Karen Jacobsen The GPS GiRL®

Announcing the USA premiere of Karen Jacobsen's new one woman show is at HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL in Los Angeles from June 19 - 28, 2026 for seven performances at The Actors Company @Little Theater.

Go behind the scenes of how Karen’s speaking voice ends up in a billion+ devices, as she overcomes chronic anxiety and financial disaster in this part concert, part motivational experience.

Following the exciting run of shows at Adelaide Fringe, hear the story and award winning original songs behind the voice with an answer for everything.

Tickets: Buy Tickets Here

Music. Big Dreams. Resilience. Struggle. Courage - Donna Mackay QLD

I wrote my first song when a melody and words came into my mind, and somehow I sensed these were important. I had to figure out how to write it down. Seven years old, already with a deep love of music, the piano, harmonies ABBA, Olivia Newton-John, and I was hooked for life.

In the decades since I have written near on a thousand songs, mostly solo, but many with co-writers. I am so devoted to writing songs I created a songwriter festival with Francesca de Valence and Jessica Begun in the tropical town on the North Queensland coast I am now based in, and the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival will be happening in June for the 5th year in a row.

As part of the vision to bring professional songwriters together in a retreat setting in paradise, Francesca de Valence, Mark Sholtez and I wrote with Australia's musical treasures Vika & Linda. Today, a song we created with Vika is released as a single from their forthcoming album.

The song THAT'S HOW I PRAY is a love letter to swimming, which Vika and Linda share as a joyous part of their touring lives.

That seven year old little girl from Mackay in North Queensland has today become a songwriter with an exciting credit. Three songs I co-wrote have been recorded for Vika & Linda's new album, releasing June 5th. You can bask in the beauty of their stunning vocals and the sentiment of the freedom of the water by listening to That's How I Pray.

A seasoned entertainer, international speaker and the original Aussie voice of Siri, Karen Jacobsen premiere’s her new one woman show; Ready For What I Came Here For at ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL.

A New York City audition led to Karen’s speaking voice ending up in a billion+ devices. Learn how she overcame chronic anxiety and financial disaster in this part concert, part motivational experience.

Hear the story and songs behind the voice with an answer for everything at The Warehouse Theatre in Unley, Adelaide during fringe. Written by Karen Jacobsen with additional dialogue by Jonathan Mill.

Music. Big Dreams. Resilience. Struggle. Courage - Donna Mackay QLD

On Saturday June 7th, 2025 an appreciative audience of music lovers attended the 4th annual Whitsundays Songwriter Festival’s Concert & Conversation event at Whitsunday Sailing Club.

Locals were treated to an experience of intimate performances and interviews by performers including Golden Guitar winner Brad Butcher, The Voice winner Chris Sebastian emerging talent Zipporah, APRA Award Winner Mark Sholtez, Los Angeles Music Award Winner Francesca de Valence and AIR and QMA nominated and Whitsundays local Karen Jacobsen. The evening provided a fascinating behind the scenes look at the creative process and the songwriters’ experience collaborating while in our region. Brand new works written the day before as part of the annual professional songwriter residency were performed live, in addition to songs from the artist's catalog.

A celebration of original creative work, the finale was performed with the entire faculty accompanying Zipporah as she sang the Australian classic made famous by her mother Christine Anu, ‘My Island Home’. This was a highlight for the audience and performers.

Invited by Samu and Suy woman, from Saibai Island, Zipporah, Karen Jacobsen and Francesca de Valence learned a section of the song in language, rehearsing then performing at the event.

Mayor Ry Collins opened the concert and conversation event, affirming the support of Whitsunday Regional Council for the arts in our community. Following the event, Mayor Collins said “now in its fourth year, this festival keeps going from strength to strength, nurturing local talent and proving once again that the Whitsundays is more than just paradise, and is North Queensland’s home of entertainment and live music.”

This unique world-class performance in a local setting followed a one day workshop for emerging songwriters, being mentored by this professional songwriter faculty. Led by groundbreaking I Heart Songwriting Club founder Francesca de Valence, the workshop attendees traveled from Mackay and Brisbane joining Whitsundays based participants.

Save the date for the 5th annual festival on June 6th, 2026.

Just Announced - Join me for a free Listening Party🎉 to celebrate the release of the new album SEED ♫

I'll share a little about the inspiration behind each song and you can ask me questions while we connect in the live chat. 

When is the last time you listened to a full album with other music lovers? ♡🎧

10AM East Coast Australian time 🇦🇺 Saturday June 21 which is 8PM East Coast USA time 🇺🇸Friday June 20.

RSVP HERE

How thrilling to learn THE SLIPSTREAM is nominated for a Queensland Music Award in the Album of the Year category. The Queensland Music Awards (QMA’s) are an annual state wide awards celebrating recording artists in Queensland, with an award ceremony held in Brisbane on March 25th, 2025.

We recorded the ten original songs on the nominated album The Slipstream remotely from Airlie Beach to New York; producer Matt Anthony of Engine Sound creating the luscious soundscapes. The music videos for the title track The Slipstream and for the song Solace Calling were filmed in the Whitsundays at Cannonvale Beach, Funnel Bay, Proserpine and Cape Hillsborough, and lyric music videos filmed at Elysian Resort on Long Island in the Whitsundays, and at Conway Beach. I am passionate about promoting the region in my creative work. The cover photograph for the album was styled and filmed by Mackay creative Jason Chetcuti of Chetcuti Couture at Mandalay House thanks to Ray White Whitsunday and the owner of the property.

As co-founder of the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival, there is cause for double celebration, as this annual event has been nominated in the Festival of the Year category. In a coup for the region, the Airlie Beach Festival of Music is also nominated in this category.

I am an independent artist working to expand the arts and culture conversation in our regional area, so this is such a win to receive an acknowledgment of this kind. Thank you to the continued support of the Whitsunday Regional Council, the Regional Arts Development Fund and Jess Begun President of the Whitsundays Arts Festival, we are preparing to deliver the very successful Whitsundays Songwriter Festival for the 4th year on June 7th, 2025.

PLEASE VOTE: For the Queensland Music Awards, the People’s Choice award category for Album of the Year and Festival of the Year has opened voting to the public at the QMusic website https://www.qmusic.com.au/pca/vote 

MISOGYNY OPUS NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL MUSIC AWARD

I Have a Song For That

A friend was sharing about a tough experience and it reminded me how excruciating it can be waiting for the world to notice us, to validate our work and to pay attention to what we are offering with all our heart.

Here is my theme song for NOT WAITING FOR ANYONE ELSE’s Approval - aptly named APPROVAL.

Listen. Breathe deeply. Let it out.

May these few minutes bring a respite from comparing yourself and all of those self imposed expectations.

#approval #healingmusic #pianomusic #pianopop #inspiringstories #inspiringmusic #upliftingmusic #upliftingmessage

LISTEN TO THE SONG & WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO  “APPROVAL"