Karina Rykman recorded her second studio album, Late Checkout, with her band playing together in one room, seeking to carry their live chemistry into songs built for both recorded listening and performance.
The singer, songwriter and bassist also placed greater emphasis on lyrical storytelling. She describes the album’s themes as enjoying life while recognising that time with loved ones is limited.
“Late Checkout is about creating an oasis wherever you’re at.”
Recording together, managing expectations
Rykman said making a second album brought pressure she had not experienced on her debut, when the absence of expectations gave her more freedom.
This time, she pushed for stronger songs, more organic production and a greater sense of life in the recordings. She is proud of the result, but said the pressure she put on herself was unhealthy.
Recording the musicians together was central to her approach. She wanted the album to reflect how her band sounds when its members play in the same space, with songs that would also work on stage.
Writing and recording feel more like work to Rykman, while performing with her band is where she feels happiest. She sees songwriting as the work that makes new material available for those shows.
Rykman self-releases her music and has never had a label. She values retaining control and describes her operation as a grassroots undertaking built incrementally.
Taking the songs on the road
Alongside extensive touring, Rykman and her band recently made their live television debut on CBS Saturday Morning and gave the first-ever in-store performance at Zabar’s in New York City.
She approaches festivals as opportunities to introduce herself to unfamiliar audiences. Her own headline shows bring a different responsibility: everyone has paid specifically to see her.
Those audiences can include newcomers and people who have followed the tour for two weeks. She aims to engage both, while recognising that some arrive already familiar with her recordings and performances.
Rykman leaves judgments about a show’s success to the audience, though she said her own enjoyment appears to carry through to listeners.
She identifies several factors that can shape a performance:
- The audience, room and culture of the town.
- The musicians’ connection on stage and the setlist.
- The amount of sleep the performers have had.
Rest and meals between shows
Her main lesson from touring is to sleep as much as possible and organise the day around being ready for the two hours spent on stage, a discipline she said is easier to describe than maintain.
Most days off involve driving to the next town. The band also makes time to eat well, helped by chef friends around the country, including Dave Seigal, Aaron Bludorn, James London and Douglas Alley.
Concerts that shaped her
Rykman said seeing Phish at Bonnaroo in 2009 changed the course of her life.
She also singled out a recent My Morning Jacket performance at The Fillmore. Rykman joined the band for a few songs and watched the rest, praising its songwriting, performance, improvisation and joy.
