Karen Alice Dunbar Finds Strength in Stillness on “The Other Side”

Karen Alice Dunbar’s latest single, “The Other Side,” is a beautiful paradox. It’s soft yet firm, lonely yet empowering, and rooted in heartbreak while blooming with hope. As the first single from her upcoming EP Calamity State, due July 11th, this folk-pop ballad invites listeners into a world of midnight emotions and morning clarity.

Written over a decade ago, “The Other Side” captures the raw moment of waking up alone, aching for a presence that’s no longer there. But it doesn’t stop at the pain. It evolves. It unfolds into a gentle act of reclamation—of bed space, emotional ground, and self-worth. As Karen sings about sleepless nights and ghosted memories, her voice remains both soothing and soul-baring, drawing from the emotive styles of London Grammar, Haim, and Kacey Musgraves.

The production is minimal yet lush, allowing the lyrics to breathe and resonate. A dreamy guitar line carries the melody while layered harmonies slowly rise like the morning sun over the emotional wreckage left behind. There’s an intimacy to this track that feels timeless, as though it was always waiting to be released at just the right moment.

Dunbar, a North Wexford native, has traveled far with her music; from Greece and Germany to Nashville and Canada, but “The Other Side” brings her songwriting back to the bedroom, the place where most heartbreak lives and lingers. What sets this song apart is its delicate transition from sorrow to strength. The act of sleeping on “their” side of the bed becomes a metaphor for taking back what’s yours, even in the smallest, most symbolic ways.

“I’d like people to feel comforted in the fact they’re not alone during those sleepless nights of missing someone,” Karen shares. “And a sense of hope that the morning will come soon.”

That hope glows through every note. “The Other Side” is not just a breakup song. It’s a lullaby for the broken, a quiet anthem for those learning to rest with their own heart again. And as the curtain rises on Calamity State, Karen Alice Dunbar proves that sometimes healing begins with something as simple as changing sides of the bed.

"The Other Side" was written over 10 years ago. What made now the right time to finally release it?

I hadn't released any new music since the COVID pandemic, as I had burned myself out trying to do too much in other aspects of my work. However, I took a step back from some of my teaching work last year, and as a result, I was able to create space for these songs to grow. The Other Side has always been one of my favorite songs I've ever written, but until recently, I wasn't sure where to go with the sound. Now was the time for it.

There's a beautiful metaphor for sleeping on their side of the bed. Can you share how that small act helped you emotionally reclaim your space?

Healing from a breakup of any kind is a form of grief, in my opinion - a loss. Part of the journey is feeling whole again without that other person, so sleeping on their side is a symbolic yet significant step in that process. 

Your upcoming EP is titled Calamity State. What does that title represent for you, and how does this single set the tone?

"Calamity State" is the title of one of the songs from the EP and the catalyst for these songs being plucked from the archives - the vault. It's about going through the motions, getting by in a functional freeze, and on autopilot because you're so burnt out and are leaning on whatever vice helps you get through. It's very personal and reflective, and 'The Other Side' is a song that represents those sleepless nights of overthinking and longing. 

You've toured across Europe and North America. How have those experiences shaped your songwriting and perspective?

Nashville definitely had a huge impact on my songwriting. I've taken several trips there, and from watching & listening to other artists at open mics to sitting down to co-write with them, it made me a better writer. I was 27 when I took my first trip there, solo, with no one to know, and making connections as I went along. It was a huge growing experience & learning curve for this sheltered Irish girl!

You cite influences like London Grammar, Haim, and Kacey Musgraves. How do you balance their inspiration with your distinct voice?

Something I learned with making this EP was that I didn't have to stick to one style per se. I felt much freer than I had previously while recording, and I wasn't trying to make the songs sound like anything in particular. It was liberating that I could let the songs sound like whatever they needed to. I draw inspiration from specific elements of different songs by these artists while maintaining my originality and integrity as the artist I am, not who I think I should be or what people would like. This EP is my personal rebellion against people-pleasing.