about this 'man
the short-ish story. . .
Unkel (Karen) Kunkel is a musical medium channeling multiple personae--Improvisational vocalist & singer of their original alternative folk-opera ranging from hypnotic story-songs to theatrical vocal pieces, accompanied simply via accordion, mandolin, or ukulele. Inspired by musical theater, princess-metal, ancient folk music, and classic ecstatic rock--their imagery bleeds from veins pastoral and religious, romantic and ancient, from fragmented dreamery to post-post-modern absurd visions of a nihilistic clown.
"Karen Kunkel has been singing since she was born, performing since she was six--she's been an actress on the stage and in the street, from Bellingham to Brooklyn to Bangkok and beyond! An accomplished theater artist and vocalist, in what realm of performance has she not explored and soared? As Unkel Kunkel, Karen is a musical medium, channeling all other personae from different lives, realms, planes, and times. She is either she or they, and represents us all at once.
Though they can be seen juggling, dancing, clowning it up--playing and singing with children and teaching adults how to play and sing as children--they are known for they're live hypnotic shows that are at once emotionally intimate and tempered with self-irreverence, leaving the involved audience inspired and questioned through her own dramatic story-songs! Like a ghost she is both of this world and not--and also seemingly hard to capture on video--yet having witnessed her way of being is to be transformed and transcended into something closer to oneself and more in tune with the All-That-Is. One leaves a happening of Unkel Kunkel's with the song in one's heart bolstered, their sanctity of life blooming anew, their joy brimming over in a peaceful sense of not knowing what they just experienced, but certain indeed it was and is a very, very good thing."
--Esther Harry Mary
Unkel (Karen) Kunkel is a musical medium channeling multiple personae--Improvisational vocalist & singer of their original alternative folk-opera ranging from hypnotic story-songs to theatrical vocal pieces, accompanied simply via accordion, mandolin, or ukulele. Inspired by musical theater, princess-metal, ancient folk music, and classic ecstatic rock--their imagery bleeds from veins pastoral and religious, romantic and ancient, from fragmented dreamery to post-post-modern absurd visions of a nihilistic clown.
"Karen Kunkel has been singing since she was born, performing since she was six--she's been an actress on the stage and in the street, from Bellingham to Brooklyn to Bangkok and beyond! An accomplished theater artist and vocalist, in what realm of performance has she not explored and soared? As Unkel Kunkel, Karen is a musical medium, channeling all other personae from different lives, realms, planes, and times. She is either she or they, and represents us all at once.
Though they can be seen juggling, dancing, clowning it up--playing and singing with children and teaching adults how to play and sing as children--they are known for they're live hypnotic shows that are at once emotionally intimate and tempered with self-irreverence, leaving the involved audience inspired and questioned through her own dramatic story-songs! Like a ghost she is both of this world and not--and also seemingly hard to capture on video--yet having witnessed her way of being is to be transformed and transcended into something closer to oneself and more in tune with the All-That-Is. One leaves a happening of Unkel Kunkel's with the song in one's heart bolstered, their sanctity of life blooming anew, their joy brimming over in a peaceful sense of not knowing what they just experienced, but certain indeed it was and is a very, very good thing."
--Esther Harry Mary
longer explanations. . .
who and what
Karen Kunkel. Unkel Kunkel. Kunk or just Kunkel. Call me what you will as long as it includes Friend.
Vocalist, musician, theater artist, creative collaborator, dancer, aspiring clown, traveler, explorer, environmentalist, lover, friend, a spirit of air and fire, a joyful human of flesh and blood, and a generally super-fun-chill-good person to have around.
Music and Magic.
Love and Laughter.
Realness and Rawness.
You know--all the good stuff--that's what I'm about :)
Via this website I attempt to share, in some small way, my experiences with you. Click on the little menu icon in the upper left corner next to my name to find evidence of my music makings in video and music page links; lyrics to most of my songs and some poetry; blog posts of my travel adventures; reflections on my experience of this awesome, amazing, astounding, and gorgeous thing of a miracle called a human life!
Vocalist, musician, theater artist, creative collaborator, dancer, aspiring clown, traveler, explorer, environmentalist, lover, friend, a spirit of air and fire, a joyful human of flesh and blood, and a generally super-fun-chill-good person to have around.
Music and Magic.
Love and Laughter.
Realness and Rawness.
You know--all the good stuff--that's what I'm about :)
Via this website I attempt to share, in some small way, my experiences with you. Click on the little menu icon in the upper left corner next to my name to find evidence of my music makings in video and music page links; lyrics to most of my songs and some poetry; blog posts of my travel adventures; reflections on my experience of this awesome, amazing, astounding, and gorgeous thing of a miracle called a human life!
where do i come from,
where am i going
I grew up singing with my four brothers on an apple orchard in the Colville Indian Reservation in the Okanogan Valley of Washington State. I have since traveled to and performed in thirteen countries; fallen in love with hundreds of humans; evolved my religion and identity; withstood permanent vocal damage; and have been endlessly blessed. I have been a professional actress, a tall ship sailor, a day dream maker, a fortune-teller, a silly goose, a server of much food and drink, a naked dancer under many a full moon. . . I want to share with you my journey and invite you along as I cover ground!
These days I find gratification in seeking more and more ways to shape my life around music. I aim to saturate my experience with: exchange of artistic expression--to give to those who ask--to learn to love myself--to ask others who they are and how they find meaning--to travel and question--to explore and accept--to be kind and to be grateful and to be brave.
