Meet Karman Kregloe | Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karman Kregloe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karman, what inspires you?

I’m inspired by people who are true to themselves and authentic. I would always rather see a performer who is present in the moment and performing with feeling and vulnerability than someone who is singing each note “perfectly.” I have to keep that in mind when I’m doing my own creative work.

As I prepared to release my eponymous debut EP in 2020, I really had to let go of the idea of “perfection.” That record came out during the pandemic, so I had to scrap my plans for a release party and a live show that featured all of the artists who played on it. I had to trust that this was just the first of many records for me, and that I would have the chance to play these and other songs live with my friends in the future. Luckily, that has come to pass, and I’m already thinking about the release party and tour for the next record.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I formed a new band just this year, Bitter Glitter, and we’ve been playing the songs from that EP plus some of my newer songs at various venues around Los Angeles over the last six months. Our next show is at the Pour House on August 26.

My bandmates, Danita Lynne, Daniel Martin, and Eric Edmond Vasquez are a lot of fun to play with, and they inspire me with their creativity and musicianship. We’re about to go into the studio to record some tracks with a really talented producer who works at Atlantic Records. So I’ve been playing a lot with the band and writing new songs for the next record. I co-produced my first EP, and I’m continuing to build my music production skills so that I can take that role again.

We’re in the early stages of planning a west coast tour, and are aiming to play some festivals in the coming year. I played a solo show at SXSW a few years ago and would love to get a showcase spot there with Bitter Glitter. AMERICANAFEST is on my vision board for us, too. “Hummingbird,” a single off my first EP, was featured in the series “Maybelle” and was nominated for an IAWTV Award for Best Original Song. I’m feeling really good about the current batch of songs I’m working on, and I’d really like to get some of the placements for them in TV and film.

I also volunteer with Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles, a social justice non-profit dedicated to empowering girls and gender-expansive youth through music. It’s an incredible organization that is building community and encouraging creativity and self-expression in young musicians. Working alongside the other volunteers and watching the kids find their voices and put themselves out there artistically is the perfect antidote for doom-scrolling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I’d make sure to have a show booked so they could see my new band play live, and I’d plan for us to take some hikes on the trails near the Hollywood sign or the pathway around Lake Hollywood. Even though I’ve lived here for many years, I still enjoy seeing the iconic LA landmarks. I moved away from a small town in the mountains of Virginia to live in the city I always dreamed of, and things like the Hollywood sign and the Capitol Records building are reminders of the journey. My music is a blend of rock and folk and country, and I think it reflects my experience of going from southerner to southern Californian.

If I only had a week in LA, I would take advantage of all the great vegetarian dining options (Vinh Loi, El Cocinero), drink primo Margaritas (Petty Cash, El Compadre, Gracias Madre), check out some local bands (Silverlake Lounge, The Echo), buy some vinyl at Amoeba Music, catch a show at The Greek Theater, and drive out to Zuma Beach for a sunset. Oh yeah, and Homestate Tacos for breakfast every single day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my writer/actor wife, Bridget McManus, who is incredibly loving and supportive. She inspires me with her own artistic risk-taking and creativity. I’ll also shoutout my friend Alice Austin, an LA-based performer who just released a brilliant new solo album (“Break the Spell”) and who is the frontwoman for Black Sabbitch.

Website: karmankregloe.com

Instagram: @bitterglitterla

Youtube: @karmankregloe9085

Image Credits
Eliza Ladensohn