BY STEPHANIE ESLAKE
A music degree can be an intense – and intensely rewarding – life experience.
It doesn’t matter how old we are, or what discipline we choose to study. When we make the decision to learn about our art at an academic level, we are stepping toward a future dedicated to our passion. And that’s why it’s important to make the most of it while we can, before we venture into the professional world.
In this new series, we learn about what happens to musicians after they graduate from university. Through these interviews, we’ll explore how some of our generation’s leading talent have taken the knowledge they obtained at uni, and applied it into their careers.
You’ll read about the biggest challenges they faced during their studies, their confidence, and their big breaks.
Each one of these artists has graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium, and now reflects on how far they’ve come since their first day of study. In this interview, we get up close and personal with Karen Jacobsen.
Karen is talented in voice and piano, singing and songwriting, and even motivational speaking! But there’s a chance you’ve heard her every day in another capacity.
After graduating from Griffith, she auditioned for a pretty interesting role — the Australian voice of Apple’s Siri. Karen’s speaking voice has landed inside about a billion devices, including GPS, software applications, smartphones, and even on elevators.
Thanks for taking part in our chat! Tell us all about your musical life and career.
While at the Queensland Conservatorium, I was fortunate to be mentored by [teachers] and walked through how to build a performing career. I worked in piano bars and five-star hotel piano lounges for 13 years, from two to five nights a week while singing jingles and recording voice-overs in studios during the day.
I was well established, having relocated to Sydney and performing regularly on Australian television, before moving to New York in 2000 where I have lived and worked for the past 19 years.
I have recorded nine albums on my own record label, and collaborated with many songwriters and performers; had my music licensed for the screen; and most recently, composed the music for a new musical. Give me a creative project and I am very happy!
Unexpectedly, my voice ended up in over a billion GPS devices and smartphones — including the original Australian voice of Siri — and I founded an empowerment brand called The GPS Girl. This led to bookings as an international motivational speaker, becoming the author of two books, and leading mastermind retreats.
I have had many highlights on some of the biggest stages and screens, singing the national anthem for major sporting events including the State of Origin and International Rugby games at Suncorp Stadium, wide media coverage including being a clue in The New York Times crossword puzzle, and Harry Connick Junior referring to me as ‘mesmerising’ on his United States talk show. Being able to travel and perform all over the world is truly a dream come true.
Before we move forward, let’s talk about how you’ve arrived there. What did you study at university and why did you want to enrol in this area?
After originally [graduating with a Bachelor of Arts] in Film and Television at Griffith University, I transferred to its Queensland Conservatorium, to the jazz course. As I had a passion for popular music, and this was before any commercial music degrees were available, I went to the jazz course for a solid foundation.
My exposure to jazz at that time was absolutely nothing, so it was a huge adjustment. The skills I learnt during my years at the con in the jazz program prepared me for the most incredible range of professional experiences. It’s stunning how well those few years of study positioned me.
So how did you find your academic experience?
I found uni life to be a shock to the system. As I was 16 when I finished high school in Mackay, and moved to Brisbane just weeks after turning 17, the change from country town Mackay to city Brisbane was jarring.
The saving grace was becoming a member of the Queensland Youth Choir, which was suggested by my vocal teacher Adele Nisbet. Through QYC, I had a community of like-minded singers, and became part of vocal group Zebra Crossing, founded by Craig Allister Young who was also studying at the con at the same time.
Together with Jason Barry Smith, Karen Lonsdale, Carol Ellwood — all studying at the con — and Paul Kidd, we rehearsed and performed regularly all over Brisbane. Musically as well as socially, this was incredible.
What do you remember being your most challenging year, and why did you decide to push through?
All three years of tertiary study were challenging. I think the second year, when I was studying full-time at the con and part-time at Griffith, was the craziest. Once I shifted to full time at the con only then things became manageable.
What were some of the most important lessons you picked up while you were a student that were not academic?
There is a whole world out there, and it can start right now.
How did studying music at uni help increase your confidence as an emerging young artist?
Being able to see other students and teachers who were already working as professional musicians gave me so much encouragement. I realised making a living out of music was possible and imminent.
Tell us about how you navigated the world of music after your graduation. Did you have a ‘big break’ or was it a very slow burn?
There have been many breaks along the way. My absolute obsession with songs and performing music made me driven to seek out opportunities. I came to learn it was not difficult to make a very good living out of music. What is much more challenging is making a very good living out of music on your own terms.
How have you used the networks obtained through your degree, and how do you work to maintain these relationships?
When I moved to New South Wales, I started again in terms of creating a professional network. This was before the immediacy of the internet, and my focus was building business in Sydney and nationally. Since moving to New York, I have much more actively maintained Queensland Conservatorium and Griffith University connections through the Australian and Queensland communities.
LinkedIn has been an excellent resource to stay connected, as well as the growing alumni events and opportunities to stay in touch.
Recently, the Queensland Conservatorium held a gathering in New York City where I connected with past students who I have been thrilled to build alliances within the United States.
In what ways do you continue to use the knowledge or skills you achieved during your studies, now that you’re well into your career?
It’s endless! The musical and business foundation (not from the curriculum, but from the generous sharing of information from the teachers in the jazz program) I received in the late ’80s is in use in my career now, every single day.
What words of advice would you offer to young musicians along their academic journey?
Go for it.
Whatever your wildest music career dreams might be, allow yourself to have those dreams and to make a plan with simple, daily, actionable steps to move you toward your ultimate vision.
It is possible to build a sustainable business from music. There are simple and effective steps to take right now while you are studying, to create income streams that will help sustain you through the early years of your musical career.
Daydream. Let your mind wander to a time five, 10, 20 years into the future when you are accomplishing all you imagined.
I am passionate about sharing professional and personal development tools with music students, and welcome connecting with young performers and musicians. I’m often introduced to Aussies new to New York, and love to be able to make connections and be a soundingboard.
We’re excited to collaborate with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University to shed light on life after university for those studying music. Stay tuned for our next interview!
READ NEXT: Life after uni: Eliza Scott, violin
Images supplied.
