Karlien

ENGLISH

When dancing was easier for her than walking and she found singing much more interesting than talking, it soon became clear that an artistic future was for Karliens play and a stage would become her biotope. At the age of 5 she started with dance, rhythmic gymnastics and later aesthetic group gymnastics (AGG), what will become her passion and main activity for 13 years. Together with her team she took part in national and international competitions, demonstrations, TV-performances and even world championships. As a rhythmic gymnast Karlien became federal champion and was named sportswoman of the year in her community.

Unfortunately at the age of 18, she got a back injury and was forced to quit gymnastics. Luckily thanks to all the hard work and sacrifices she had to make for topsport, Karlien has learned to fight for what she wants to achieve, carry through and deal with stress and setbacks. Because of that she hung on and eventually that moment appeared to be a very important turning point in her young life, because finally she had time to focus on other things. She had finished high school (language – mathematics) and started studying speech and language therapy in Antwerp. In the meantime she became choreographer, started giving dance workshops and became a model (photo shoots for several magazines, catwalks, dance shows, etc.). Last but not least she discovered her biggest passion, music.
Karlien sang with several bands, both backing vocal and lead singer and very soon she found out that this was what she really wanted to do.  She gets inspired by her big idols such as Regina Spektor, Alanis Morissette, Anouk, etc. She doesn’t really have a favorite music style, versatile as she is, she can appreciate many different styles. She loves easygoing, emotional music to daydream and philosophize, rough rock or poprock to go wild but also electro and drum ‘n bass sounds to party, dance music in all its ways, etc. But there’s one aspect of music whereto she can never stay indifferent and that’s a special, unique, proper way of singing. Examples  are Regina Spektor, Robyn, Jeff Buckley, Caleb Followill from Kings of Leon, Beth Ditto from Gossip, Sinead O’Connor, etc. It’s also Karliens goal to give this special touch to her own music by using unique singing techniques and voices.

Meanwhile she graduated as a language and speech therapist and also finished her second study creative therapy (dance and movement therapy) in Ghent. Up till now her favorite pursuits are still singing, dancing, listening to music, modeling, enjoying the company of people she really cares about, now and then going to a good party, …. enjoying life!
And as if it was meant to be, her different artistic pursuits all came together when she got in contact with 2Brains thanks to a photographer she met on a party. And the combination of singing, dancing and her looks will certainly always be her biggest trump.
Hoping to be able to develop an artistic career, Karlien participated in “Idool 2011”. And that didn’t happen un noticed.

She’s already known for her long legs, many photo shoots followed and people were getting curious and started wanting to know more about her singing abilities. Thanks to 2Brains Karlien is getting the chance to build a singing career and that’s what gets her main focus right now. With two diploma’s and many life experiences and enthusiasm, Karlien is standing in front of a huge adventure, and she surely will go for it!!