Q&A: A Decade in the Making, Karen Harding Releases Debut Album ‘Take Me Somewhere’
“TAKE ME SOMEWHERE I’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE” — Karen Harding sings on the title track of her debut album, Take Me Somewhere. A mix of previously released singles and new tracks, Harding achieves just that. She manages to revisit past hits, such as “Undo My Heart,” while presenting fresh sides to her music, such as “Lightweight For Your Love.” The track is as carefree as any Harding song, but with a soft undertone that offers a reflective quality to the album.
The album also includes “Say Something,” Harding’s triple-platinum debut single from 2014. Often described as addictive by fans, the track established Harding’s unique tone within house music.
Take Me Somewhere presents more of the same distinctive qualities that set the singer-songwriter apart. Songs like “Sweet Vibrations” and “Morning” are easily digestible and promise a good time, while “Wild Wild Water” and “Wings (I Won’t Let You Down),” featuring Armand Van Helden, address the complicated parts of relationships and difficult emotions. But what unites each track is Harding’s emotive, soulful voice.
From Harding’s bold vocals to her lyrical engagement with various moods, the long-awaited Take Me Somewhere is an assorted accumulation of a decade.
Read below as Harding discusses revisiting older songs, collaborating as a means of learning, and what makes a song have a lasting impact.
LUNA: Congratulations on Take Me Somewhere. After a decade of releasing music, how are you feeling about your debut album?
HARDING: Thank you. Feeling good. It took a while to select the songs, pick the right moments from over the years, and get the songs to a place that felt right. Truly proud of all the achievements in my career up to this point, but this is a big dream come true! [Also] kind of nervous.
LUNA: The album includes your debut single, “Say Something,” and a few other previously released tracks. How did you feel revisiting those tracks while curating the album?
HARDING: With all those songs, I just knew I couldn’t leave them out. They have formed my identity as an artist in their own ways. I wanted to take people on my journey and hopefully they can get on board and enjoy!
LUNA: Your songs are an upbeat and fun time, but I’m sure it’s not only positive experiences that inform the creation process. When you’re writing about topics like heartbreak, how do you balance bright dance elements with the emotion you’re expressing?
HARDING: Usually the songs are written first without the beat, and that captures the moment of emotion. The production is usually built up from there to suit the vibe that we’re all feeling in the room. The part I really love is when it’s all pretty much done and I get to adlib along to the track — sometimes we can catch extra sections just from this.
LUNA: Likewise, I think that’s one of dance music’s powers: being able to unleash painful experiences. What other traits of the genre have you learned over the past decade that you were able to bring to Take Me Somewhere?
HARDING: I’ve worked with incredible artists, songwriters, and producers over the years and I feel like I’ve learned so much in music, [such as being] inspired by other creatives. There’s so many subgenres of dance music, and I feel like you can hear the inspiration on the album.
LUNA: I think “Wild Wild Water” is a track that listeners can lean on during hard times. Could you tell us more about the track?
HARDING: Thank you — I hope for that too. It’s a song that was written at a time in my career when I wasn’t sure on decisions and if the one I chose would be the right one. I had a few things on the table and I was hesitating about them all.
I was in the studio with Brad Ellis and Dee Adam, and we talked a lot about it and it ended with the idea of just going with the flow, even if it feels a bit crazy at first. I was doubting myself and what I was capable of. I was too busy listening to what everyone else had to say and got a bit stuck in the negativity of that when none of it mattered at all. I was going to land on my feet regardless of the decision I made.
LUNA: On the other hand, tracks like “Morning” and “Sweet Vibrations” are ultimately a good time. How did you determine the many moods to include on this album?
HARDING: I just went with what resonated with me the most. Sometimes in sessions, I came out of it and just knew we did something amazing and all the records were on that wavelength. I wanted to share different vibes, though — I’ve featured on DNB records and I wanted to release one of my own because it’s an incredible genre with incredible crowds. “Morning” was so much fun to write, and Shift K3Y did his thing. I love his style and was honored when he wanted to work on it with me.
LUNA: I watched the music videos for the songs on this album and found many comments about your music being timeless, which is amazing. What qualities in a song do you think create a lasting impact?
HARDING: My aim has and will always be to write classic tunes, so those comments mean a lot! I think melody and lyrics are so important. I love melodies — they’re definitely my favorite part to write — but I try to listen and watch different things to get lyrically inspired. They sometimes come so randomly! [I would say] a strong lyric and a strong melody that’s not too complicated.
LUNA: Who are some artists or albums you personally find timeless?
HARDING: There’s so many! A classic is Whitney Houston’s self-titled — it’s one of my favorites. I also love Disclosure's first album, Settle. It blew my mind, and I couldn’t stop listening to it. 24K Magic by Bruno Mars was also a special one.
LUNA: Now that your long-awaited debut album is out, what is the next thing your listeners can look forward to?
HARDING: I’ve been so focused on the album but the next chapter could be super exciting. I might even surprise myself. I’m going to get in the studio and work a little differently than how I have been, so I’m excited for that.
