2020
New Zealand Festival performances ( both solo and with Matiu Te Huki ) and workshops at Resolution, Evolve, NZ Spirit, Voices of Sacred Earth, NZ Yoga Festival, Solrise, Harmony, Splore…. and then lockdown!
Started hosting the Open mic nights at Garnet Station in Westmere, Auckland.
Formed the performance trio Ora.Vida.Life with Brooke Ora and Xiuh.
Performed at Sunday Soul Festival in North Auckland. Ora.Vida.Life booked to play at several festivals in 2021.
Participated in ‘With These Hands’ as part of Motu Matariki – Waiheke Island. A stage production directed by Jason Te Mete.
Artist Residency at Wingsong Retreat, Waiheke Island to write and record songs for Sacred Theatre and the Ora.Vida.Life project.
2019
Began leading New and Full Moon circles to provide connection, stability and healing to the community.
Studying Te Reo Maori at TWOA – Te Ronakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi
Festival performances and workshops at : Luminate, Resolution, Splore ( Wellness Zone house band ), NZ Spirit Festival, Earthbeat. This years workshops were Zenergy Facilitation Training processes.
2018
Lead a Zenergy Facilitation Training programme with Luminate Festival core crew.
Performance at the Australasian Facilitators Conference, Melbourne Australia.
‘Love me as I am”, tribute to Mahinaārangi Tocker with AnaKārena duo and many wonderful and well respected performers for Auckland Arts Festival – 2x nights at the Auckland Town Hall.
Performances and workshops at various summer festivals through New Zealand, including : Evolve, Voices of Sacred Earth, Splore, Spirit Horse, NZSpirit
Australian Tour with Matiu Te Huki Trio including: Woodford Festival, Roots, Raga & Reggae & Rising Appalachia support.
Studying Te Reo Maori. Ko Ataarangi te tikanga i Poihakena Marae kei Whaingaroa / Raglan.
2017
Completed Te Putaketanga o Te Reo Maori at Te Wananga o Aotearoa ( Level 4 ).
Facilitated Creativity&Music workshops in various centres around Aotearoa. Locations include : Tamaki Makaurau / Auckland, Parawai / Thames, Tauranga, Kapiti & Papa-i-oea/ Palmerston North.
Performances and workshops at various summer festivals through New Zealand, including :
Luminate, Evolve, Sundaise, Voices of Sacred Earth, Tui Delight, Conscious Roots, Roots: One People with the Land, Little Yoga Festival.
2016
Throughout the year – performances at markets throughout New Zealand and private teaching in Auckland.
July – part of a team which delivered the Zenergy Global stage one facilitation training stage one course. www.zenergyglobal.com
June – Te Arai Festival accompanying Rire / yoga rhythms
June – Collaboration with fabric artist Heidi Monks which resulted in creating an album of ambient soundscapes to accompany an exhibition of work under Monk’s label name : Soul Whispers https://soundcloud.com/hunter-de-luz/mud-and-rust
May – collaboration with yoga teacher Connie Clausa of http://www.wildseed.co.nz -which resulted in creating an album of yoga appropriate ambient music. https://soundcloud.com/hunter-de-luz/sets/wildseed
January – March – Market performances of the Karena Koa repertoire throughout Coromandel Peninsula, Auckland, Northland and Waikato regions.
March – Solo performance (Hunter de Luz) at Earthbeat Festival.
February – Earthbeat & Voices of Sacred Earth Festival & Soul accompanying Matiu Te Huki and Carlos Riegelhaupt.
January – Music Programmer for Prana Festival, Opoutere. Combined the cooperative elements of a stage in the round ( The Circle Stage) an Artist Collective ( 80 musicians) and a late night cabaret ( The Maverick Cabaret).
2015
Performances and workshops at various summer festivals through New Zealand :
December & January – New Years Celebration at Prana Festival in the Coromandel – Conceived and Facilitated Circle Stage ; a place to breathe music.
January at Evolve Festival in Nelson : Main Stage performance as Karena Koa, and with ‘Karen Hunter and Friends’ , Facilitated 2x Zenergy Global workshops.
February at Luminate Festival on Pikikirunga mountain, Canaan Downs : 2x Chill lounge performances, 2 x Zenergy Global Facilitation training workshops, co created the Welcome ritual, the Activation ritual and the closing ritual ( included co writing the Luminate Festival theme song with Jules Harper).
March – Artist in Residence at Prana’s Elemental Festival and stage managed the concert stage at Prana’s Easter Festival.
January – Performances with Matiu Te Huki as accompanist ( fiddle, mandolin and vocals) at the NY Prana crew party, Easter Prana concert space and Earthbeat Festival mainstage.
