Karen Miano

Karen is Co-founder of Origins Eile, a grassroots community responsive organization dedicated to creating safe spaces & platforms for QTIBPOC (Queer Trans Intersex, Indigenous Black & People of Colour). Origins Eile recently ran an array of events with the theme: Queer Afro Futurism: DESTINY programmed in the Dublin Fringe Festival 2020. Origins Eile have also put together an important publication to highlight the vast narratives of Queer Black people, in association with Black Pride Ireland, entitled – ​TONGUES.

Starting out as a photographer Karen Miano has always had their sights on the bigger picture. Named as one of the People To Watch in 2018 in the media category of the Irish Times & GCN, their entrepreneurial work to date has always been to uplift their community.

In 2015 Karen started working with musician, producer & filmmaker Sal Stapleton (aka Bad Bones) interned with Goldmoth Media as an assistant then working as a web designer & producer for small commercial projects and music videos.

Making the switch from film & design to the music industry was an easy transition as Karen grew up with musician’s in their friend group and regularly offered advice and oversight, and has also worked as artist liaison with festivals such as Body & Soul and Electric Picnic. 2016 saw Karen managing Blackfish Collective & Tour Managing Bad Bones. With Blackfish winning AFROPUNK’S (2018) highly sought after slot in London, they are currently roundhouse resident artists.

After a stint as Bad Bones manager they made the move to tour manager. Both have since started a co-op record label DIAxDEM with Karen acting as A&R and management, ​catch​ DxD’s DDR​ monthly mix!​ ​They also DJ under the pseudonym KARMA all of their sets are a conscious effort to play 87% sonics/tracks with PoC or Queer artists.