To interview Karalyn Woulas is not an easy task. After a few minutes it becomes obvious: she is more of a listener than a talker. She’s interested in everything around her. However, she just might be the most interesting person in the room. Karalyn is a rocket scientist, an avid surfer, front-lady of two bands – her cover-band The Lady & The Tramps and her original project called Karalyn and The Dawn Patrol, a politician and she enjoys riding her Harley Davidson Sportster. The sequence of importance is not quite obvious. As a matter of fact, everything she does seems to be close to her heart.

Brevard Live met with Karalyn for an interview about “Women Who Rock.” We met her for the frst time at our Original Music Series when she performed on November 30th, 2014, on Lou’s Blues’ stage with her band The Dawn Patrol. She had just released her frst self-titled CD with original music that she wrote and recorded at Studio 101. Her music features slow blues, with a Delta feel, a little bit of Rockabilly, and some edgy blues rock. Karalyn sings and plays guitar. All four band members have interesting day jobs and a story to be told.

Karalyn Woulas lives in Cocoa Beach and graduated from Florida Tech with an Aerospace Engineering degree and Applied Mathematics degree. She worked as an electrical engineer for US Navy on the Trident Missile Program for three years. Before that, she was employed by United Space Alliance of the Shuttle program as electrical engineer for 7 years. Currently she works for the 45th Space Wing of the Air Force at Patrick Air Force base as Range Safety Engineer overseeing all space crafts launched at Cape Canaveral. “We monitor every step of the launches and are responsible that no tragedies happen here at our Space Coast,” she explains her job.

Drummer Ricky Carroll lives in Satellite Beach, and is a worldrenowned surfboard shaper. He is the frst East Coast surfboard shaper to win not only one but three West Coast shaping contests.

Matt Sams of Satellite Beach is a familiar name in the music scene and fronts his own band as well. He is not only a skillful and lively blues guitarists with dynamic solos and heart stopping slide guitar skills, he also is a fnancial advisor for Ameriprise, with a Financial degree from UCF.

Bass player Mike Witherington lives in Mims and retired as a TPS inspector for the Space Shuttle program. He spent 32 years working for the program, fervently inspecting all the TPS foam tiles of the space shuttles.

With all these unique backgrounds outside of music, The Dawn Patrol forms a unique and audience captivating sound that presents the Space Coast. “Unfortunately most venues don’t feature original music,” says Karalyn, and that’s why she has a cover band called The Lady and The Tramps featuring a skater, surf, punk sound, playing alternative rock, some grunge, cover songs from The Cure and Joan Jett. “We also like to take some popular tunes and give them a punk edge,” Karalyn explains. “We get a lot more gigs for the cover band.” This group is a power trio with Karalyn on vocals and guitar, Dawn Patrol-drummer Ricky Carroll and bassist Aaron Burnley.

Karalyn is a Florida native, born in Fort Lauderdale, the daughter of a Greek immigrant who came to the US as a young boy with his family crossing the ocean on a boat to pursue a better life. “My father is my hero and I admire his determination,” she says. He put himself through school and college while running the family-owned pizzeria because he was the only one speaking fuently English. He ultimately became a pilot for Southwest Airlines. He taught Karalyn to fy a plane when she was 13 years old, and she acquired her commercial license long before she attended Florida Tech. Just like her father, she doesn’t fear challenges but rather seeks and conquers them.

Karalyn starting singing in 2002 while studying at FIT: “My father always sings at home, he loves Elvis.” She went on to take guitar lessons at Marion Music and attended Bruce Marion’s Swampfox jams. Her teachers are well-known names in our music community – Mark Essick, Rick Fincke, Buck Barefoot. In 2006 she was ready to front her frst group – The Lady and The Tramps 1.0. “I had to go through about three rounds of band members before I came up with the right combination of players. I found them all through relationships and networking.

