth2BU
- Other: https://willowbellamusic.com/
