A unique and honest sensitivity.
A musical heart which beats everything from rock to pop, to funk, folk and blues.
"Tell you about me? I find that difficult. I'd rather sing for you, but I can't do that by typing can I! La LA LA la la.... Nope, doesn't work. My life story - is it relevant? Perhaps if it helps you understand my music. In short: I'm a child of the world. The melting pot. My ancestry is Arab and Greek. I was born in Riyadh, but had already taken my first journey in the womb, to Mombassa. I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world with my family. My name means 'generous' and 'kind'. I went to an English school in Riyadh where I was born and where we lived. I am the son of an Architect and an English Literature Scholar. I will always remember listening to music on a beaten up radio with my family (especially on Sundays after a fried egg and Haloumi lunch). Sounds of the 80's filled our lives there (mostly Thriller and Bad!) We moved to London when I was six. That was a big change! Suddenly motion and things happening everywhere... I have lived in and loved London ever since. My first musical instrument was the recorder. I then moved on to the clarinet which I studied for a long and enjoyable time. I was lucky to have a grounding in classical music and to play in school orchestras and listen to some amazingly talented musicians, it is a treasure which I will always keep with me.
Rock music (mainly AC/DC) took me over when I was about 14 and I will never forget the thrill of listening to and discovering it. I can't remember the first album I bought (back in the cassette days), but I know the first two cd's I owned were AC/DC 'Live' and Eric Clapton's 'Unplugged'. I picked up a guitar in response at 16 and never looked back. I immersed myself in blues, rock and pop music. My other great love at the time was playing rugby. Rugby was a sport which embraced me because I was always too 'stout' and clumsy to play football. I played rugby well and captained my university 1st team but had to stop at the age of 22 due to some pretty severe shoulder injuries. I don't regret a minute of it.
I was a Britpop child through and through but my musical horizons started expanding at the same time and are WIDE open, I love and treasure it all. I listen to everything from rock to funk, folk, hip hop, jazz and classical. Oasis at Earls Court '95 taught me the amazing and colossal power of live rock music.
I wrote my first song at the age of 17 with no other intention but to give it to my girlfriend. I went to the University of Warwick to study Psychology and Philosophy. My most treasured musical loves are AC/DC and Joni Mitchell. If only allowed one desert island disc it would have to be Joni's album 'Blue', on that record she IS music. Music is my love and my life.'
Official Bio:
When the Riyadh born Karim Fanous cites AC/DC as one of his truest musical loves, you could be forgiven for neglecting the fact that he is a classically trained musician, with a history in the clarinet, who didn't actually get into playing the guitar until he was 16. With influences ranging from the aforementioned heavy rock heroes, to folk icon Joni Mitchell, Karim has had a very broad schooling in popular music - and it shows. The forthcoming release of his debut album 'Stir Crazy' sees him flirt with sentimentality in the delicate 'Cliches & Candlelight' and then charge home with the chorus led pop dream of 'Ship is Sinking'.
Unlike most artists that are solely influenced by their musical peers, Fanous' song 'Perfume' is a take on Patrick Suskind's book of the same name and is a tale of being a prisoner of one's own desire. As a former philosophy student, he certainly has an interesting perspective on what he wants his music to achieve. In a live environment is where this is most notable, of which he says, 'To connect with the crowd is the most important thing. When the audience associates with what I'm singing about it's the biggest rush in the world and so beautiful because it is so inclusive. The real excitement for me is the connection with people and creating a feeling between yourself and the crowd, so the song can do what it was written to do'.
My Guitars and Kit:
You will always hear me going on about 'Biloo'. Biloo is a K Yairi YB1 Baritone Acoustic guitar and is the centre-piece of my sonic existence. It is a very special guitar, two frets longer than a normal acoustic (with a HUGE body) and is in my opinion a work of real beauty. Made in Japan, it is probably the best piece of guitar workmanship I have come across in my musical life and I had to search all over the UK to find it.... eventually I was destined to end up at Sheehan's Guitar Shop in Leicester to try one that had already been sold and put in the order on the spot. It felt like me. The longer neck lets me tune really low (down to C Sharp instead of normal E). This suits my voice and the chord shapes I like to play. The tuning and size of this guitar give me a massive and full live sound and a very distinct tone. I loves it.
I have a family of other treasured guitars, ranging from old to new, battered and true: my electric guitar Cassie (a gorgeous red Telecaster), and my other acoustic companions: Sinbad, Maribelle, Yamzin, Baby T, not forgetting Deano the Bass. You can find out details and more here
I play Cassie exclusively through Rock Of London Amps. Hand made 15 and 30 watt class A valve amps made by my producer and guru Steve Honest. These amps are simply amazing. Steve has put decades of experience working with legacy guitar acts (everything from Richie Blackmore to Oasis) into the build and design of these amps and it shows. After recording debut album 'Stir Crazy and living with them in the studio I ordered a 15 watt 'Neo Junior' and am pretty chuffed that it sounds even better than the ones Steve has in his studio. Rare sonic beauty, with a touch response and transparency like nothing else. I also chose special fabric from a chap in Brick Lane which Steve covered the amp with and it looks magnificent!