I am very lucky to have found these musicians,” she says.Three years ago Karalyn decided to get involved with her community and to run for election as Cocoa Beach City Commissioner. “I used my gigs to campaign, and I think it got me elected,” she laughs. What matters to her are environmental issues like problems with our Indian River Lagoon, pollution, algae growth. Surprised that she cares about it so much that she uses her spare time to sit through City Commissioner meetings? Not if you know that she’s been an avid surfer for the past 15 years. She even took a trip to El Salvador, a mecca for surf enthusiasts. This month she will participate again in the Salty Sweet Women’s Pro/AM Surf Contest at the Cocoa Beach Pier.

Any other goals she’d like to pursue? “I just fnished my master degree in Project Management,” she says, and after a thoughtful moment she adds: “I really like to record a second CD, a more mature album. The frst one was more of a rookie effort.”
For Karalyn everything around her matters. What’s on top of her list? “My family,” she says, “they come frst.” She had just returned from Greece where she spends her vacation quite regularly. “My family owns a house there.” Karalyn is not just smart and driven in her personal career, she genuinely cares. Yes, this lady rocks the world on many levels. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk. That’s why there is hope for all of us!
Heike Clarke

You can connect with Karalyn Woulas via her Facebook page or at www.Karalynandthedawnpatrol.com. She performs regularly at SC Harley – Oct. 20th, Nov. 24th, Dec 22nd, Jan. 19th with either band. For gigs and dates at other venues visit her Facebook pages.

Karalyn Woulas agreed to sit down with me on this beautiful Saturday. Singer songwriter Karalyn Woulas began as an acoustic act performing at open mic night. This Space Force engineer is now dominating central Florida’s music scene. As one of the lead performers in central Florida, lead vocalist and guitar for the band, Karalyn is leading the charge for female artists. This group of talented musicians have
been storming the stages all over central Florida for 12 years now.

Beyond my own expectations this band has musical experience that is multidimensional. Her voice is so smooth with beach inspired vibes. And then she’ll hit other ranges to covering songs from Motely Crue, Cranberries, and Blonde. Their sound is unique. Currently they’re pushing out singles and creating a sound all their own. They’re straightforward no messing around. They get serious on stage with a very
humble presence about them. They are the real deal. Behind the music, there is such a story to tell.

Suzanne: Presently you have four members including yourself on vocals -guitar, Ricky Carroll-drummer, Mike Witherington-bass, and Gary Potter Jr. -guitar. All of you in “Karalyn and the Dawn Patrol” have led very interesting careers. Mike Witherington has over 30 years with the United Space Alliance. Ricky Carroll is known worldwide for his surfing and surfboards. Gary Potter Jr. from Los Angeles toured for 21 years professionally with many bands such as Daughters and The Midnight Renewal. And yourself being an engineer for Space Force and the City commissioner of Cocoa Beach. I think we can say you guys are go-getters! As a Space Force engineer, city commissioner and musician, how do you balance music and your career?

Karalyn; Luckily, I have a day job Monday through Friday. So usually, my job and band time do not conflict. During the weekdays at Space Force, and the weekends are at night playing gigs with the band. I do a lot of stuff for the band so that takes extra time, but I do that at night. I try to get some sleep lol.

 

Suzanne: How long have you been at Space Force and city commissioner position?

Karalyn: I have been in Space Force five years now. Three years ago, it was Airforce. Two years ago, it became Space Force. It changed branches. My present job is Range Safety Engineer. We are responsible for the flight termination in systems of all the rocket programs on the cape. This can be very stressful. I feel the pressure from all the programs as they want to launch. If I don’t approve something they cannot launch. So, the pressure comes from the programs we work with to fit into their schedules so they can perform their launches. It’s fun but its work! For two terms I have been a city commissioner in Cocoa Beach, I have always been interested in the environmental and economic impact of our city. I love Cocoa beach, so I decided to apply for the position. First time I was not elected. But then elections were coming later that year. So that’s when I campaigned the whole year, in 2016. That was the hardest thing I have ever done. I won by 8 votes. No one ran against me last time so now I am in the second term.

