Born in Brussels as the daughter of a South African diplomat, Karen grew up in Belgium and Johannesburg where she became a teenage busker, honing her song writing, guitar playing and singing skills on the streets of Melville.

In June 2001 EMI released Zoid's first solo album, Poles Apart, which fired the imagination of both critics and the public to such an extent that Karen Zoid became an icon of the South African youth, which the press renamed the Zoid Generation. In 2004 both Time Magazine and US News & World Report highlighted her role as an icon.

In June 2003 EMI released her second critically acclaimed album, Chasing the Sun.

Both Poles Apart and Chasing the Sun have been accorded Gold Record status.

In July 2005 her third album, Media, was released by EMI.

Her work as a singer-songwriter has been included on many albums of other artists as well as compilations and she receives daily fan mail from all over the world. Because of this also Karen has on average 2 tours per year to either England, Dubai, Canada or the United States to perform for her fans overseas.

She has written songs for several artists in South Africa, recorded by them as well as the theme for a TV series.

Touring the country and often headlining major festivals, she is supported by her accomplished band members Don Reinecke on lead guitar, Rixi Roman on bass and Marlon Green on drums and percussion.

Her recent years have been highlighted as follows:

2002
Release of first album Poles Apart
Four nominations for the SABC TV2 Geraas awards
Winner two SABC TV2 Geraas awards - Best Newcomer, Best Rock Album
SA Rock Digest and SAFM radio - Poles Apart no 1 album of the year
SA Rock Digest and SAFM radio - Set of Wheels song no 1 of the year.
SAMA (SA Music Association) nomination Rock Album of the year.
Nomination Shoprite-Checkers National Woman of the Year.
Winner Kanna Award for best Light Music Production at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival.
2003
Named by Independent Newspaper Group as one of the top 100 people of South Africa in 2003
Named by Sunday Times newspaper as one of the top six Rising Stars of South Africa in 2003
Named by Rapport newspaper as one of South Africa's Top Ten famous people in 2003
Release of second album Chasing the Sun
Nominated for five SABC TV2 Geraas awards
Winner three SABC TV2 Geraas awards - Best Songwriter, Best Rock Album, Best Album
Played at Ukkasie in London
Played at the government's official Heritage Day concert at the Union Buildings in September
Concerts in SA and London
2004
Performed at the Inauguration Concert for President Mbeki, Union Buildings, 27 April
SAMA (SA Music Association) nominations Best Rock Album of the year and Best Female Composer - Event on 29 May
Planned concerts in SA, London, Belgium and Holland
2005
Played at President Mandela's 46664 charity concert with Queen, Annie Lennox and others
Donated her part of royalties on an album sponsored by Levi-Strauss to the HIV Aids Treatment action campaign
Played at official Youth Day concert in Johannesburg (16 June), National Womens Day Concert at Union Buildings (9 August) as guest of Minister of Foreign Affairs
Gold records awards for first two albums
Release of third album Media
2006
First single released from "Media", "Small Room" reaches number one on Highveld stereo and receives high rotation play listing from all mayor radio stations including 5fm,Kfm,Jacaranda,Algoa and Ofm.
Invited to perform at K.A.N.A.S.I.E festival in Canada.
Karen Zoid's Album nominated for 4 SAMA' s , most popular Artist, best Rock Artist, Best Adult contemporary Afrikaans,best engineer.
One of the select few Artists to make part of "Big Concerts" line-up along side acts like Simple Plan, Metallica and Collective Soul.
Invited to perform at the International "Desert Rhythm Festival" in Dubai in October where she will be a headlining performer with amongst others John Mayer from the United States.
Invited to perform with Rodriguez in November at the "Sheppard's Bush Empire" club.
Karen participates in the "Positive Rocks" fundraising concert at the Superbowl in Sun City along with Kabelo, Danny K and UK artist Seal. Millions of rands are raised over the weekend benefiting the Tapologo Hospice for children with AIDS.
2007
Karen Zoid and Don Reinecke become proud parent of Ben Reinecke on 29 January.(Bassist Rixi Roman and wife Angela welcome baby Angelo on 20 Feb)
Karen signs with new label Just Music.
Performance with Hothouse Flowers, Jimmy Dludlu, Arno Carstens and others at Spier in Stellenbosch as part of Old Mutual's "Encounters" project.
Karen co-hosts the SAMA gala evening with South African gospel icon Kina Shirindi at Sun City.
Releases Album "Post Modern World"