Female Artist for the month of April 2011: Karen Nicole

Karen Nicole

When you get noticed and announced Female Artist of the Month at the young age of 17, it is extremely difficult, but important, to ensure that you have your feet on the ground and your head on your shoulders. This is exactly what Karen Nicole (Karen Nicole Alvarado-Romero) has managed to do.

Karen was interested in singing and dancing ever since she was in school. Being in the school choir is what encouraged her and made her believe that she could sing well. Performing as part of the school choir gave her the confidence that she required to face an audience.

Karen has been uploading her own videos on YouTube and created tracks with upcoming artists ‘reel’ and DJ and rapper DJ TK creation ‘I made ya’. Unfazed by rejection at the Sydney choir and a mother who believed that this was not the way for her to go, Karen has continued to sing and perform on stage shows and parties.

Starting small by singing in parties and celebrations, Karen feels that her most memorable performance has been the one that she did recently for the Queensland Flood Appeal Concert. The whole event had dual significance since it was a relief program to help those who suffered in the recent floods.

This young Artist of the Month is inspired by artists like Christina Aguilera, Cassie, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Keri Hilson, Usher, Natasha Beningfield and of course Michael Jackson. While there has been a lot of support from family and close friends, there has also been a lot of criticism that Karen has had to face. But the artist has drawn a lot of support and confidence from her fans on the YouTube. She specially mentions Kelvin Majano, whom she considers her biggest fan to date.

Despite being in the limelight and having achieved what she has, Karen is still a regular teenager. Her interests (apart from singing of course) include cooking, karate (she trains for 4 days in a week regularly), Facebooking and makeup. Socializing and making friends is also something that she loves doing in her spare time. Someone who does not like people who smoke, too much rain, country, rock or heavy metal music, Karen has her priorities fairly clear.

Dreams of the future include fame, fortune, Lamborghini and being in Usher video clips, she jokes. But on a serious note, her dream is to perform at the Opera House and the Acer Arena one day. But she also feels that she will sing for as long as there are people who are willing to listen to her singing and enjoy her voice.

Thankful for the opportunities that are coming her way, Karen urges her fans to ‘never hide talent’ and to make sure that it is showcased in some way or another if you have it. Her mantra – Never listen to people who put you down (irrespective of who they are), work hard, believe in self and you will surely achieve your dream.