Karamea Puriri

Marketing Coordinator

Karamea [pronounced car-a-me-uh] Puriri is the newest member of the SLUG staff, but has been a part of the SLUG team since 2010. Karamea obtained her MBA in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, but she really learned everything she knows from her mom. She is the co-creator of The Salty Streets Flea Market, volunteers for Craft Lake City and you can hear her playing magical jams on KRCL 90.9. Karamea is a quiet force of reason. She’s not a big talker, but when she does say something you better listen up. On the weekends you can usually find her working at the Blue Plate Diner, planning another event, or blogging, Tweeting and Tumbling at home. Need to plan an event or set up a blog for yourself? Spend a few hours with this girl and you'll have it all figured out.

Hometown: St. George, Utah
When and why did you come to Salt Lake?
November 2008. Because I felt like it.
When did you start reading SLUG?
When I moved to Salt Lake.
When and how did you become involved with SLUG?
I started out volunteering with Craft Lake City in 2010 and then signed on to be a part of the SLUG marketing team in April of 2011.
Favorite SLUG feature:
Mike Brown's story about the cat farm, or whatever it was. I have no idea what issue it was in, and I know there have been a few cat stories, I guess I just like it when he writes about cats. And there's also that one feature on The Salty Streets Flea Market. You can find that really awesome article in the August 2010 Issue (#260, pg. 34).
Favorite SLUG Story (something that has happened in your life)?
Back in '09 I was housesitting for a friend who was out of town, and I had to pick up his new car from the dealership. Brand new, never been off the lot car. I got to pick that sweet baby up and keep it for the week until he got home. The day after I had said expensive car, I walked outside around 9a.m. to leave for work and the passenger side mirror was dangling down the side of the car, hanging on for dear life. I instantly panicked, looked around and there was not a soul in sight. The only thing I could see was a giant stack of SLUG magazines parked extremely close to the pretty new car. Then I noticed a little note on the windshield and when I opened it up it went on to explain that the mag’s delivery driver was backing the giant pallet of SLUG's into the empty spot next to the car, and accidentally backed them right into the side mirror. After Angela and Granato apologized about ten times, I called my friend and cried: "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your brand new car that you have never driven, well, the mirror just got ripped off by a pallet of SLUG magazines." I still wonder if he believes me. Luckily all was paid for and it looked as good as new before he got back home.
Favorite place to see live music in Salt Lake:
Urban, The Garage, Kilby and Burt's when I'm feeling rowdy.
Favorite restaurant/bar in Salt Lake:
Food: Anywhere that serves Nachos. As well as Atlantic Cafe, The Garage, Takashi and Sage's. Bars: The Garage and Jackalope.
Current obsessions, musical or otherwise:
Nachos. I love nachos so much I even made up a song about them. If you catch me in the right time and place I will sing it to you. I'm also obsessed with Tumblr and Instagram. They are so pointless, but so amazing. Music: Gil Scott-Heron,M83, Lana Del Ray, Gang Starr, and a bunch of other noise. If you really want to know, tune into KRCL on Thursday mornings at 3a.m.!
What was the first show you attended?
Backstreet Boys when I was 13. I'm not even kidding. And ever since then I have hated anytime a girl shrieks, screams, or talks in a really high-pitched voice. But then when I turned 14 my mom let my older brother take me to a 311 show in Vegas. At the time, it pulled me off of the fast track to Pop hell. Thank the universe.
What was the first record you bought?
My brother gave me a Rammstein album and Green Day's Dookie album when I turned 12... The first one I bought? I can't remember that far back. First record: Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow.
What was the best event you ever attended?
SLUG event: When SLUG turned 21. I think I celebrated turning 21 too. Craft Lake City is definitely one of my top three. And The Salty Streets Flea Market, a SLUG sponsored event that is super cool.
Who would you most like to meet from a SLUG cover?
DFA1979 from the May 2005 issue, but if I’m aloud to pick anyone, dead or alive, I'd probably go with William S. Burroughs. I need him to explain Naked Lunch to me, as well as answer a few other life questions I have for him.