KarynO

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Early life

KarynO was born in Dearborn, Michigan into a family filled with artistic talent and grew up listening to local Motown artists, her parents favorites ranging from Big Band Music to artists like Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles were influences as were local Detroit rock bands and British Invasion music - primarily The Beatles. Ormiston was a traditional piano student, and pursued music studies through her years of college, but switched to using various early electronic keyboards from manufacturers such as Fender, Hohner, Oberheim, Moog, Korg, Arp, Roland, Wurlitzer and turned professional musician at age 18. 

Arriving on the scene in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, KarynO became involved in various songwriting, music production and various film projects (sometimes under pseudonyms) while forming a long time songwriting partnership with Tim Rocco[6]as well as collaborating with drummer friend, Bobby Gabriele[7] from Detroit who followed to L.A., (their original songs were played locally on KLOS FM under the band name "Neutrino"), as well as songwriting with other notables such as Evie Sands, and Tim Godwin. She became acquainted with another Michigan transplant in L.A., keyboardist and composer Mike Lang, who helped mentor her. in 1986 she was recruited by Charlie Sheen to do the music and songs for his short film RPG[8] which resulted in her song Up On The Ridge[9], recorded for the piano (sound quality) at the original Kingsound Studios[10] in North Hollywood, where Bruce Hornsby had just recorded his breakout album, The Way It Is. Film producers Elliot Kastner and Cassian Elwes also enlisted KarynO on several projects including Zombie High[11], Woody Harrelson's Cool Blue[12] with Hank Azaria who mime/sings Ormiston's 1989 song "She's My Girl", additionally an all star cameo filled Never On Tuesday comedy by Adam Rifkin,[13] and many other movie projects. The Emilio Estevez directed action comedy Men At Work and theatrical trailer also featured KarynO's music. During this period she additionally wrote songs and music on various films for producer Raphael Nussbaum[14], including the Greg Evigan starring film, Private Road[15]. As producer, arranger and keyboard player, KarynO gathered a small cast of top session musicians to regularly draw upon - including her songwriting partner Tim Rocco on guitars, Bobby Gabriele on drums, Randy Strom[16] (bass & Chapman stick), Nancy Roche[17]' (vocalist), John Menzano[18] (bass), Dave Thomasson[19] (saxophone), and many more. 

During those years KarynO also invented, manufactured and distributed "The Cartridge Caddy" - an accessory item for the extremely popular Yamaha DX7 synthesizer. This venture saw recognition within the musical instrument (MI) industry and in late 1990 KarynO was recruited by Kurzweil Music Systems in the role of product specialist due to her experience and self taught knowledge of synthesizers and electronic instruments. Her role and involvement with Kurzweil expanded to managerial positions including managing trade shows, managing their technical support department, and artist relations - she would go on to become North American Marketing Manager for MI companies Alesis and TC Electronic. KarynO became well acquainted with music industry press - editors, publishers and writers, as well as a who's who of music artists while doing Artist Relations[20]. She became a technical consultant and friend to many - including Christopher Cross, Stewart Copeland, Timothy B. Schmidt, Elton John (band), Jon Anderson, Ray Charles, Billy Corgan, Eric Carmen, Butch Vig, Al Schmitt. Bruce Swedien, Oscar Peterson, Stevie Wonder, and countless others. She also orchestrated a prestigious advertising endorsement deal between Kurzweil Music Systems and Billy Joel. 

Continuing her songwriting and publishing career more recently, in 2024 KarynO signed a record deal with Sundazed Music for wide release of the soundtrack music from the film Zombie High[21] - and also has released four new singles "Going Home"[22] (2024), "Not That Casual"[23] (2025), Summer (2025) and It’s Not Me (2025) - preceding her full album release of her 2025 solo album "The KarynO Project”.