In 1993 Karan emigrated to New York and began a jazz degree in Brooklyn's Long Island University. Making the rounds of the sessions in New York she was asked to join Atlantic Bridge. Later she joined Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, John Doyle and John Williams to form the group Solas.

The band recorded three albums in just four years, and won NAIRD indie awards for each. They played with Bela Fleck, Iris De Ment, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, The Chieftains, Donal Lunny, Sharon Shannon and Paul Winter while touring extensively in America, Europe and Japan.

Karan Casey's solo career has flourished since her separation from the band Solas. Casey's voice is among the loveliest in folk music, and she is a wonderful interpreter of both contemporary and traditional material. Her use of grace notes and vibrato has become remarkably subtle. Her album Chasing the Sun successfully marries a mix of traditional but sharp-tongued songs - such as the epic unaccompanied ballad "Jimmy Whelan" - with contemporary material that reflects Casey's rising status as one of Ireland's most politically-charged singers.

Her own compositions reveal increasing confidence and incisive social awareness, not least "When Will We All Be Free", which attacks Ireland's current policies on immigration.

A more recent biography is available at karan_casey

Songlines (Shanachie, 1997)

Seal Maiden (Music Little People, 2000)

The Winds Begin to Sing (Shanachie, 2001)

Distant Shore  (Shanachie, 2003)

Chasing the Sun (Shanachie, 2005)