 

Suzanne: Watching you guys perform, you all have a great chemistry, you’re tight musically and presentation-wise. I have discovered timing is a major element in the life cycle of a band. Would you agree?

Karalyn: Absolutely! I started this band about 12 years ago, but with different members throughout that time. Potter {guitar player} has been with us for a year. The Bass and drummer have been with me for 10-11 years. I feel like the chemistry is excellent now. Our current guitar player Gary Potter was touring full time for 21 years nationally and internationally. He was living in LA when Covid hit and that killed the tours. I advertised needing a guitar player we had 6 different guitar players at that time just trying to keep the band together. Potter was relocating to Florida and responded to my ad. Eventually he was in our band full time.

 

Suzanne: With the Timing and the cycle of the band I see that your music is multidimensional, and you guys have developed your own sound so its hard to classify your genre of music. But I would say there’s a plethora of stuff going on here from folk, alternative, rock, and pop.

Karalyn: Yeah, I agree. We started out as Blues years ago, but since we have gotten Potter in the band we can play really anything. The creativity of the band has heightened and it’s exciting to see where we can go with this.

 

Suzanne: You are a complete performer, sing, play guitar and you are a songwriter. Two of my favorite songs are “Tired” and “You can Have him” . Was this personal experience?

Karalyn: Yes it’s about a guy he was an ex-boyfriend. He kept trying to be with me after I left him. I went to his home and followed another female into the home, and you can guess that was it for him!

 

Suzanne: I watched you years ago when you performed at live mike nights and now you are killing it with your band. It’s very impressive how you have excelled so much as a performer. Are you recording any new songs? And do you plan on pushing out an album?

Karalyn: I am currently recording at Studio 101 in the past year and working on vocal stuff with some songs and rerecording them. There are some other songs I am having the band record. Recently we I just put a music video out for one of the songs, called “Summer Kisses Winter Tears”. So, I have been advised to just put out songs one at a time and get it out on social media. I have someone who works on our social media branding, she is also my photographer. That’s the plan put out singles and build with that.

 

Suzanne: Even as Covid began to darken the path for musicians, your music success and aggressive social media approach continued to accelerate your popularity. Your live casting is amazing. I have watched you guys play live via video feed incorporating live requests from the fans while practicing in Ricky Carroll’s warehouse. This is a very innovative way of getting yourselves out there.

Karalyn: Things really started to evolve during Covid. Covid was somewhat difficult, but we took the down time to learn new material. We were lucky we were still able to play during Covid. There were times when our shows got cancelled and we had to rethink how to market things. That is when I started doing more solo acoustics, but then the venues started wanting bands again it all worked out. We decided to broadcast our practices during Covid and during that time so we could still be touch with the fans. We decided to do this once a month. We still do it; it is a lot of fun, and we are getting great responses from the fans. We are also putting out videos and playing throughout central Florida making our presence known.

 

Suzanne: Who handles the logistics?

Karalyn: Well, that would be myself. I am doing all the booking ect. They show up and play then I can direct the path for the band. That’s why I wanted to start my own band. When I was in Lady and the Tramps I was frustrated because I wasn’t heard. I had to go along with what other people were saying. I realized it was time to start my own. I am now able to choose the material and focus of the band’s direction. I do all the business end of the band.

 

Suzanne: You all have been playing all over central Florida, do you guys plan on touring?

Karalyn: I would love to tour if given the opportunity. I don’t really know how to go about touring the whole process. But right now we focused on getting gigs outside our area like in Vero beach, Port Orange just keep going further and expanding our area. And eventually Nationally and internationally

 

Suzanne: What are your 5-year plans, where do see yourself/band musically?