I believe the health of humans to be inextricably linked to the health of our whole planet. My relationship with myself--all the parts of me: body-mind-spirit--effects my relationship with my community--my relationship with my community effects my relationship to the environment and, really, the whole world--and my relationship to the world effects my relationship with myself. The ability to express oneself via art and language; the ability to feed oneself through food and relationship; the ability to give of oneself via nurturing the earth, our own minds, and each other--it's all part of the web of vibrant existence of which you and I are already beautiful pieces, parts of the weaving--the same web of life in which I hope to play a helpful role. . .
Music is my reaction to most anything. I hear it wherever I go. I like to dance. We should all dance more and more.
We are all in this together, we are singing all at once and altogether, all at the same time.
Where am I going? I don't know. I try to enjoy the path. I have far to go and so much to learn--and it's all awesome and absurd and inspiring and beautiful.
These days I find gratification in seeking more and more ways to shape my life around music. I aim to saturate my experience with: exchange of artistic expression--to give to those who ask--to learn to love myself--to ask others who they are and how they find meaning--to travel and question--to explore and accept--to be kind and to be grateful and to be brave.
I believe the health of humans to be inextricably linked to the health of our whole planet. My relationship with myself--all the parts of me: body-mind-spirit--effects my relationship with my community--my relationship with my community effects my relationship to the environment and, really, the whole world--and my relationship to the world effects my relationship with myself. The ability to express oneself via art and language; the ability to feed oneself through food and relationship; the ability to give of oneself via nurturing the earth, our own minds, and each other--it's all part of the web of vibrant existence of which you and I are already beautiful pieces, parts of the weaving--the same web of life in which I hope to play a helpful role. . .
Music is my reaction to most anything. I hear it wherever I go. I like to dance. We should all dance more and more.
We are all in this together, we are singing all at once and altogether, all at the same time.
Where am I going? I don't know. I try to enjoy the path. I have far to go and so much to learn--and it's all awesome and absurd and inspiring and beautiful.
well wishes for you and me
I hope you find what I share on this site amusing and useful. I really hope you like my music. Aside from my own quality of presence within the moment, I think my music and art is the most I can offer anyone ever.
I have many dreams--endless visions for myself and for our world--yet so many dreams have we all! ( I'll make a list for us someday, maybe even a list of my lists, and maybe we can accomplish something together, eh? Together is the only way things get done anyway :) The danger of having a good imagination is the ease with which one can spend one's entire life living in one's head instead of living out loud and putting those visions back out into the universe via work and art and collaboration--so to have the chance to better the lives of us all in some way. Thus, I pledge here, with y'all as my witnesses: to strive to live intentionally--to live out kindness in action--to share my dreams in word and deed--to attempt to live beyond ego so to give myself and others the freedom to continually change and grow--to strive to see the beauty, the humour, the miracle and magic in every absurd moment of this glorious life! Huzzah for us all!
It is not my job to judge my path, it is only my job to live it as truly as I can and to share it with others in case they find it useful. I hope to always be open for growth, gratitude, and joy. And I hope to help others in their own journey. And there is absolutely no way I could possibly do any of it without all the gorgeous souls I meet in real life or over the interwebs! Though, hey, I guess the internet is real life too :)
I love hearing from people in any way and for any reason. I honor honesty and openness--there is no such thing as "too much information" for me. So don't be shy! Please reach out for any reason--whether it's reactions to my writing, feedback on my site, seeking insight, favors, collaborations, or ideas of any breed--your own stories, songs, advice, or art to share in return!
I continue to be astounded by the abilities of my fellow humans to heal and love each other in as many ways as their are people on this earth. Many thanks to you. . .
Always with love,
seekin' dat music,
diggin' dat magic,
your friend,
Karen xoxo
I have many dreams--endless visions for myself and for our world--yet so many dreams have we all! ( I'll make a list for us someday, maybe even a list of my lists, and maybe we can accomplish something together, eh? Together is the only way things get done anyway :) The danger of having a good imagination is the ease with which one can spend one's entire life living in one's head instead of living out loud and putting those visions back out into the universe via work and art and collaboration--so to have the chance to better the lives of us all in some way. Thus, I pledge here, with y'all as my witnesses: to strive to live intentionally--to live out kindness in action--to share my dreams in word and deed--to attempt to live beyond ego so to give myself and others the freedom to continually change and grow--to strive to see the beauty, the humour, the miracle and magic in every absurd moment of this glorious life! Huzzah for us all!
It is not my job to judge my path, it is only my job to live it as truly as I can and to share it with others in case they find it useful. I hope to always be open for growth, gratitude, and joy. And I hope to help others in their own journey. And there is absolutely no way I could possibly do any of it without all the gorgeous souls I meet in real life or over the interwebs! Though, hey, I guess the internet is real life too :)
I love hearing from people in any way and for any reason. I honor honesty and openness--there is no such thing as "too much information" for me. So don't be shy! Please reach out for any reason--whether it's reactions to my writing, feedback on my site, seeking insight, favors, collaborations, or ideas of any breed--your own stories, songs, advice, or art to share in return!
I continue to be astounded by the abilities of my fellow humans to heal and love each other in as many ways as their are people on this earth. Many thanks to you. . .
Always with love,
seekin' dat music,
diggin' dat magic,
your friend,
Karen xoxo
