Musical Styles & Projects
Exploring the Acoustic and Electric Spectrums
The Viva Strings Project
Excerpts of live performance recordings & rehearsals
A Jazz & Contemporary String Quartet initiative by Karen featuring original music and arrangements with emphasis on extended techniques to support jazz and popular music soundscapes.
AcoustiKa Jazz Quartet
Live performance recording @ Fete de la Musique, Singapore
Jazz which pays tribute acoustic aesthetics reminiscent of the past with arrangements which recognize the beauty of purity and simplicity in music making.
Electrical Experimentation
Live performance recording @ Esplanade Waterfront, Singapore
'Infinity' is an original piece written by Karen, which epitomises vibrance
& power. It is a salute to technology and modernity with loopers & effects pedals. Rocking it like an electric guitarist would!
BANDS & COLLABORATIONS
Karen performs with her own band and string quartet where she leads as artistic director and arranger, as well as in collaboration with other fellow musicians. Her repertoire includes jazz standards and original songs.
musiKa creations Bands
Viva Strings
Jazz & Contemporary String Quartet
AcoustiKa Jazz Quartet
Jazz Band with emphasis on acoustic aesthetic
rustiKa
A collaborative band with Xanthus Ching of Rustic Vibes
She also is a Session Musician and Recording Artist, with focus on contemporary music. Recordings which she has played for include:
Quartet violinist for the soundtrack to Royston Tan's short film 'Popiah'
(music composed by Toh Tze Chin)
Section Leader (Second Violin) for the Return to Wonderland album (Tze n Looking Glass)
Violinist for the audio video recording 'Yenga Pona Raasa' by Mohammad Muhsin
rustiKa collab band
Live performance recording (excerpt) @ JB Jazz Festival, Malaysia
This collaborative band features original songs and arrangements of jazz standards (in this video, 'It Don't Mean A Thing')by its members in the sprit of youthful exuberance of today's generation while paying tribute to the roots of this genre.
'Yenga Pona Raasa' arranged by Mohammad Muhsin
'Return to Wonderland' Concert & live album recording by Toh Tze Chin
Originals
A vibrant Jobim inspired Latin Jazz original.
A fusion of Jazz with music from the Zapin, a traditional Malay dance.
An electronic dance track composed & produced by Karen de Silva & recorded with Viva Strings
Recordings
I Am Not Yours by Ivan Tangkulung, Violinist: Karen de Silva
Cover of Because of You (Keith Martin) arranged by Ivan Tangkulung with Viva Strings on strings
Sing Sing So (Indonesian folksong) arranged by Ivan Tangkulung & performed by Viva Strings