Karalyn: Ultimately, I would like this to be my career. Where I can make a living thru music. I always wanted to be a rockstar. At whatever level you can make it.

 

Suzanne: Your vocals are smooth, yet you can hit other ranges for Blonde, Cranberries, to Motely Crue its pretty amazing! Who would you love to play/tour with?

Karalyn: I would love to play with Bonnie Rait, or Gwen Stefani.

 

Suzanne: Can you tell me your scariest experience?

Karalyn: Surfing in Costa Rica with a bunch if friends in Playa hermosa beach. Our first day the waves were huge even for the locals. Way over head, and this was dangerous more than any of us are used to, fast hollow waves. The guys were betting on if I would make it out, But I did it! I make it out but then I was waiting to try to get my bearings. Finally, a set came in. These guys are yelling at me saying “Hey Karolyn this is your wave!” I yelled back guys hang on. I grabbed on the board the wave crashed on all of us, we all almost drowned.

 

Suzanne: What is the message you would convey to the fans  and to the world?

Karalyn: Never give up on whatever your passion and if it doesn’t seem like its working try another way.

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Today I got to have a sit down with Karalyn Woulas, lead singer of the Cocoa Beach band Karalyn and The Dawn Patrol. This four-piece band has sounds inspired by rock, punk and alternative melodies and consist of surfers, Space Force and Space Alliance engineers, a Cocoa Beach city commissioner, a Berkeley graduate and one of the most famous surfboard shapers in the world! And, I have to stress that don’t let Karalyn’s day job fool you: this woman can come out hitting strong songs like Blondie, Melissa Etheridge, The Cranberries, 4 Non Blondes, Mötley Crüe, alongside her engaging surf rock-inspired originals. And, speaking of live performances, the band has played hundreds of shows and is doing regional Florida runs now, with more tours on the horizon.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Karalyn herself to talk all things Dawn Patrol.

I have personally seen the band become an incredibly evolving entity in the local scene in Cocoa Beach, which intrigued me to reach out to Karalyn, eager to learn more… especially since the band members’ individual vocations are of such high caliber! I think the first time I saw the band was at Beach Shack in Cocoa Beach. I was like… HOLY MOLY, wowzah! It was the missing piece to the puzzle! From the local band scene to balancing work and play to what’s next, this is what the kickass frontwoman let us know.

Can you tell us a bit about your band members? Is it hard to do your important job(s) and do music, too? 

• KW: We all have quite the background! My drummer, Ricky Carroll, is a world-renowned surfboard shaper; my guitar player, Gary Potter, earned a degree at Berkeley School of Music in Boston and has toured internationally with several bands — including Daughters. My bass player, Mike Witherington, retired from the Space Shuttle program as a TPS inspector. I, myself, am an Aerospace Engineer for the Space Force. I am also a City Commissioner for the City of Cocoa Beach.

I can only imagine the stress those careers can have on you guys! Your original music has a beach vibe that can ease your soul. You guys love playing covers, as well…?

• Most definitely! I do have some original songs that have a beachy vibe to them, but I also have some in the blues rock genre, as well influenced by Susan Tedeschi, Ana Popovic and Beth Hart.

I feel like you guys are evolving immensely! Can you tell me more about this? It looks like you guys have all been together playing your whole lives! 

• Yes… thank you! I have had this band for 12 years and have had several different rounds of players. We have evolved through all these rounds. Gary Potter started playing with us about a year ago and we have been experimenting with several different genres of music and it has been a lot of fun!

Your band is constantly promoting videos and band practice on YouTube — especially during COVID.  I know the music industry was crushed and devoured by this damn sickness. How did this affect your music life? Did you guys write more during the lockdown?   

• COVID helped us figure out how to get our music out in more alternative, creative ways. We started Facebook Live band practice sessions and that has been a lot of fun. We have been learning how to keep in touch with our fans, even when it was hard to be accessible; this also gave us time to work on new material, which has really enhanced our performance.

