For over 20 years singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Karen Lee Andrews has built a career which has seen her travel Australia, Europe & Canada with her band. As an artist that crosses boundaries and melds influences into an earthy, rich and dynamic sound, her music feels like it could come from the soulful blues and gospel-tinged Delta of the Mississippi, from the steamy Country bayous of Tennessee or the rock highway of blue-collar Philadelphia. Throw in her Polynesian heritage and what fans have discovered is a tapestry of stories that paint pictures that will captivate the spirit and the mind.
Karen has that husky, raw and powerful element underpinning her voice which lends it an emotional balance rarely found in artists these days. It drips with the poignant context and history of a Polynesian girl growing up in the industrial city of Wollongong South of Sydney.
Having released numerous singles, EPs, and an album, Karen heads into 2026 with another album on the way. Titled Survival, she continues her musical relationship with producer Benjamin Rodgers who has worked with Jimmy Barnes, Guy Sebastian, Emma Donovan, and Cold Chisel. Having previously collaborated on her Edin EP, the partnership shows an enduring devotion to a sound that has entertained crowds all over the country.
From the Woodford Folk Festival, WOMADelaide, and Queenscliff Music Festival to Blues at Broadbeach and a three-month tour with Cold Chisel, Karen has captivated audiences across Australia.
Blues itself has a rich tradition of female performers who made the game their own. Her music references those undeniable touches of deep blues and pure soul. The cadence and harmonies all sit perfectly around her guitar playing as she lets the music speak for her and to her loyal fans.
The story of Karen Lee Andrews is not one of Survival but one of triumph.