Karin Ann

{{Infobox musical artist

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| name = Karin Ann

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| image = Karin Ann @ The Echo 09 26 2024 (54229618035).jpg

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| caption = Karin Ann in September 2024

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| birth_name = Karin Ann Trabelssie

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|05|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Čadca, Slovakia

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| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}

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| genre = Indie pop

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| years_active = 2020–present

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| website = {{URL|karin-ann.com/}}

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Karin Ann Trabelssie (born 10 May 2002) is a Slovak singer and songwriter. She is best known for indie pop music with a focus on mental health issues and LGBTQ activism.

Early life and education

Ann was born in the city of Čadca in northern Slovakia, near the borders with Czechia and Poland{{Cite magazine |title=Bringin' It Backwards: Interview with Karin Ann |url=https://americansongwriter.com/bringin-it-backwards-interview-with-karin-ann/ |magazine=American Songwriter |date=14 January 2021 |access-date=11 June 2025 |language=en}} on 10 May 2002 {{Cite magazine |title=Karin Ann - who is the singer who raised the rainbow flag in "Question for Breakfast"? |url=https://www.glamour.pl/artykul/karin-ann-kim-jest-piosenkarka-ktora-wyciagnela-teczowa-flage-w-pytaniu-na-sniadanie-210715102755 |last=Choiński |first=Robert |magazine=Glamour |date=15 July 2021 |access-date=15 June 2025 |language=en}} as Karin Ann Trabelssie.{{cite web |last1=La Ferla |first1=Ruth |title=Billie Eilish: Gen Z's Outrageous Fashion Role Model |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/28/fashion/Gen-Z-pop-music-billie-eilish-gen-zs-outrageous-fashion-role-model.html |website=New York Times |date=28 January 2020 |access-date=18 June 2025}} She is of Czech and Syrian heritage.{{cite web |title=Speváčku Karin Ann prirovnávajú k hviezde svetového formátu |url=https://hashtag.zoznam.sk/rozhovor-so-spevackou-karin-ann/#:~:text=Ako%20vzniklo%20tvoje%20umeleck%C3%A9%20meno,mi%20p%C3%A1%C4%8Di%20krat%C5%A1ia%20verzia%20Ann. |website=Hashtag.sk |access-date=18 June 2025 |language=sk-SK |date=7 June 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124010122/https://hashtag.zoznam.sk/rozhovor-so-spevackou-karin-ann/#:~:text=Ako%20vzniklo%20tvoje%20umeleck%C3%A9%20meno,mi%20p%C3%A1%C4%8Di%20krat%C5%A1ia%20verzia%20Ann. |url-status=live }}

Ann has stated that her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis drove her early interest in art.{{Cite magazine |title=Exclusive Interview: Unveiling Vulnerability - Musician Karin Ann on Love, Mental Health, and her Debut Album 'Through the Telescope' |url=https://untitled-magazine.com/exclusive-intervew-unveiling-vulnerability-musician-karin-ann-on-love-mental-health-and-her-debut-album-through-the-telescope/ |magazine=Untitled |last=Cesarine |first=Indira |date=15 May 2024 |access-date=13 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612000108/https://untitled-magazine.com/exclusive-intervew-unveiling-vulnerability-musician-karin-ann-on-love-mental-health-and-her-debut-album-through-the-telescope/ |url-status=live }} She began attending school for graphic design but turned to music after suffering a hand injury.{{Cite magazine |title=Karin Ann's Debut Album is the Beginning of a Strong Career |url=https://www.trillmag.com/entertainment/music/karin-anns-debut-album-is-the-beginning-of-a-strong-career/ |magazine=Trill |last=Hernandez |first=Ileana |date=24 April 2024 |access-date=13 June 2025 |language=en}} She cites Grace Vanderwaal as an early musical influence who inspired her to begin playing the ukulele.