When did you first find music? Or, did it find you? 

• I first found music when I was a baby. My first words were lyrics to an Elvis Presley song, who is one of my biggest musical influences throughout my life.  

I love Elvis, too! You guys are planning a nice long tour coming this year October, going straight up the east coast from Florida to New York. How many tours do you have for 2023?  And, who do you aspire to tour with?

• I plan to do as many tours as I can for which the parameters of my day job allows. I would love to share stages with any band! I feel like spending time with other bands and musicians can teach us a lot, no matter who they are. But, if I can dream, I’d love to tour with Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, Beth Hart or Gwen Stefani (lol)!

Are there times when you feel like being a female lead vocalist has its pros and cons?  What gives you strength to be a strong leader?  

• It definitely has its pros and cons. Being a female lead vocalist does set you apart from a lot of bands, because female-fronted bands seem to be a minority in the industry, so that really gives you an edge. At the same time, being a female in the industry, you have to work 10 times harder and longer in order to gain the respect of a lot of the male players in the industry. It gets hard… you can find yourself being insulted and treated unfairly in so many ways. But, you have to have the courage and the guts to keep moving forward and it does pay off if you believe in yourself.
• My father has been telling me, ‘People are going to try to take you down, but you have to believe in yourself, keep pushing forward, be a bitch if you have to… but, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it!’

Your father sounds like a very smart man! How do you feel about the local music scene here in Cocoa Beach? What would tell the world about our sweet little beach town that only has the best Space Program in the world and world surf champ Kelly Slater?!

• Our Cocoa Beach is the most unique beach town, where our close-knit music community is bonded together by our love of the beach, surfing, music and supporting each other through tough times and good times. 

A song called “Alone for You” — what inspired you to write it?

• I was sitting home alone one Friday night writing some music. I went for a walk up to the beach from my house in Cocoa Beach to take in the scenery and get some inspiration. I saw everyone enjoying the night and kind of felt like an outsider. I was a little sad, so I captured the moment and the emotion and wrote this song. 

I know that you surf! Can you tell us a scary surfing story?

• My most scary surfing story was when I went to Costa Rica back in 2007. I went with a group of friends for a wedding and we all traveled around Costa Rica surfing. One of the places we surfed at was Playa Hermosa on a super big day, when most of the local weren’t even going out… but, you know, we had to… I got stuck in a clean-up set at the end of the day in a 15-foot wave that I couldn’t paddle over or duck under. I just had to hold onto my board for dear life! I got held under three times and finally shot out to the beach… there was six of us in that situation and we were so glad to make it back to the beach with our lives flashing before our eyes! The next day, we reflected on the situation and just started cracking up so hard in disbelief!

You guys were so grateful to not have drowned, I bet!! If you could tour full-time, would you leave your career for music?

• I definitely would… no question.

Is there something about you that no one knows or anything you would like to share about you?  

• Lol! I have a pet rabbit named Bunny… he’s my best little buddy!

Aww! Well, btw, sis and I would watch your fur baby Bunny while you‘re on tour, whenever you need! 

So, who books all your shows/media?

• I do all the booking for my shows and some of the social media, as well. Alicia Olink, of Cocoa Beach, our band photographer, takes all our pictures and takes care of the build of our social media.

Is there a message you want to share with other artists out there that want to do music for the rest of their lives?  

• I just want to say, if music is your passion, just do it — don’t let anyone stop you or tell you that you can’t! If it’s in you, it’s in you and you have to share it, and that goes for anything that you are passionate about!

Talking with Karalyn, as I have many times about her band when I head to her shows, I always get inspired. This band is a lot of fun while remaining professional in every way. They present themselves onstage with a humble presence and just have this look on their faces like, ‘hell yes, this is what we are supposed to be doing!’… and, I totally get it! Their upcoming tour starts this fall and will convey how much dedication they give to their music. They are a true Force To be Reckoned With.

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