Today, the young prodigy Karina Pasian releases her debut album, First Love. On her first album, she wants to prove that she’s not just another young girl who can sing, trying to break her way through the industry.
Raised in the Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights, the New York native was a music and vocal student at world renown Professional Performing Arts School in Hell’s Kitchen. Since kindergarten, Karina had been singing and playing piano at the Special Music School situated in Lincoln Center. Not only did she graduate after 9 years, with a pre-conservatory music degree, she has been privately coached and trained in classical and modern piano by Dr. Burkhom Buriev from Russia and renowned American jazz pianist George Caldwell.
I first became acquainted with the young singer when featuring her in our Who Sang It Better section, where she previously recorded Cassie’s first single, “Official Girl.” I was very impressed with her vocal performance (even though I felt it didn’t suit the simplicity of the song) and was even more intrigued when she dropped the young people’s anthem, “♫ 16 @ War,” produced and written by labelmate The Dream and Tricky Stewart. I was pleasantly surprised, considering I wasn’t at all aware of her age.
I’m very pleased with the product that Karina has produced with First Love. The album has a positive message and great sound. She fuses her classic training with a fresh sound, with a little bit of something for everyone on the album. Save all the Alicia Keys comparisons, because Karina gives you more than just fingers on the keys, and at such a young age! Stand-out tracks include the Ne-Yo assisted “Can You Handle It?” as well as the beautiful ballad and title track, “First Love,” the thumping “90′s Baby,” the take-charge “They Ain’t Gotta Love You” and her second single, “Can’t Find the Words.” This album is a solid, good look for Karina.
Check out Karina on MySpace and make sure you pick up a copy of her debut album, First Love, in stores everywhere today!
She has a future.
love her songs..Shez really good
I had the opportunity from Def Jam… but i didn’t submit for her project. I’m an A$$! LOL!
I forgot about her cd I need to buy it she can sang but she is young for me I am 27. I may give to my sister
The First Love song is nice, she has a solid voice, but the lyrics of her first two songs suck. Sorry, I think she will appeal to the Lil Momma crowd. That Tween age would probably dig her because as a older person I am not feeling it. But I see she will probably have a long lasting career.
Unfortunately I dont think this album will do well. There just doesnt seem to be any buzz surrounding it/her. Its unfortunate because she is soooo talented. Better luck next time kiddo.
16 @ war is a great song for young kids. Is that on her album if so it should be released first because to me its a great anthem. The hook is catchy and the lyrics are about something.
That 90s Baby song is trash, BUT 16 @ War and Can You Handle It? are pretty nice!! She is talented, but I will have to agree with # 7, I dont think she is going to sell!! But, if she enjoys making music she shouldn’t worry about the $$, she is still young, and she has plenty of time to make $$ and do something else with her life if this doesn’t work out!! I hope she is still in school!!
I think she is a breath of fresh air for the younger generation. I’m gonna get her album for my younger sis. I’d rather her listen to something of this caliber rather than that other garbage that radio is feeding into the younger generation.
Brian I think you have a personal vendetta against A. Keys which you shouldn’t expose in your writing cause that’s not what its for compared to how the other concreteloop writers write their sections.
i was listening to the songs on itunes and she sounds GOOD. I really don’t know where this girl came from but she can sang!!!!
Her and Tiffany Evans should team up =]
i think this girl will do better in sales compared to Tiffany…..but we will see!
When Akeys came out with falling it was a universal song that people of any age could enjoy, and if I remember correctly Akeys was like 16/18 when her first single came out.
Its good that karina is singing age appropriate music, but the problem is that people my age 21 plus are not interested in her. If she wants to be a star, she needs to sing songs that are more universal. After all music should touch people of all ages from all places
Karina is very talented though, I think she has a fabulous voice and has a whole lot of potential
16 @ war is a great song.. I’m mad BET didn’t have it in heavy rotation..its a positive song for kids..hell i’m 24 and love it!
next Alicia keys??
#13,
of course BET won’t have it in heavy rotation. Like you said it’s a positive message for kids and BET can care less for that nowadays.
My roommate is from the Heights. She loves this chick. She is very talented though and I love it that her songs are age appropriate. A lot of artists come out w/ songs that they shouldn’t have @ 16 or 17. She’s cute though too and she can sing. Im 18 and 16 @ War is my jam lol. Big ups to this girl!
Take that Haters WTF? Alicia Keys was 21 when her single “Falling” came out. What are you talking about?
Anyway, I’m not trying to bash her, but I think she is too young to be a singer. The only way she would be a successful singer at such a young age is if she was on the Disney Channel, and even there she wouldn’t make it because she’s “not light enough.” I don’t care for her voice, it sounds like all the girls voices from high school, and her music is wack to me. I’m 18 and I don’t even like her songs. She should wait until she’s like 19/20 to come out with something more mature.
i’m a fan… she’s EXTREMELY talented. most promising future since brandy (IMO).
Support Black women making music. Don’t let people whitewash us. There is no people of color alliance
I love karina her music is pure…my favorite song shes’ made is slow motion…wonderful i will go pick up the album…got to support true talent and love of craft
I love karina her music is pure…my favorite song shes’ made is slow motion…wonderful i will go pick up the album…got to support true talent and love of craft
I really like this girl. I will definitely buy the album but I just wish Def Jam would have promoted her more. She has tremendous talent but not a big push from the label it seems
She’s a beast! …. Q’s god-daughter….. speak several languages….. multi-instrumentalist…. she’s good!
Now thats how you write a review Brian…. great job my dude!
