my cousin karma

Sudbury's new electropop band has a single, Benson, which got more than 1,300 views in three days on YouTube.

The irony, say members of My Cousin Karma, is that Benson is their least favourite song and was not their preferred single.

"We just wanted to get people talking about us," says Shawn Fisher, guitar and lyricist.

Kristen Brutto, vocals, keyboard and lyricist, says the band has a '80s feel and says their intentions with Benson was for it to be just a promotional tune for their upcoming EP and they didn't expect it to do so well.

"We only used it because it was the poppiest. We're usually not so soft and happy."

"I'm pretty confident that if people like this," Fisher adds, "the other stuff will just blow them away."

MCK's Benson music video was made by HB Entertainment and went on YouTube on the weekend.

"HOT 93.5 contacted us within two days of our music video being up and we did an interview with them March 28, and ( Benson) was played live on air following the interview," Fisher says.

The band shares an extensive musical background with successful projects before they came together in October 2011.

Josh O'Dair, who plays bass and sings backup vocals, moved to Sudbury from Blind River, when the band was forming.

Both he and Brutto have their own solo albums online.

Marc Tessarolo, who plays drums and percussion, had been in a previous alternative metal band with Fisher for eight years.

"Shawn got hold of Kris and he says, 'Listen, we've got something here, we'd love you to be a part of this. I can't think of anyone else.' We had our first jam and I was hooked ... I'm in love with the music.

"The chemistry is even greater than you ever thought possible and it's almost like you've known each other for years."

Fisher says he had been in contact with O'Dair when he found Brutto through Kijiji.

He and Brutto "had instant musical chemistry and in two, three hours we pretty well had a song finished."

The band played their debut at the SRO Lounge on March 29 where they performed live with the TV/web program The Episode, featuring their newest song, GO.

Brutto says she wrote the lyrics for the song and brought it to Fisher, who is the "creator of the atmosphere and dramatization" of their songs.

She says she usually writes relationship- themed songs, but "not with this band -- it's more like drive and dreams."

Their final recording sessions are scheduled for April 15, and they're expecting a summer release of their EP.

"We've already been contacted by promotion companies and event planners saying they will have festivals in the summer they want to get us involved in," Fisher says.

"The YouTube video and the success of it has really been an eye-opener for us that people are already starting to knock on our door and being interested in the music and what we're doing."

"Fortunately, I work in advertising and that's really helped," he says.

"We've all financed the project from our own pockets.

"I guess our goal would be to start touring ... and focus on our music and get signed to a major label. We want to travel Canada and travel the world."

To find out more go to www.mycousinkarma.com.

- Sudbury Star kirsten hysert

Sudbury's new electropop band has a single, Benson, which got more than 1,300 views in three days on YouTube.

The irony, say members of My Cousin Karma, is that Benson is their least favourite song and was not their preferred single.

"We just wanted to get people talking about us," says Shawn Fisher, guitar and lyricist.

Kristen Brutto, vocals, keyboard and lyricist, says the band has a '80s feel and says their intentions with Benson was for it to be just a promotional tune for their upcoming EP and they didn't expect it to do so well.

"We only used it because it was the poppiest. We're usually not so soft and happy."

"I'm pretty confident that if people like this," Fisher adds, "the other stuff will just blow them away."

MCK's Benson music video was made by HB Entertainment and went on YouTube on the weekend.

"HOT 93.5 contacted us within two days of our music video being up and we did an interview with them March 28, and ( Benson) was played live on air following the interview," Fisher says.

The band shares an extensive musical background with successful projects before they came together in October 2011.

Josh O'Dair, who plays bass and sings backup vocals, moved to Sudbury from Blind River, when the band was forming.

Both he and Brutto have their own solo albums online.

Marc Tessarolo, who plays drums and percussion, had been in a previous alternative metal band with Fisher for eight years.

"Shawn got hold of Kris and he says, 'Listen, we've got something here, we'd love you to be a part of this. I can't think of anyone else.' We had our first jam and I was hooked ... I'm in love with the music.

"The chemistry is even greater than you ever thought possible and it's almost like you've known each other for years."

Fisher says he had been in contact with O'Dair when he found Brutto through Kijiji.

He and Brutto "had instant musical chemistry and in two, three hours we pretty well had a song finished."

The band played their debut at the SRO Lounge on March 29 where they performed live with the TV/web program The Episode, featuring their newest song, GO.

Brutto says she wrote the lyrics for the song and brought it to Fisher, who is the "creator of the atmosphere and dramatization" of their songs.

She says she usually writes relationship- themed songs, but "not with this band -- it's more like drive and dreams."

Their final recording sessions are scheduled for April 15, and they're expecting a summer release of their EP.

"We've already been contacted by promotion companies and event planners saying they will have festivals in the summer they want to get us involved in," Fisher says.

"The YouTube video and the success of it has really been an eye-opener for us that people are already starting to knock on our door and being interested in the music and what we're doing."

"Fortunately, I work in advertising and that's really helped," he says.

"We've all financed the project from our own pockets.

"I guess our goal would be to start touring ... and focus on our music and get signed to a major label. We want to travel Canada and travel the world."

To find out more go to www.mycousinkarma.com.

- Sudbury Star kirsten hysert

Give me a good beat, some pep, and something that should make “The O.C.” soundtrack, and I am IN.

