The aptly named pan-European outfit Lonely Drifter Karen has called places as far apart as Barcelona and Brussels home, but it has always revolved around Viennese-born singer/songwriter Tanja Frinta. Frinta began Lonely Drifter Karen in Sweden as a solo project in 2005, releasing the single Sinsweetime, but Majorcan keyboardist/arranger Marc Meliá Sobrevias and Italian drummer Giorgio Menossi joined her when she moved to Barcelona. The trio's debut, 2008's Grass Is Singing, took two years to record and revealed Lonely Drifter Karen's fascination with whimsical folk and cabaret. Two years later, Fall of Spring arrived on Crammed Discs, which had also released the band's debut. After Frinta and Sobrevias relocated to Brussels, Menossi amicably left the band, who recruited French guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Clément Marion. Lonely Drifter Karen's third album, Poles, which boasted more electronic and rock touches, arrived in April 2012. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi
