This is a man’s world no more. The rock music scene has been changing faces more now than in the last five to 10 years.
More importantly, rock is not just for guys anymore. Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Kill Hannah and Amy Lee have given women of rock a loud and proud voice. Now that door has been opened for many women to walk through and become part of the rock scene. One new act stepping through the door is Bari Koral.
In such a short amount of time Bari has accomplished more than what most people have tried to achieve most of their career.
A Long Island native, Koral started in off-Broadway theatre at the age of 13. “I started by auditioning for a play,” she said. “When I got a gig, I would go to school for a half a day then hop on a train to the play.”
Koral performed in plays at Beacon Theatre and the Kennedy Center. However it wasn’t until her freshman year in college that rock entered Bari’s life – in the form of the legendary band Grateful Dead.
“I listen to the Grateful Dead. They were a big influence on me,” Koral said. “They play everything from rock to bluegrass to folk. The Dead just turn you on to things and you learn a lot from them.”
With rock music discovered, Koral went on to study media and philosophy at Syracuse University. “I learn to be savvy,” she said. “Media helped me with that area and how things ran. Philosophy gave me a better conscience.”
After college, and a short stay as a researcher for Jeffery Dahmer – which according to Koral “sucked” – she began to promote and market her first and self-titled album, on her own.
Her first album, which received glowing reviews, sold out in Japan. “[It felt] good, but I was ready for the next thing, you know,” she said. “You’re always on this journey and I enjoyed it, but at the same time I was ready for the next thing.”
Next on the journey was a second album, Joy, and shows with Lenny Kravitz, Norah Jones and Joan Osbourne. On top of all this was her release of her third album in 2002, Cloudwalking, and a nod as “one of the best acts in the new year” by Newsday.
Still with all this success, Koral takes everything as is. “I have been preparing for this,” she said. “I’m having fun but I still want to make a connection [with the fans]. I’m just going to go out there and play great.”
Along with recording new music for a fourth album, which is due out November of this year, Koral has her own T-shirt design for sale, and has been writing a novel titled Confessions of an Indie Girl. “It’s like a female Spinal Tap/Bridget Jones type [of book]” said Koral about her book. She hopes it will be out by the end of this year.
Bari Koral will be playing on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 11:30 a.m. in the Atrium, as part of the Lunchtime Musicians series.
For more information on Bari Koral you can go to her web site at www.barikoral.com.

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