Karisa (pronounced Ka-ree-sa) Wilson’s improvisational, soulful sound has established her as a key player in Grand Rapids’ thriving music scene. In addition to releasing her well-received 2007 debut album, Little Girl, the singer-songwriter has contributed to nearly 20 local albums in the past two years. She also writes a monthly hip-hop culture column for Recoil magazine, shining light on local artists in need of promotion. Preferring camaraderie to competition, she says she’s often inspired by her peers.
“I’ve been heavily influenced by local musicians," Wilson says. "I don’t sit around listening to CDs all the time, but I’ve been to all kinds of shows. I think in my songwriting and playing have been more influenced by people locally than on the radio. There’s a reason to keep our scene [alive], if not to influence the next generation, then other artists.”
Memories
“I’ve always been a musician,” says Wilson, who began classical violin training at age 10. She played faithfully during her teens and twenties, and it was while attending Calvin College that one of her suitemates taught her to play the guitar. After graduating in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, she taught Spanish at West Side Christian School and Plymouth Christian High School. After a few years, Wilson quit teaching to pursue a full-time music career. Now 31, she says she has no regrets.
“I like teaching, but music is what I’m good at. I could envision getting older in that teacher’s lounge and regretting that I never took a chance.”
Taking a chance meant testing out her songs at open mic venues, equipped with her acoustic guitar and angelic voice. It also meant compiling the songs she’d written to make a jazz and blues-tinged folk album, which can be a tedious and expensive process. Thankfully, several local sponsors offered to help with the cost of promoting the album. Wilson’s father paid the artist who designed the album cover. He attended his daughter’s CD release party in August 2007, but passed away later that year from heart failure. Wilson’s mother passed away the previous year from cancer, and although living without her parents has been disillusioning, she says she doesn’t despair.
“I never in a million years would have thought I wouldn’t have my parents, but I’m a Christian, so I don’t feel that death is the end. It’s sad for me, but I know they’re in a better place. I still have memories of them.”
One of the memories Wilson carries with her relates to one of her songs, “The Best Years.” The chorus begins, “The best years of your life aren’t gone away,” but the “t” in aren’t is faint, and unless listening very carefully, the meaning of the song could be misconstrued.
“When I first wrote that song, I played it for my dad, and he wrote me the next day and was really concerned about some of the lyrics, about the best years being behind you. I said ‘no, that’s not the lyric. It’s the best years aren’t gone away. Aren’t.’ So now when I sing it I try to make it clear that it’s not a cry for help. No, I think the best years are the years that you’re living.”
The Debut Album
Although Wilson began her music career as a solo artist, she wanted to form a band when it came time to record Little Girl and perform for the album debut concert. She now frequently performs as a four-piece band with Lou Musa (lead guitar), Mark Lundell (bass) and Eddie Eicher (drums). Little Girl was a huge success at the CD release party at Wealthy Theatre, where Wilson performed a sold-out show.
“I really didn’t expect that many people to come,” although she admits her strong work ethic paid off. “I worked really, really hard. I did everything. I was on every radio station. I sang at the ball game. I plastered the town with posters. I was in every bar handing out stuff. I took out ads. I did just about everything you can do.”
In February 2008, Wilson received more good news. She and Little Girl won WYCE Jammie awards for “Best New Local Artist” and “Album of the Year.”
“The big deal to me was winning the Album of the Year award because that’s the big award. That’s what Amy Winehouse won on the Grammy level. I was just flabbergasted. I can say I’m an award-winning songwriter now. It’s not local yokel; it’s for real. There are a lot of great artists who are doing really good things.”
Future Plans
Some of the musicians Wilson reveres are hip-hop artists, and she often features them in her monthly hip-hop culture column for Recoil magazine. Since she began writing the column three years ago, local hip-hop artists have continually asked her to sing on their albums. She has complied, and says her hope in writing the column is to “reiterate that hip-hop is a culture and not just a genre of music.”
“There are so many wonderful artists and I think that there’s a pretty receptive audience for the music. Listening to hip-hop is like going to an art museum. You have to be open to hear the lyrics and what they mean.”
In addition to writing for Recoil magazine, Wilson teaches guitar, violin and voice lessons four days a week, both in Grand Rapids and Grand Haven. She also continues to perform both locally and nationally with her band and the retro rock band, Rockit King. Her sophomore album is in the works, too, and she’s already written half of the songs, including singles “Greener Pastures” and “Patience.” She plans to release it sometime within the next two years, saying she doesn’t want to rush herself.
“I’m earnestly trying to make sure my next album isn’t Little Girl number two. I'd like to work with some people outside of the folk genre. I don't intend to make a hip-hop album, but have found that those folks are very well-rounded in their musical tastes and often bring fresh perspective and edge to new music. I don't intend to abandon my acoustic roots though, and will most likely have plenty of that acoustic influence on the album. I love the rawness of a piece of wood, a few strings and you. You can't hide behind anything. Either it's good or it isn't.”
Have a listen:
Adore
The Best Years
Bossa Nova
Sara Cosgrove is a freelance writer living in Grand Rapids. She volunteers as a music programmer at WYCE-FM, an independent community radio station. She last wrote for Rapid Growth about local surf rock band The Concussions.Photographs:
Karisa Wilson photographed in her home on Grand Rapids' West SideAlbum cover courtesy of Karisa WilsonPhotographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights ReservedBrian Kelly is Rapid Growth's managing photographer. You can follow his photography adventures
here on his blog.