Interview with Karrie Keyes
Monitor Engineer for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder and the Executive Director of SoundGirls.Org
Meet Karrie Keyes, the Monitor Engineer for Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder and the Executive Director of SoundGirls, a non-profit organization that inspires and empowers the next generation of women in audio. Karrie has been a huge inspiration in the industry and last year she received the Audio Innovator Award at the Parnelli Awards. In the past we interviewed her daughter, Sammy Keyes-Levine, and thought it would be cool to talk with Karrie too!
What influenced your path that led you to becoming a Monitor Engineer over a Front of House Engineer?
There was nothing that really influenced it. At the beginning of Rat we all did what needed to be done. I worked with Dave and many shows were just me and Dave. He worked FOH, I did the stage: stage patch and monitors. So it was always my home and I have never left the stage nor desire to.
As a touring Monitor Engineer, what 5 things do you always bring along with you?
Well at this stage in my career I am fortunate that we usually carry production for both Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder. So always having my monitor rig makes life much easier.
So Number one, my tech. Formerly Peter Baigent for over 15 years and now Brett Heet. Having a solid tech is so important.
Number two,2 my in-ears.
Number three,3 a DiGiCo SD5 and my files.
Number four, Shure Wireless Workbench and Scanner
Number five, a smile and good attitude.
What is some of your favorite audio gear that you use when working with Pearl Jam?
A Rat Sound Monitor System, DiGiCo SD5 and Shure Wireless Workbench.
You’ve accomplished so much in the industry, including your latest Parnelli Audio Innovator Award during the NAMM Show in January 2020, what keeps you motivated?
A love for this industry.
What projects have you been working on since?
My garden and SoundGirls.
How do you think the pandemic will shape the music industry moving forward?
I don't know. It has brought so much damage industry-wide. We will have lost venues, vendors, and crew people. It is going to be slow going when we can do events again.
What are some of the creative ways you have seen other people in the industry continue financially?
Some have been able to pivot to other audio work, whether it is in the studio or live-streaming or podcasting. But for the most part people have had to take work outside the industry.
With SoundGirls, what creative ways have you been able to still help the woman in the industry?
We have pivoted to on-line webinars like everyone else. We have been doing about two webinars a month ranging from career development, sexual harassment, and finances to our Living History Project and Ask the Experts series. We also started a podcast. Our webinars are archived on our YouTube Channel as well as the Living History Project. You Can find The SoundGirls Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
What's the best tip you've received or best tip you would give another Sound Human?
To pay attention to the band and listen. Keep a good attitude, show up on time, and work together as a team.
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