Originally from Oldham, England, Karen Elson left home at 16 to pursue a modeling career and later taught herself to play guitar. After 10 years of "hiding behind smoke and mirrors" as a model, she takes ownership of her creative voice as a singer and songwriter with The Ghost Who Walks. Her songs are dark: her cool, clear voice floats over a murky bed of organ and pedal steel guitar.
Elson's songs really bloom on her debut, which were produced by her multi-tasking rock-star husband, Jack White. Her sound and look are highly stylized, and her gothic lyrics and effortless vocals are delivered with a captivating elegance.
Tracey Tanenbaum guest hosts this World Cafe session in which Elson describes the creative differences between her modeling and musicianship, as well as her gradual transition from listening to making music. Click the link above to hear the performance.
This World Cafe performance originally aired on August 4, 2010.
Check out the playlist below.
| Beach House | Zebra | Teen Dream |
| The Black Keys | Howlin' For You | Brothers |
| The White Stripes | Seven Nation Army | Elephant |
| Karen Elson | The Ghost Who Walks | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Karen Elson | The Birds They Circle | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Karen Elson | The Last Laugh | Recorded Live for the World Cafe |
| Jimi Hendrix | Wait Until Tomorrow | Axis-Bold As Love |
| The Heavy | How You Like Me Now? | The House That Dirt Built |
| Belle & Sebastian | Write About Love | Write About Love |
| Charlotte Gainsbourg | Heaven Can Wait | IRM |
| Elvis Costello | You Bowed Down | All This Useless Beauty |
| Twin Shadow | When We're Dancing | Forget |
| Twin Shadow | Slow | Forget |
| Them | It's All Over Now Baby Blue | Girl, Interrupted Soundtrack |
| Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy | Angel Dance | Band Of Joy |
| Amos Lee | Windows Are Rolled Down | Mission Bell |
| Ray Lamontagne | Beg Steal Or Borrow | God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise |
| Kathleen Edwards | I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory | Asking For Flowers |
| Warpaint | Undertow | The Fool |
| Phosphorescent | Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly) | Here's To Taking *It Easy |
| The Flamin' Groovies | Shake Some Action | Groovies' Greatest Grooves |
| Cake | Sick of You | Showroom of Compassion |