"I think of jazz as punk for adults."

— Looking at the selections on your album 'THE CLUB JAZZ DIVA,' you've covered a wide range from jazz standards to Madonna and Nirvana. It truly feels like a best-of collection.

Karen AokiMadonna's "La Isla Bonita" was included in my fourth album, 'KAREN’s SWINGIN’ PARTY,' released on November 21st last year. That album was based on the concept of 'swing everything,' and we recorded it in New York with the big band Andy Farber & His Orchestra. So, I chose "La Isla Bonita" to see what it would sound like as a swing tune.
As for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," I was a punk girl in high school. The school rules were lax, so I'd dye my hair into a buzz cut or leopard print, and wear military uniforms to school every day, listening to punk music. I started jazz later in life, but I feel a chaotic spirituality in Nirvana's music; it has the scent of teen spirit.

— Why did you transition to jazz?

Jazz has many facets, and I think of jazz as punk for adults. That's why I wanted to perform "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in a jazz style. I believe jazz and punk share a similar core spirituality.

— That episode sounds quite punkish too.

I think jazz is an approach to music that asks, 'What would *I* do with this?' That's why we don't call it a 'cover' in jazz. In pop music, you'd say 'I covered this song,' but that term isn't used in jazz. It's all about 'How will *you* sing this song?'
Singers inject 100% of themselves into the phrasing, timing, and tempo of a song. I think I'm the type who wants to do that, but also consider the arrangement and how it's presented.

"When I heard 'Moon River,' I felt it was my song."

— How do you perceive the appeal of standard songs like "Take The 'A' Train"?

Before becoming Karen Aoki, I debuted under the name Uran, writing my own original songs. It was what you'd call J-pop. I worked as a singer-songwriter for five or six years, but I reached a point where I felt like I was forcing myself to create songs. Six months later, I discovered jazz.
At that time, I listened to many songs and realized that jazz has countless masterpieces that I could never create even if I spent my whole life trying. I was moved by the opportunity to sing songs with such exquisite lyrics and powerful music.
The song that made me fall in love with jazz was "Moon River." When I heard the lyrics and melody, I felt, 'This is my song.'

— How old were you then?

I was about 26 or 27. As I listened, tears started to fall, and I thought, 'I should stop believing that I can only sing about things I've created.'
I was also drawn to the broad accessibility of jazz. Now, I feel the joy of singing.


— How is it special?

I think jazz is a name given to a state of mind, rather than a musical genre.
It's about 'What do you do?' or 'What would *I* do?' Jazz is a verb.