Sand & Stars

Inspired by the elemental forces of creation, love, and transformation—and by Karina’s own journey, that of her ancestors, and the greater human story they reflect.
Sand & Stars is a live performance piece set to a song from Karina’s original album Water and Heat.

This original work was conceived, composed, produced, arranged, choreographed, and designed by Karina—a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans music, dance, and visual media. Drawing on global musical traditions, the album as a whole chronicles a personal and ancestral search for illumination—an intimate journey that reflects the universal human experience.

Though the album traces themes of creation, love, and transformation, the Sand & Stars piece hones in on human migration—echoing the rhythms of nature and celebrating the sacred essence we all share.

The Water and Heat album features richly layered compositions that blend rare and evocative instruments—kanun (Turkey), sintir (Morocco), Afro-Cuban percussion, harp, piano, cello, upright and electric bass, French horn, Turkish violin, guitar, flutes, and more—into a sonically immersive tapestry. Each piece is a cinematic exploration of emotional and cultural transformation, piecing together fragments of lost worlds to create a sense of home within them.
The album includes performances by a celebrated roster of internationally recognized musicians: Amit Chatterjee, Jojo Mayer, Tim Lefebvre, Al MacDowell, Jay Rodriguez, Eddie Bobé, Hassan Issikut, Luis Perdomo, Jennifer Vincent, Vincent Chauncey, and Henry Hey.

In 2016, Karina brought this music to the stage at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center in New York City as part of a broader dance festival. She choreographed a trio dance performance, performing alongside two other dancers. The piece was brought to life with original costume designs and hand-dyed silk veils, all created by Karina (sewn by Gulya Abdu, with veils hand-dyed by Meg Fairycove and Karina), and a custom video backdrop she designed to deepen the visual narrative. The visual component also featured a painting by Alexander Ganelin.

The piece honors Karina’s personal story and ancestral lineage—its journeys, struggles, and spiritual illuminations—as a microcosm of the broader human story.
This project is a seamless fusion of sound, movement, and visual design, reflecting Karina Khal’s unique artistic voice and a burst of expression across disciplines.