Merseyside-born, London-based award winning singer/songwriter Karl William Lund fought off competition from over 500 public entries when his self-penned, anthemic track ‘Miracle’ was voted #1 by a panel of experts.
He started writing the song when he was in a really emotionally testing point of his life. ”Miracle” is about “finding strength and love out of dark times while accepting who you are at each stage of your life”. Writing “Miracle” helped him to pull out of the low times within his life and career.
Karl competed with 5 other entries gathered from established songwriters connected with the BBC & BASCA live on BBC Four in the search for the 2016 UK Eurovision entry as part of their ‘You Decide’ show. Despite not making it all the way to Stockholm that year, Karl’s song ‘Miracle’ was voted ‘Track Of The Year’ by the NPBC and gained him an array of new fans and followers.
As a result, Karl began performing around the world with Carnival Cruise Lines and embarked on writing for other artists & labels including budding Eurovision acts and previous Eurovision alumni Martin Fitch.
Karl continues to balance performing original material as well as writing for other bands and artists. He is in the music industry for twelve years. He’s been fairly independent and fully self-funded from my music, production and video costs.
OTHER CREDITS: BBC Eurovision, Armada, Universal, Warner Music, Audiofreaks, Guardian Angels Records & Publishing.
How and when did you discover your passion for music?
I would perform in the school musicals when I was younger. I played Kenickie in ‘Grease’ then the lead role in ‘Bugsy Malone’ and things snowballed from there. It wasn’t until I taught myself guitar at 17 that I began to write my own songs. Sometimes I would find it hard to verbally articulate how I felt about something but when I wrote songs, it felt so much easier.
Define your musical style in one phrase.
Authentic, dynamic, heartfelt and honest.
Favorite musicians …
Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Lowercase Noises, Jonsi, Prince, Michael Jackson. These artists write, perform and also produce their own music. I still refuse to talk about Prince or MJ in the past tense!) They fully immerse themselves in their art and are part of every aspect of the creative process from beginning to end. Special mention to Prince who played every single instrument on his ‘Emancipation’ album and for Lowercase Noises who plays every instrument on every record he makes!
What do you prefer to do in your spare time?
Transcendental meditation helps me quiet the outside world and lets me reconnect with creativity and the song writing process. Part of me believes that the song already exists out there in the Universe and that I am merely the source that it comes through – almost like a co-creation. A lot of my songs started life whilst I was asleep and dreaming.
If not a singer, then you would be a …
… a chef or a food critic. The kitchen is probably my favourite place in the house and I adore cooking and coming up with new recipes. When I am producing music, it is very much like creating a recipe. Every ingredient has its rightful place in the mix and they must come together harmoniously to create one delicious multi-sensory experience. Give me a plate full of hits please. Full fat.
How do you define happiness?
By starting and ending my day with gratitude. If you want more of the good stuff, how can you possibly obtain more of that if you are not thankful for what you have already? If I need to bring myself back to that place, I simply say to myself “happiness is the joy we feel when we are striving after our potential.”
Your motto for this Festival.
To give someone a piece of your heart, is worth more than all the wealth in the world.