February – Mainstage performances at Luminate Festival with both Redwood Reider and Tui Mamaki as accompanist ( mandolin and vocals).
March – Performances with Anahera Higgins as part of AnaKarena at Auckland Arts Festival, Titirangi Music Festival and Unesco International Jazz Day.
October – Accompanied a performance of fire and dance by Body in Motion at Waiheke community centre.
2014
Began work on the Karena Koa street performance character : performing Celtic melodies fused with Maori waiata.
Formed AnaKarena duo with Anahera Higgins,
Summer Tour included Prana, Evolve, Tui Delight, Riverside Community festival. (Dec – March).
Zenergy workshops at Evolve festival and songwriting workshops at Prana. Performed with : Contaminando Sonrisas (ESP), Jono Bonos’ Mama Yeva (NZ), inspirational singer KailashKokopele (SWE), original songs with dynamic singer Beata Borcek (CZ) and traditional Easter European tunes with Tomas Hacek (CZ).
Debut performance of Listen to the Earth at the wonderful Mussel Inn in Onekaka, Golden Bay.
2013
Traveled from May – November throughout Germany, France and Holland performing with: the Awakening Circus collective, Matiu te Huki, Witches and solo. Created the video How Beautiful to be Alive with Witches co-member Yvan Calvignac in the Ardeche Gorge, France.
November – Attended the Zenergy Unlimited Stage Two ‘ The Distinctions of Facilitation’ in Mougin France.
April – Performed at Prana Easter Festival.
May – Assisted with Zenergy Global programmes and undertook training to co-lead Zenergy programmes and co-led Stage One ” The Art of Facilitation” .
Summer tour of New Zealand included Prana, Luminate and Evolve. Presented performances and workshops on songwriting.
2012
Karen’s primary projects Magic Box Experience and Fear is the Enemy joined with the Neo Classical duo Andamula (GER/CH) and the Chilean rock bands Trama and Postuma to form the collaborative street performance project Awakening Circus. AC performed extensively around Santiago, Chile throughout summer and autumn, releasing the album Teatro Del Despertar under the Magic Box Experience moniker in June.
Jan through to October – traveled throughout Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina , gathering experiences and influences, collaborative partnerships and learning Spanish language.
2011
Formation of Magic Box Experience street performance trio with Yvan Calivignac (FR) and Marcelo Lopez (CH) MBE released 3 albums Payaso and Saltambanques and BLACK this year.
National summer tour of New Zealand with Chilean folk rock band Fear is the Enemy and Chile/NZ collaboration Terra. Festivals included Prana, Luminate and Riverside Peace Festival.
2010
Developed and performed Scrapyard Cabaret, a cabaret style presentation of Hunter’s original music from Rubble and Words&Groove. Premier performance was at Erupt Festival Taupo in May.
Released Words&Groove CD a collaborative project which fuses jazz and folk music through improvisation and story. Co Produced by Steve Garden. Musicians include Ron Samsom on drums, Aaron Coddel on bass, Roger Manins on Sax and Jess Curtis on vocals. Released on Raw Fish Salad records.
Senior tutor at the University of Auckland School of Music (Popular Music Course)
Graduated with Masters of Music majoring in Composition at the University of Auckland
January- February – national tour of New Zealand to promote Words&Groove. Tour included Luminate festival, Prana festival, Auckland’s Jazz in the Park.
2008-9
Musical director for the Sexy Recession Cabaret with the Smack Bang Theatre Company (dec 09)
Studying towards a Masters in Music (Composition)
Teaching at University of Auckland’s School Of Music and also at MAINZ
Performed throughout New Zealand including – Christchurch Jazz Festival, Parihaka Festival, Festival of Light, Coastal Flavours and Vines Festival, Prana Festival, and Auckland’s Jazz in the Park.
2007
Teaching at University of Auckland’s School Of Music and also at MAINZ
‘Rubble’ released February 28th with a 48 date national tour in march and april- licensed to Monkey Records and distributed by Global Routes
Video for ‘Perfect Jump‘ released march 1
2006
Completed a Bachelor of Music ( Honours) at the University of Auckland majoring in Composition.
2005
Completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Popular Music with two years of addtional Jazz electives at the University of Auckland
January – released Sunlight and Shade jazz/folk album with bassist Brendan Turner and percussionist Matt Murphy.
Continued to teach singer/songwriters as a primary instrument option at MAINZ, ( the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand)
Taught the songwriting module on the Auckland Institute of technology holiday programme run through Te Ara Poutama
Continued to take guitar/voice/songwrtiing students one to one
2004
Limited release of the experimental collaborative CD mr kite goes fishing
Full time study at Auckland University towards BPopMus degree
Continued to teach singer/songwriters as a primary instrument option at MAINZ, ( the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand)
2003
Full-time study at Auckland University towards BPopMus degree
Release of Kirtan CD with students from the Auckland Yoga Academy
October – Played as part of the notorious “Last Supper” celebration to close the Queen St residence of the Temple bar.
