WELCOME TO “HEAVY METTLE,” CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
Karais James Artist Bio
“‘Great is worth the wait. There’s no deadline on greatness and no reason to rush art.”
- Karais James
Few artists attempt to escape from their muddled mazes of mediocrity. Still, fewer have the gall to step outside the circle of their stifling “Scarlet Letter,” of
genre. Karais James believes there is no such word - it’s a trap. He has an inherent and uncanny artistic perception that makes his artistry an exception to the rule. His genre is not rock, hard rock, or heavy metal - it’s pure molten tenacity.Karais James’ fuel is verve and vivaciousness. So, welcome to the “Heavy Mettle,” - can you handle it?
He knew, almost from birth, he was destined to be a front man, and it became his vision quest. To understand Karais’ artistic evolution, one must look into how he grew up. A product of two childhoods - due to divorce - his youth became a sort of “Tale of Two Cities.” He spent summers in New York City and winters in the rural town of Laurel, Mississippi. Each place gave him a different taste of music. Karais’ eclectic nature today is a product of early exposure to legendary bands that blared over NYC’s FM stations, such asJudas Priest, Guns N’ Roses, and Iron Maiden.
On the other hand, it was the AM radio stations in Mississippi that offered him other stylistic influences. He explains, “I was hooked on the angry, obstinate hard rock and metal from The Big Apple, but don’t think for a second that I didn’t dig stuff I heard in Laurel such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.” Overall, he has lived the hard-knock life; he has paid his dues. He’s humbled himself to grow continuously and evolve as a musician. He writes, produces, and performs whatever he wants. “I write; therefore, I am,” he says.
Karais James is quick to point out that being an artist is a gift, it’s not acquired, and you cannot retire from it. He is willing to humble himself to acquire the knowledge to get it done. Over decades in the music business, he’s been counted out thousands of times. However, he writes with a mantra of “never-say-die.” He composes and create from the “Warrior Perspective.” “I’m gonna’ take my bow and arrow, get on my horse and go to war with my art. I’ll either go home or die on the battlefield of bass, poetry, and percussion,” he explains.
Karais James is a rare artist, a true virtuoso, blessed with a musical I.Q. that rivals any other. He has put no deadline on his career, as there is no such date when the art within your soul expires. He quips, “My last breath will last six years ... more than enough time to write another new album.” Of Greek descent, While admiring the works of Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, and David Gilmore, Karais has no musical idols. He neither follows nor emulates anyone.
While Karais had the ability to break out big while he was in his twenties, but knew it wasn't his time. If he had done so, he admits “... I would be long dead by now.” His first successful foray into becoming a frontman was with his band Kerascene, a metal-hybrid band that melded metal with blues and gritty southern rock. With initial success, he soon realized that Kerascene was more of a stepping stone to something better.
He left Kerascene for a heavy rock band called Chemically Controlled Children- of which he still is their front man. “Chemically Controlled Children gave me the creative freedom that I longed for and needed,” he offers. He continues, “The band is a team effort, they bake the cake, I add the icing as a performer, producer, and composer.”
While working with Chemically Controlled Children Karais met and befriended two profoundly gifted producers. The two talents were Ray Detone and Ritchie Scarlett, (also known as, “The Emperor of Rock N’ Roll.”) While he has played with many A-List musicians over the years, both of these renowned musicians would lead to an epiphany and a renaissance in Karais’ music. With his creative confidence, he was still able to humble himself as a composer and instrumentalist to grow and advance via their advice. “I knew my guitar playing could be better ... so I called Ritchie, I told him to teach me what he knows,” said Karais. The result of this trio working together in the studio would be Karais James first solo release,As This Garden Burns.
As This Garden Burns, due for release in mid-summer 2016, stands as an apex and example of the totality of Karais’ abilities. It’s a ten-track, energetic and eclectic mix of genres. The album proves he is able and willing to cross over into
any genre he wants to play and forge it into something that works together in unison, without any pause. As This Garden
Burns is art in its purest form. With pre-released singles which include; “Into The Sun,” “Learn to Fly,” and “The Longest Road,” Karais gives a brilliant and blinding glimpse of his musical journey outside the realm of genre, and fearlessly “Into The Sun.”
One can easily label Karais not only an artist but a philosopher. He follows a fellow Greek philosopher named Socrates. It is the teachings ofSocrates that catalyzes Karais’ constant goal to grow. He lives by his wisdom, such as, “True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.” It is via this mantra that Karais has evolved into what he is today. Karais believes there is no timeline or deadline on great art; he will keep pushing until he is dead. However, with his latest solo release, As This Garden Burns, and also the upcoming release of Chemically Controlled Children's album, Karais James may have finally arrived. So, take some time to delve into Karais’ true artistic acumen. You could stay lost within the comforts of other musicians’ muddled mazes of mediocrity. Welcome to Karais’ “Heavy Mettle” ... Can you handle it?
