Caroline Kuhn’s heartfelt songwriting creates a unique union between folk and jazz with soaring melodies accompanied by rhythmic fingerpicking on the guitar and tenor banjo. A recent graduate of The New England Conservatory of Music, Caroline spent the last four years completing her degree in contemporary improvisation. After spending time in Boston building upon her extensive experience singing harmony in a variety of styles (from medieval to jazz), she returned to her native New York City. Caroline began her career in NYC at the age of five, recording jingles and doing an assortment of voice-over work, as well as spending many years as a chorister with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Outside of her solo project, Caroline is an active member of the folk trio, The Ladles.
Q: Tell us what social cause you are passionate about and why? How did this inspire you to write this song?
There are so many issues to address, and they often seem to intertwine. Systematic racism has been at the forefront of my mind. Growing up in a white, middle-class family on the Upper West Side, I have benefitted from the beauty of this diverse place my entire life, without fully understanding my privilege within it. I am trying to really pay attention to how deeply ingrained it is in our society, and from there focus on how I can contribute to changing the system for the better.
This song is about the feeling of isolation and personal anxiety within the context of these greater problems. I have found that with so much going on, I can get very overwhelmed by all the issues facing the nation, the planet. There seems to be so much going wrong! How can I even begin to change anything, to feel ok? When searching for comfort, I find that focusing on smaller actions that I can take in the moment have made me feel like there is hope for the bigger picture. This sentiment is what inspired me to write “Light To Be Found.”
Q: Is there a favorite lyric or part of the song that is particularly important/impactful to you?
“I can change, pieces at a time.” This is sort of my mantra for when I feel anxious about anything, be it a social issue or just my own mental health.
Q: What do you want listeners to take away from your piece?
You are not alone in your feelings of anxiety or hopelessness. The best thing you can do is to find ways to feel empowered, to take care of yourself. It doesn’t have to be a big step, it can be a small one. Small steps can often make a huge difference in your mood.
Q: What does YPC mean to you?
Community and Art. YPC has had an enormous impact on who I am now. It gave me the opportunity to study music rigorously for the first time, to travel to different countries and perform in world-class venues. It also felt like a safe space. Coming to rehearsal three times a week (sometimes more) to spend time with my friends who cared about me, who I was getting to sing beautiful music with. A relationship like that is so special.
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