Upstairs Downstairs: A Musical Memoir

What if a memoir went beyond words—told not just through writing, but through lyric readings, music (32 original songs), and videos? Author and creator Karina Marais is doing exactly that. Upstairs Downstairs, is a multi-sensory experience that redefines what a memoir can be. For 20 years, Karina Marais and her partner have lived apart together in a shared residence—his bachelor pad upstairs, her retreat downstairs—connected by a staircase that links their spaces while preserving their independence. No unannounced visits, no dull routines, just passion, freedom, and a love story shaped on their terms. In Upstairs Downstairs, Marais shows how they successfully manage a Living Apart Together (LAT) relationship where love, ambition, and independence coexist. But her memoir isn’t just about love; it’s also about passion and daring to dream. Some of her dreams took flight, others fell short, but she didn’t want to leave this world without chasing them.