Keren Mara
ÅŒtautahi Christchurch based Contemporary- folkish, singer-songwriter Keren Mara, is an up and coming talent. She writes and plays her songs with an acoustic guitar creating melodious and emotion fueled narratives.
Growing up as a “Third Culture kid” in Asia, in an isolated and sheltered Christian environment, along with moving around alot, this led Keren to delve deep within herself, and take comfort from artists like Leanne Rhymes, Mariah Carey, and Faith Hill. Along with these artists Keren was exposed primarily to Chritian folk/pop music.
It wasn't until Keren was older having been through some tragic life experiences that she went back to her first love and began the musical journey to get her degree at Ara Institute of Canterbury and since then she hasn't stopped.
With her debut release of “Under the Wind” in May, it has received some accolades. Including a “Pasifika new single” grant from New Zealand On Air Music, and it sat on the top 40 chart of Life Fm radio station for 6 consecutive weeks with various placements.
Keren has since released another single “Livin’ a heartbreak” and there is more to come later this year!
Keren completed her degree in 2020 and graduated in 2021.
Keren has been gigging around Christchurch with her duo partner and co-producer Harry Finlayson-Hood, and she also went on the gypsy fair in 2023 for 4 months as their stage manager/ musician.
“I believe my life experiences definitely are the reason that I can write how I write and how I can draw into deep emotions and ideas/narratives in an instant, which leads me to write songs prolifically which sometimes can be a problem because I will start new songs and then forget about other ones, and have half written lyrics sheets lying all around the house, and so on. The goal now is to record those songs and get them out there for people to hear.” Keren 2024