Biography
Karl Blau stands out as a highly productive vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and engineer based in the modest community of Anacortes in northern Washington State. More than three dozen recordings have appeared under his own name. Although connected to the Knw-Yr-Own label collective, he has also released material through K and Marriage Records. Numerous albums first surfaced as individually crafted cassettes and CD-Rs of four-track home recordings that subscribers to his Kelp! Monthly or Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society (aka KLAPS) imprints received by mail. In addition, Blau maintains steady demand as a session player and touring musician. Extensive work with Laura Veirs sits alongside credits and road work involving the Microphones, LAKE, Earth, and Mount Analog, among others. He helped establish D+, Your Heart Breaks, Captain Fathom, Les Hauts Sommets, Lovers Without Borders, and the Bundles.
His recorded output spans an unusually wide range of styles. Although often placed in the “indie rock” category, that label fails to capture the breadth on display. Elements of folk and country-rock frequently merge with hazy blues, rocksteady reggae, ’70s soul harmonies, ceremonial flutes, bossa nova, dub, and experimental drone, creating an ever-shifting blend. The first two projects, Doin’ Things the Way They Happen and Blue Nomad, came out on cassette in 1996 via Knw-Yr-Own. They were succeeded in 1997 by the well-received Shell Collection, a compilation drawn from four-track sessions whose stylistic variety set it apart from most contemporaneous lo-fi indie releases.
Following a split self-titled release with Tippy Young on Dead Turtle Recordings, Blau launched the KELP! Monthly series in 2003; the installments continued at a rapid pace through 2006, even if not strictly on a monthly schedule. The run encompassed Dark, Magic Sea, The Coconutcracker, Dunkel Blau, If I Knew Zen What I Know Now, and Am. His first album for K, Beneath Waves, appeared in 2006. Dance Positive followed on Marriage Records in 2007, after which he returned to K for Nature’s Got Away in 2008 and Zebra in 2009; 96 and Baby Nettles were issued independently that same year. Although solo recording continued, the ensuing period found him devoting considerable time to his various bands, touring, and session contributions. The Bundles released their self-titled debut in 2010. In 2011 and 2012 Blau appeared on both volumes of Earth’s Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light series and performed as part of the live lineup of Your Heart Breaks, which issued Harsh Tokes & Bong Jokes in 2012. He played drums on the Microphones’ It Was Hot We Stayed in the Water in 2013 and handled bass and guitar on Nicholas Krgovich’s On Sunset in 2014. That year also saw the release of Maherican Dream on KLAPS; he resumed his instrumental roles on Krgovich’s The Hills the following year.
Producer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Bill Frisell, the Decemberists, Jenny Scheinman) and Blau cut a Mount Analog cover of Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got to Memphis” in 2004. The session proved rewarding for both participants, prompting discussions of a full-length collaboration. More than a decade passed before the project materialized. Editions Mego issued Introducing Karl Blau in 2016, a set of covers rendered in a contemporary cosmic-country vein that featured material by the Bee Gees, Link Wray, Townes Van Zandt, and Layng Martine, Jr. (Tucker’s father).
In 2009 Blau recorded Richmond, Virginia country-psych outfit Great White Jenkins, led by Matthew E. White. Three years later, when White launched the Spacebomb label—built around a house band steeped in Stax and Motown influences—he again enlisted Blau. The resulting record was White’s Big Inner. Impressed by Blau’s own demos, White not only contributed guitar but also brought in the Spacebomb House Band, featuring Fleet Foxes bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Pinson Chanselle, plus Megafaun pianist Phil Cook and an array of horn, string, and backing-vocal performers. Blau’s own album, Out Her Space, presented a contrasting mix of soul, funk, jazz, indie, and Afro-pop. After the September 2017 single “Poor the War Away,” the full set arrived in November.
His recorded output spans an unusually wide range of styles. Although often placed in the “indie rock” category, that label fails to capture the breadth on display. Elements of folk and country-rock frequently merge with hazy blues, rocksteady reggae, ’70s soul harmonies, ceremonial flutes, bossa nova, dub, and experimental drone, creating an ever-shifting blend. The first two projects, Doin’ Things the Way They Happen and Blue Nomad, came out on cassette in 1996 via Knw-Yr-Own. They were succeeded in 1997 by the well-received Shell Collection, a compilation drawn from four-track sessions whose stylistic variety set it apart from most contemporaneous lo-fi indie releases.
Following a split self-titled release with Tippy Young on Dead Turtle Recordings, Blau launched the KELP! Monthly series in 2003; the installments continued at a rapid pace through 2006, even if not strictly on a monthly schedule. The run encompassed Dark, Magic Sea, The Coconutcracker, Dunkel Blau, If I Knew Zen What I Know Now, and Am. His first album for K, Beneath Waves, appeared in 2006. Dance Positive followed on Marriage Records in 2007, after which he returned to K for Nature’s Got Away in 2008 and Zebra in 2009; 96 and Baby Nettles were issued independently that same year. Although solo recording continued, the ensuing period found him devoting considerable time to his various bands, touring, and session contributions. The Bundles released their self-titled debut in 2010. In 2011 and 2012 Blau appeared on both volumes of Earth’s Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light series and performed as part of the live lineup of Your Heart Breaks, which issued Harsh Tokes & Bong Jokes in 2012. He played drums on the Microphones’ It Was Hot We Stayed in the Water in 2013 and handled bass and guitar on Nicholas Krgovich’s On Sunset in 2014. That year also saw the release of Maherican Dream on KLAPS; he resumed his instrumental roles on Krgovich’s The Hills the following year.
Producer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Bill Frisell, the Decemberists, Jenny Scheinman) and Blau cut a Mount Analog cover of Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got to Memphis” in 2004. The session proved rewarding for both participants, prompting discussions of a full-length collaboration. More than a decade passed before the project materialized. Editions Mego issued Introducing Karl Blau in 2016, a set of covers rendered in a contemporary cosmic-country vein that featured material by the Bee Gees, Link Wray, Townes Van Zandt, and Layng Martine, Jr. (Tucker’s father).
In 2009 Blau recorded Richmond, Virginia country-psych outfit Great White Jenkins, led by Matthew E. White. Three years later, when White launched the Spacebomb label—built around a house band steeped in Stax and Motown influences—he again enlisted Blau. The resulting record was White’s Big Inner. Impressed by Blau’s own demos, White not only contributed guitar but also brought in the Spacebomb House Band, featuring Fleet Foxes bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Pinson Chanselle, plus Megafaun pianist Phil Cook and an array of horn, string, and backing-vocal performers. Blau’s own album, Out Her Space, presented a contrasting mix of soul, funk, jazz, indie, and Afro-pop. After the September 2017 single “Poor the War Away,” the full set arrived in November.
Albums
Vultures of Love
2024
Live from the Void
2023
Poetica Dystopia
2023
Blue Herons
2020
Out Her Space
2017
Introducing Karl Blau
2016
Zebra
2009
Nature's Got Away
2008
Beneath Waves
2006
Clothes Your I's
2001
Singles