She has mad talent…she will be around for a long time as long as all the songs are as good as the ones you have here for us to listen to. Much love from the Bay Area!!!
she has nothin on jojo. shes gonna flop just like tiffany evans. its a shame but its reality. chicks like rihanna wit no talent get hella promotion and the best writers and producers when talent like this goes to waste kind of like when her & teairra mari’ were both signed to def jam. teairra is clearly the better vocalist but look who was dropped. kind of like mario and chris brown. mario is clearly better. chris & rihanna are a catchy song no talent havin couple. time for a talent takeover in the industry.
Hey Brian!!! You should check out this cool new site Cafemaroon.com they have a variety of new music from good artist that you may have never heard about.
I like karina’a music….but why the hell you gotta talk about Alicia Keys like that this aint got nothing to do with her…stop hatin, don’t get mad cuz she can sell records
It’s sd but I think it won’t sell,even though she is very talented, it just wasn’t promoted right. Knowing not many people are hearing her songs, or seeing videos, it seems like they just released it and hoping for the best instead of putting her out there to promote.Hell Ashant sold more than I thought she would cuz she was everywhere when her cd came out lol
i guess sometimes its hard to market unique artists and they don’t really know what to do with her so they give her a look that’s familiar. I don’t remember what JoJo did but it worked for her. they knew how to market her I guess
P.S. Alicia wrote Fallin’ waaaay earlier than 21 it just wasnt released until she went to J records and started fresh there
I loooooove Karina, and will defintely be getting the album!!!
Brian… you should check your stuff before posting this makes no sense -> “she wants to prove that she’s not just another young girl who can sing, trying to break her way through” Huh ?
Glad to see a young girl that CAN actually sing, but I can’t help but think the “image” is only because she’s under age and that as soon as she turns 18 we’ll start seeing her im skimpy outfits with the usual “I’m not a little girl anymore” mantra..
i am soooo happy that you guys posted the song “first love”!! i have been diggin that song ever since i became acquainted with her. her live performance of that song is beautiful. happy to hear the recorded version.
I heard her album today as well. I think it is fresh and a breath of air the youth need. I have hope their are still some mature and responsible youth out there and I think they will buy this. If you know any, you should give them this cd (like many have mentioned ). I do wish she didn’t have to many songs about love because that’s not something we still need to promote to young females (the whole fairy tale disney BS) but I appreciate her talking about other issues. Hopefully this album will give her exposure needed to release a second album and gain a great career!
Oh and was it just me who thought that “Dime si es amor” song sounded like someone singing in spanish vs. a spanish person signing??? LOL I’m just saying… overall still good (altho her album isn’t my taste).
Finally! someone new with talent, praise the lord!
she wont even push 30,000 units,,,trust me koz i know its tru
@11…….No you didn’t remember correctly. A.Keys was 21 sweetheart.
I like “Can You Handle It” and “First Love”. Hope she does well though
i think she sounds very similar to solange. i like it though
sounds like solange; like it though
I love “Can You Handle It” That Ne-Yo can write some damn music and this girl is INCREDIBLY talented. Listen to the girl riff..and a baby at that. She’ll just get better. If she doesn’t do well on this album, there will be a next album.
she is a great singer but her album is going to flop, she doesn’t even have a hit single and her songs bore me even though i prefer real music over this radio shit now days.
i like these songs! but they sound really dated esp. the Ne-Yo one…sometimes that happens young singers…
I just heard this album and I love it, I have to buy it!!!!!
I love her version of Official Girl.
Love the album. Karina is very talented.
There’s a video on youtube of her and her little sister singing “Fallin” for Alicia Keys and at the end AKeys shows her how to perfect the melody on the piano. She sounds great there but her own music is lighter and more youthful. There’s also lots of other videos there of her playing piano and singing at home and singing for Diddy. If she’s really gonna make that paper, she needs to be on Disney since every girl on the network get a record deal with built-in fans (even the ones who can’t sing like HSM girls, Lohan and Duff), a clothing line, a doll, etc. LOL
However, Quincy Jones is her godfather and her dad is in the industry too, I think, so she’ll be ok whether she sells or not. As long as she performs appropriately in concert (unlike Ciara humping the stage in front of 7yr olds at a back-to-school concert last yr) and makes innocent, harmless music, I’ll buy her music for the young kids in my family.
productionwise,,first love sounds egzactly like chrissette michelle’s if i have my way,
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HATING ON HER ARE HATERS, shes very talented, n yall jus mad she making it somewhere and your not. Karina is very talented and will make it far, im tired of all you negative mind haters who have nothing better to do with your lives, Give her a break she just started in the industry and at least shes promoting her music n talent instead of her body
I LOVE THAT GURL !
Get it girl!!!!
Karina is hot for sure..her voice is beautiful..EVRYONE shud stop lookin at her age cos even female singers older than her in the industry right now cnt sing better than her..he songs beautifully sung and she seems very beautiful ont he inside aswel as the outside.especially first love..nd can you handle it..her songs makes u feel chilled outt !.nd this whole light fing is too played outt..no matter wot skin tone u hav u hav the ability to be beautiful or ugly..peace !
I love Karina Pasian this is one of my favorite albums pretty much ever so far
I’m a 18yo fan from South Africa. I think Karina is truly amazing. I now its 2011 and I only got her album early this year. I feel like this is the true definition of music. I feel her pour her heart out into her songs. I also seen her on RawSession. She deserves to be promoted much better. Even though, she don’t have to be heard by the world for one to know she’s great, but she truly deserves it though. Never bought a CD in my life, but this one must be an exception.
I would appreciate her album as a 19th birthday present. Hit me http://twitter.com/PatrickPitso