Kimbra is somebody that you used to know…and now she’s headed to Manila
You may know Kimbra from this:
It’s Gotye’s 2011 hit, of course, with the New Zealand recording artist appearing on the second half of the song playing a female doppelganger to Gotye’s male sad sack.
But there’s more to her than that.
Re-introducing Kimbra
The 24 year old (real name: Kimbra Lee Johnson), who’s a headliner at the MadFest Music + Arts + Dance Festival at the SM MOA Concert Grounds on Dec. 5 from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day, has two albums to her name: 2011’s “Vows” and the just released “The Golden Echo.”
“Vows” contained a number of hits, including this:
In fact, Kimbra has done quite a lot before relocating to Los Angeles, where she recorded and recently released her new album “The Golden Echo.”
Eclectic
Her new album is one of the year’s most eclectic-sounding records, hopping a spectrum of genres from R&B to jazz to indie rock and electronica.
It shows in her choice of collaborators, including American singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks, Muse's Matt Bellamy,The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriquez-Lopez andSilverchair's Daniel Johns.
“I write songs drawn from my own feelings towards certain events, certain things in my life. I believe that my songs create a whole new world away from the ordinary,” she exclusively told Yahoo Philippines in a phone interview.
Colliding with the future
“My own experiences are so varied, sometimes dull, sometimes exciting and I want my songs reflect that. There are these many moods that you can find on my new album,” she added.
She lists the idols of her teen years among her influences, including Michael Jackson and Kate Bush. She also fell in love with heavy rock and jazz great Billie Holiday.
“Most of my songs are odes to the music I love when I was growing up. They’re a part of who I am now so I guess that‘s why a lot my songs remind of music from the past, especially the 90s. And also, there’s a thrill in making and listening to music in which the past is heard colliding with the future.”
Tantalizingly, the song name-checks Nirvana, Mariah and Aaliyah, musically and lyrics-wise.
Isolation
Before she moved to La La Land, it’s been observed that like Lorde, another new singing sensation hailing from New Zealand, Kimbra fashions her music in relative isolation from the major music centers in L. A. and New York.
That they radiate apparent freshness as though heard for the first time is one of the reasons her songs become hits to the rest of the world.
“That’s probably true,” she said. “We are situated far away from the rest of the world and like anywhere else, music fans in New Zealand are always looking out for something new, new music we can contribute to world. Us songwriters are obliged to deliver original music. It’s the only way to go.”
Making a diff in Manila
As for her Manila concert, she’s excited to connect with Filipino fans who she’s been told are one of the most rabidly appreciative crowds in concert.
“Every song I make is a blessing and a challenge to me. I am always thrilled to record in a studio and I am just as excited to make a connection with my songs,” she said.
“It’s important to me that at the end of the show, the audience leaves feeling a little better for the experience. I hope to have at least made a difference in terms of their expectations before they saw my performance.”
JACK TV’s MAD Fest 2014 happens on Dec. 5 at the SM MOA Concert Grounds from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following day. Aside from Kimbra, local acts playing are Kjwan, Urbandub, Sandwich, Imago, Flying Ipis, Cheats, Motherbasss, Chocolate Grass, Toni B and BP Valenzuela. Visual artists include Leeroy New and up-and-coming artists from ImagineNationStudio, Jagnus Design Studio and Secret Studio, with spoken word performances from Kooky and Richard Tuason and dance from Team Vibe. Tickets at P2450 and P3450 are available at SM Tickets and Ticketnet Online.