That’s why My Cousin Karma had me at . . . well, not “hello,” as they don’t say it in the song, but at the introduction. Suited for a token “fun and freewheeling” scene in any coming-of-age teen series (cue: another “O.C.” reference), “Benson” is, well, FUN.

And that’s so important in music — especially if you’re an opening band. You don’t want to lull your audience to sleep, you want to charm them and keep their attention. My Cousin Karma kept mine, which makes me think that in a live setting, they’d do the same for you.

Of course, their entry is the recorded version of a song, so unless you catch them up close and personal, you’ll never truly know what they’re capable of. HOWEVER, with so much effort to record and to produce a video, the band is obviously serious — at least about their craft.

Fun AND serious, you guys. Because while it’s great to hit up a show where the act is so into it that they’re cloaked in mystery and disassociated from the audience (it’s not), it’s even better to see a band who obviously have fun playing their instruments.

GROOVY.
- Anne Donahue (AUX, BITE, NME and Spinner and Toronto life)

Give me a good beat, some pep, and something that should make “The O.C.” soundtrack, and I am IN.

That’s why My Cousin Karma had me at . . . well, not “hello,” as they don’t say it in the song, but at the introduction. Suited for a token “fun and freewheeling” scene in any coming-of-age teen series (cue: another “O.C.” reference), “Benson” is, well, FUN.

And that’s so important in music — especially if you’re an opening band. You don’t want to lull your audience to sleep, you want to charm them and keep their attention. My Cousin Karma kept mine, which makes me think that in a live setting, they’d do the same for you.

Of course, their entry is the recorded version of a song, so unless you catch them up close and personal, you’ll never truly know what they’re capable of. HOWEVER, with so much effort to record and to produce a video, the band is obviously serious — at least about their craft.

Fun AND serious, you guys. Because while it’s great to hit up a show where the act is so into it that they’re cloaked in mystery and disassociated from the audience (it’s not), it’s even better to see a band who obviously have fun playing their instruments.

GROOVY.
- Anne Donahue (AUX, BITE, NME and Spinner and Toronto life)

My Cousin Karma has just launched their debut music video — and website, and Facebook page, and the works — to a very positive response. Supplied photo.
Mar 28, 2012- 2:28 PM
By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Less than a week ago, no one knew who My Cousin Karma was.

Now, thousands of people have seen their debut music video, their fan base is steadily growing online and they can even be heard on Hot 93.5.

Not bad for a few kids who hadn't even blipped onto the radar until last Saturday.


Shawn Fisher, who plays guitar and microkorg in the Sudbury-based electropop band, said the response has been nothing short of favourable.

When he and his longtime friend and former bandmate Marc Tessarolo decided to give music one serious go, they came across Josh O'Dair and Kristen Brutto right in their backyards. Fisher said he and Brutto, who is the group's vocalist, formed an instant working relationship that couldn't be compared to any others.

“We met, and within three hours we finished a song,” he said. “I've never had a working relationship like that before.”

Coupling that partnership with Tessarolo's drumming talent and O'Dair's folk-inspired bass work, the results have been catapulting the young group to new heights. Of course, staying true to themselves has helped, too.

“We didn't want to be exaggerated ideas of ourselves,” he said.

Benson, for which local video production team HB Entertainment created the music video, and was also played on Hot 93.5, is “a little bit more poppy” than the rest of their stuff, Fisher said.

“A lot of people would say it's not even our best song,” he admitted. Their single, Go, is the track they are hoping to use to make it big. On March 29, fans can hear My Cousin Karma play it live on The Episode, filmed at SRO at 7:30 p.m.

On April 15, the group is wrapping up recording their debut EP — the final product can be expected shortly after.

In the meantime, visit mycousinkarma.com and like them on Facebook at facebook.com/mycousinkarma
- northern life newspaper

My Cousin Karma has just launched their debut music video — and website, and Facebook page, and the works — to a very positive response. Supplied photo.
Mar 28, 2012- 2:28 PM
By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Less than a week ago, no one knew who My Cousin Karma was.

Now, thousands of people have seen their debut music video, their fan base is steadily growing online and they can even be heard on Hot 93.5.

Not bad for a few kids who hadn't even blipped onto the radar until last Saturday.


Shawn Fisher, who plays guitar and microkorg in the Sudbury-based electropop band, said the response has been nothing short of favourable.

When he and his longtime friend and former bandmate Marc Tessarolo decided to give music one serious go, they came across Josh O'Dair and Kristen Brutto right in their backyards. Fisher said he and Brutto, who is the group's vocalist, formed an instant working relationship that couldn't be compared to any others.

“We met, and within three hours we finished a song,” he said. “I've never had a working relationship like that before.”

Coupling that partnership with Tessarolo's drumming talent and O'Dair's folk-inspired bass work, the results have been catapulting the young group to new heights. Of course, staying true to themselves has helped, too.

“We didn't want to be exaggerated ideas of ourselves,” he said.

Benson, for which local video production team HB Entertainment created the music video, and was also played on Hot 93.5, is “a little bit more poppy” than the rest of their stuff, Fisher said.

“A lot of people would say it's not even our best song,” he admitted. Their single, Go, is the track they are hoping to use to make it big. On March 29, fans can hear My Cousin Karma play it live on The Episode, filmed at SRO at 7:30 p.m.

On April 15, the group is wrapping up recording their debut EP — the final product can be expected shortly after.

In the meantime, visit mycousinkarma.com and like them on Facebook at facebook.com/mycousinkarma
- northern life newspaper