September – Auckland Festival Club (2 shows)
September – performed with Dave Mc Artney ( Hello Sailor / Pink Flamingos) as percussionist/ backing vocalist.
January- March : several performances both supporting and accompanying Shona Laing
January : Led the songwriting module of AUT’s Kawea Ake Level two programme in collaboration with Kiwi Music and Arts Trust.
Continued to teach singer/songwriters as a primary instrument option at MAINZ, ( the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand)
2002
Full-time study at MAINZ completed the Diploma in Contemporary Music Performance
December : Two performances both supporting and accompanying Shona Laing
November : Performed at the APRA Silver Scroll
April and July : Led the songwriting module of AUT’s Kawea Ake programme in collaboration with Kiwi Music and Arts Trust.
March :Led a week long songwriting intensive at the Nelson School of Music
2001
September / October : National Tour New Zealand to promote Live CD “Inside Outside”
April : released inside/outside
April : Frankston Guitar Festival, Melbourne / Australia
March : Supported Australian band Fruit in Auckland http://www.fruit.on.net
Began teaching singer/songwriters as a primary instrument option at MAINZ, (the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand)
2000
August/ September : National tour of New Zealand including the West Coast of the South Island with two day workshops in Greymouth, Hokitika and a week long workshop at the Nelson School of Music. July : residency at the Temple Acid Test June : 30 day tour of the East Coast of Australia and National Tour of New Zealand with Penelope Swales
February : Support act for Ani Difranco at the St James Cabaret, Wellington and Blue House (Australia) in Christchurch
Dunedin Fringe Festival performance of the show ‘Survival Instinct’ with Auckland cult comedy band AfghaniStan
1999
December 31st : First Night 2000..Aotea Square, Auckland city …with Kāren Hunter band …and we went off!!!
November : Week long tour of New Caledonia with band October : Recorded “Money Don’t Rule the World” for World Vision compilation CD
March : Completed a National Tour with Creative New Zealand assistance.
February : Recorded single “Free World” with Chris Van de Geer at Lab studios
January : Support act for Ani Difranco in Auckland at the Powerstation, Band Performance on the Sweetwaters mainstage
1998
Completed a New Zealand on Air funded video for the single “Angelfish” “private life of clowns” CD album. Raw Fish Salad Records.\Kiwi Hit Disc #30).
Performed as part of the Clear Jazz Festival Christchurch .
Support act for Roger McGuinn (the Byrds)on his Auckland performance.
1997
Produced and released debut CD The Private Life of Clowns on own record label (Raw Fish Salad) distribution through Jayrem Records.
Headline act as Femme Funk 1997 in Noumea with Brazilian Latin pianist/jazz singer Tania Maria and Australian aboriginal group Tiddas.
New Zealand Support and accompanist for Rhiannon, American jazz singer.
Support and accompanist for Lynda Chanwai Earle’s production “Ka Shue”, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.
Performed at WOMAD, Auckland
1996
Support for Toni Childs, Bruce Mason centre.
Toured New Caledonia, eight concerts over two weeks.
1995-97
Hosted “Raw Fish Salad” performance night at Java Jive, Ponsonby . Guests included Mahinarangi Tocker, Emma Paki, Topp Twins, Rhiannon and Christine White.
1994
Spinning Wheel tour of Northern New Zealand, supported by Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council.
1993
Support for Suzanne Vega, Auckand Town Hall.
USA tour – Invited and featured guest with Spinning Wheel at Michigan Wimmin’s Music Festival, played, touring and playing Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Utah, London.
1991
Returned to NZ, formed Spinning Wheel with Leraine Horstmanshoff, toured NZ extensively. Released self titled cassette album. Released solo tape Sitting in Perfection.
Guitar teacher for Mt. Eden prisoners (twelve month contract).
1987-90
London – Playing, performing, teaching and studying, supported Beverley Martyn , guested at a show of Julie Felix and played at the London Women’s Music Festival (1990), taught guitar at South London Women’s Centre & guitar, bass and band skills at Pluto Music Workshop. Performed and led a guitar workshop at the Second International Women’s Camp, Ruigoord, Amsterdam.
Did the rounds of open mic nights and busked a lot in the London Underground
1983-87
Sydney – Vocalist and Songwriter with “Plastic Smiles”, also sang with “Deus Ex Machina” and “The Sensational Tigers” (bv’s)
Possibly Sydney’s most fired waitress/bar worker of the 80’s …
