Aging Disgracefully * SHATTER THE MIRROR *
Aging Disgracefully
Blues, Boldness and Breaking Boundaries
Aging Disgracefully is a blues-inspired duo that blends raw emotion, soulful melodies, and sometimes playful storytelling into a sound that speaks to the heart. Karen Pyra and Mike Elliott create music that reflects their personal experiences, struggles, and triumphs. Drawing from the rich traditions of blues, folk, and roots music, Aging Disgracefully is a testament to the power of creative expression at any age.
How It All Began
Karen and Mike first crossed paths in the small town of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, at a songwriting workshop designed to foster collaboration and creativity. Both songwriters with their own records, they immediately clicked, finding a deep connection in their shared love for blues and roots music. Their first collaborative single, “Holiday Tangle,” marked the beginning of something special. That song captured their unique chemistry, and soon they were writing together regularly, finding a voice that felt both fresh and familiar.
The Music
Most of the music of Aging Disgracefully is firmly rooted in the blues—blues that come from the heart, with raw emotion and an unflinching look at life’s challenges. Karen’s soulful, powerful voice is the perfect vehicle for their lyrics, while Mike’s guitar work and vocals add depth and texture to each song. Together, they craft songs that explore themes of love, loss, regret, redemption, and the wisdom that comes with age. Their sound is a blend of traditional blues influences, Americana, and roots music, creating a sound that is timeless yet distinctly modern.
Each song carries the weight of lived experience, a reflection of the stories they’ve gathered over the years. It’s blues with a twist—honest, unvarnished, and true to the heart, with a message that everyone, regardless of age, deserves to be heard.
Why "Aging Disgracefully"?
The name "Aging Disgracefully" was chosen to reflect the duo’s refusal to accept the ageism that permeates the music industry. In an industry that frequently overlooks musicians in their second half of life, Karen and Mike believe it’s essential to create and share music that resonates with the experiences of older generations. The name is a bold statement: just because we’re aging doesn’t mean we’re fading into the background.
Aging Disgracefully represents a refusal to conform to society’s expectations of what it means to be "too old." It’s about rejecting societal expectations about aging, and instead embracing the richness of life’s later years. Through their music, they seek to provide a voice for the generation whose stories are often left untold i today's music, and to show that there is no age limit to writing, creating, and sharing music that speaks to the heart.
Aging Disgracefully is more than just a name—it’s a movement. It’s a declaration that music is for everyone, at every stage of life. Karen and Mike are proof that it’s never too late to make music that matters, and their songs are a testament to the power of creative expression at any age.
Through their music, they’re inviting listeners to join them in aging proudly—with fire, creativity, and a little bit of "disgrace" along the way too. Because growing older doesn’t mean you have to stop living, loving, or creating. And with Aging Disgracefully, the best is still to come.
agingdisgracefullyduo.com
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