Fresh off the release of her critically celebrated album IRIS, renowned soul and jazz recording artist Karen Bernod continues her creative resurgence with the release of "Love Is All We Need / Beautiful Soul."
For more than four decades, Bernod has occupied her own lane in music, with her catalogue and work equally rooted in soul, jazz, and house music. She's graced stages from London to North Korea, and rocked many mics in the city; but Karen's truly a Brooklyn girl at heart.
She found early success with a feature on house anthem "Motherland" by Tribal House, which kept dance floors jumping in the late 80s and early 90s, becoming a cookout classic with it's driving percussions and uplifting lyrics.
She was singing backup on tour with Incognito, a London-based jazz/funk/soul band while finishing up her debut album, when she got a call to go on tour with Chaka Kahn. Smart ears might have clocked her voice over the years, performing alongside some of music's most revered artists, including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Paul Simon.
Whether serving as a background vocalist for legends or being the main character with her own material, she has built a career defined by emotional honesty and artistic integrity, with the kind of storytelling that can only come from a life fully lived.
Now, the Brooklyn-born vocalist is experiencing a creative resurgence. Arriving on the heels of IRIS, Bernod's first studio album in 10 years, the new release showcases a lighter, more celebratory side of the acclaimed vocalist and songwriter. While IRIS explored themes of memory, legacy, and healing through a deeply personal tribute to her late mother, Iris Cox, "Love Is All We Need / Beautiful Soul" embraces the warmth of the season, encouraging listeners to lead with love, find joy in the present moment, and connect with one another through music.
The release arrives as the unofficial launch of what Bernod calls "KB's Soul Summer Singles" series, which is a collection of music designed to celebrate joy, community, and connection.
"I wanted people to take away my life's experience," Bernod said of the album. "The love that I had for my mother because the album was dedicated to her. Love, happiness, unhappiness...things don't always happen the way you want them to."
She also hoped listeners would hear affirmations within the music.
"Instilling goodness into you, letting you know that you are worth it, feeling happy about yourself, passing that on, checking on strong people, loving on others."
For Bernod, the decade-long gap between albums wasn't inactivity.
"Politics have changed. America has changed. I wanted to take some time away from the business," she said. "I joined my choir. I wanted to reflect more on family and just be more present in living here, not just as a musician. Now that I'm back, I have much more to write about."
Q. What makes a Brooklynite?
It isn't one thing, it's an energy. The swagger, the attitude, he accent," she said. "The way we treat each other, the way we dress, the way we dance...all of that.
Q: What are your favorite places to wander?
Bed-Stuy, Fort Greene, and Clinton Hill. The brownstones, the stores that are there, the mom-and-pop shops, the parks where you can just chill, the diversity. You can see how the neighborhood has evolved from whence it came to where it is now. You got Spike [Lee] in the area. You might even run past him walking down the block one day.
Q: What's your favorite deli or bodega?
There's a few that I go to, not one in particular. I do like the French patisserie called Choice near Lafayette and Grand. I usually get turkey, with tomatoes, and brie with on a toasted baguette, with a garlic aioli.
Q: Favorite nightlife spot?
My favorite night spot is Rustik Tavern, the Black-owned neighborhood staple on DeKalb Avenue. The food is good. The atmosphere is good. The people are cool. Everybody goes there to hang out. Franz is the owner has been in the neighborhood for over twenty years. It's where I watched the Knicks playoff games. The last night we were there, it was crazy because we won. It was fabulous.
Q: Who is the most Brooklyn person you know?
Me (laughing). I just love the borough. I love the people. I love what we have to offer. I love the history. I love the architecture. I love the diversity. I'm Brooklyn down, from my hair follicles to my toenail bed. Anybody who knows me and you speak to them and they'll agree with me.