Ann describes Slovakia as a conservative country where being queer is "not widely accepted".{{Cite magazine |title=Get to know alt-pop newcomer Karin Ann: "I want to create a safe space for queer people" |url=https://www.gaytimes.com/music/get-to-know-alt-pop-newcomer-karin-ann-i-want-to-create-a-safe-space-for-queer-people/ |magazine=Gay Times |last=Raza-Sheikh |first=Zoya |date=13 October 2023 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612000108/https://www.gaytimes.com/music/get-to-know-alt-pop-newcomer-karin-ann-i-want-to-create-a-safe-space-for-queer-people/ |url-status=live }} She has cited how hard it is to find people open about their sexuality and the lack of queer media in the country.{{Cite news |title=Karin Ann is the Gen Z alt-pop icon speaking up for Eastern Europe's queer community |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/28/karin-ann-alt-pop-star-voice-of-gen-z-eastern-europe-queer-community/ |newspaper=PinkNews |last=Wratten |first=Marcus |date=28 August 2023 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612000108/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/28/karin-ann-alt-pop-star-voice-of-gen-z-eastern-europe-queer-community/ |url-status=live }}

Career

Ann published the single "3AM" in 2020, her first English language release. In 2021, she released the single "I'm a Loser", a song which focused on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the mental health of her generation.{{Cite web |title=Why Slovak singer Karin Ann is the voice of CEE's Generation Z |url=https://emerging-europe.com/culture-travel-sport/why-slovak-singer-karin-ann-is-the-voice-of-cees-generation-z/ |website=emerging-europe.com |last=Nikolova |first=Milana |date=16 October 2021 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en}} In the same year, she grew in recognition throughout Europe by winning Discovery of the Year award at the Žebřík Music Awards and Best Music Video at the Munich Music Awards. She has opened for My Chemical Romance and Imagine Dragons.{{Cite web |title=Karin Ann releases 'Through the Telescope', tackling deep personal and social themes |url=https://whynow.co.uk/read/karin-ann-releases-through-the-telescope-tackling-deep-personal-and-social-themes |website=WhyNow.co.uk |last=Martin |first=Isabella |date=10 May 2024 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=12 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612000108/https://whynow.co.uk/read/karin-ann-releases-through-the-telescope-tackling-deep-personal-and-social-themes |url-status=live }} While performing live on Polish state television, she wrapped herself in a rainbow flag and dedicated her performance to LGBTQ people.{{Cite magazine |title=Karin Ann's spectacular second act |url=https://www.nme.com/the-cover/karin-ann-25-03-2024-3608698 |magazine=NME |last=Williams |first=Sophie |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=20 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250620011915/https://www.nme.com/the-cover/karin-ann-25-03-2024-3608698 |url-status=live }} Her performance, in contrast to Poland's poor record on LGBTQ rights, made headlines, gaining her increased popularity. Her single "In Company" was included in Spotify's EQAL Global playlist and advertised on a billboard an the Times Square.{{cite web |title=Strategie - Karin Ann sa ako prvá slovenská speváčka dostala na Spotify bilbord v New Yorku |url=https://strategie.hnonline.sk/news/media/7579294-karin-ann |website=strategie.hnonline.sk |access-date=18 June 2025 |language=sk-sk |date=22 August 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514024444/https://strategie.hnonline.sk/news/media/7579294-karin-ann |url-status=live }}

In 2022, Ann released the EP Side Effects of Being Human, followed by her debut full-length album Through the Telescope in 2024. The album was produced by Benjamin Lazar Davis and Will Graefe and has been described as a mix of rock and folk music styles. Ann collaborated with artist Imogen Heap on the first single for the album, "I Don't Believe in God".

In 2025 she teamed up with Mark Plati and other collaborators of David Bowie to record a rendition of Bowie's hit {{"-}}'Heroes'{{-"}}.{{cite web |title=David Bowie "Heroes" Cover from Karin Ann and Bowie Band Mates |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/david-bowie-heroes-cover-karin-ann-singer-songwriter-2025/ |website=Rock Cellar Magazine |access-date=18 June 2025 |language=en |date=17 June 2025}}

Vanity Fair called Ann an "icon of the LGBTQ+ community" in Eastern Europe.{{Cite magazine |title=Karin Ann: "Why do you hate us?" |url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/karin-ann-musica-canzoni |magazine=Vanity Fair |last=Giudici |first=Cristina |date=3 March 2022 |access-date=14 June 2025 |language=en |archive-date=2 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402121332/https://www.vanityfair.it/article/karin-ann-musica-canzoni |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Until 2022, Karin Ann resided in the city of Žilina. In 2022 she relocated to London.{{cite web |title=Turnéklippel jelentkezik Karin Ann, a BBC által is elismert fiatal énekesnő |url=https://langolo.hu/turneklippel-jelentkezik-karin-ann-a-bbc-altal-is-elismert-fiatal-enekesno/ |website=Lángoló |access-date=18 June 2025 |language=hu |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221123243/https://langolo.hu/turneklippel-jelentkezik-karin-ann-a-bbc-altal-is-elismert-fiatal-enekesno/ |url-status=live }}