Karsten John was born in Sydney, 1969. Growing up with Wolfgang meant life was
never dull, traveling all over Australia. Karsten attended North Sydney Boys High School from 1981-1986 and developed a keen interest in Ancient History, Archaeology, Writing and music.
Collaborating with Wolfgang on many experimental projects, Karsten developed his skills as an audio engineer with an early love of experimental
electronic music, forming EXIT in 1986 with his school friend Craig Bunton. Largely influenced by early German electronica, the band's last work was an interesting limited edition video release featuring a live concert in Roseville, Sydney 1988. Definitely a collector's item, the show is interspersed with bizarre footage and special effects, contrasted further by the fact the concert took place in a church! - a tribute to Tangerine Dream.
With Wolfgang’s passion for jazz, blues and world music influencing Karsten, he soon went off on many tangents. Exploring blues and Rock from the 60's and 70's, this process culminated in the formation of TALUUS in 1993. The Band's line up was Dave Roberts on drums, Cathy Tyler bass, Craig Bunton saxophone, clarinet , piano and keyboards, Vanessa Forbes Flute, Damian Steele lead guitar, Illana Paull vocals and Karsten on guitars, keyboards & vocals. Some of the band played acoustic gigs around inner city cafes with regular appearances at the Three Legged Dog and the Blue Note Cafe in Newtown. At the same time Karsten undertook a degree in audio engineering from the S.A.E. in Surry Hills.
One of the regular gigs was a Monday night session at the Comfortably Numb Café in Neutral Bay. Within a year the Café was the centre of a music business promoting bands around Sydney, running Band competitions for new talent and putting on shows at various pubs and clubs. A grueling few years followed with Karsten maintaining Taluus, and managing and working in the Cafe and music business. By 1999 he needed a change of pace.
Karsten's father Wolfgang had just opened the Blue Poles Gallery in Birdsville and the idea of working in the Birdsville Hotel, jamming and playing in the desert was too good to ignore. He soon saw an opportunity to build on the Gallery by adding a cuppuccino machine and Belaroma Coffee. In 2000 Karsten met Jackie Stallard who had come to Birdsville whilst on the outback camel racing circuit. Arriving to help in the Gallery-Cafe for the Birdsville Races in September, Jackie stayed on, and in 2002 they expanded the Cafe, serving up a huge range of snacks and delicious meals whilst entertaining guests around the fire with music, fire spinning and astronomy nights.
With their children starting school, 2008 has seen Karsten and his family relocate to the N.S.W. south coast, unfortunately meaning The Big Red Cafe is now closed. He is still producing music, and other projects.
Wolfgang, Jackie and Karsten work together musically under the name Caravanserai Cafe. Karsten is presently working on a new album and developing some new multi media products, and his work is available at our On-Line Shop
Top
Print