Establishing the mood with an atmospheric piano performance, Karen Harding opens Judge You with situational yet metaphorical prose as she sings, “Saw you run the other way, why are you running, I’ll be where you lay… If we can just walk together, we will be in harmony…”
The opus expands with the title of the track as Karen showcases her flawless range and ethereal energy. We particularly connect with the relatable message of the song, which can be interpreted on an individual level, but also on a more holistic societal frequency, as Karen’s words feel prophetic and zeitgeist with reference to the state of humanity. Soft 80s style drums draw us in further, as Karen continues to share her soul with a raw authenticity, fused with an emotive, astral strings arrangement which tugs on our heart strings.
Judge You marks the sophomore single release from Karen Harding’s upcoming album, Behind The Mask. The talented songstress confesses how the emotionally powerful ballad is designed to explore our inner workings – “specifically how self-judgment affects us as individuals, while at the same time revealing our protective mechanisms at play behind such internal dialogues.”
Karen elaborates, “Lyrically, it delves into the paradoxical nature of self-judgment—that it serves as a useful defence against external criticism while also needing the release of negative internal narratives that hinder individual growth.”
The composition was created with the support of producer, Daniel Nieberg, and results in a cohesive tapestry of sound, intentionally fabricated to evoke an emotion aligned with Karen’s lyricism. It is no surprise that Karen has been the recipient of notable awards including winning the 2021 Bendigo Bank-sponsored Radio Eastern Songwriter Talent Show; being nominated as a Top Ten Winner at World Songwriting Awards in September 2021 and Best International Artist at Crags Radio Independent Artist Awards held February 2022.
We love what Karen Harding creates, and have added Judge You to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream her expansive discography including Brave, and Insane For A Moment, and anticipate future releases from the talented creator.