Kimbra Interview: “Vows”
After a year-long courtship with this Kiwi indie pop siren, isn’t it time we exchanged Vows?
This time last year the buzz about Kimbra and her quality breakthrough single ‘Settle Down’ sent the blogosphere and Australian music scene into a frenzy. You could literally feel light bulbs going off in the underground and hipster community when they saw the video or heard the slamming Penguin Prison remix. I remember clutching my pearls and thinking, ‘who is this chick with the quirky musical sensibilities of Nina Simone, Björk and Bertie Blackman - and why is she not already huge?’
Well, fast forward to present time and the 21-year old artiste is co-reigning on top of the ARIA charts with Gotye on one of the biggest selling Australian singles of the year: ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’. The sudden mainstream crossover couldn’t have come at a more opportune time as Kimbra herself was ready to unveal her debut album.
Vows is a breathtaking mix of experimental indie pop powered by an undercurrent of jazz influences, hip hop beats and a lush orchestral soundscape. The highlights will depend on your mood and preference for poetic indulgence but it’s safe to say she’s got her bases covered from sun-soaked Brunswick pop perfections in ‘Cameo Lover’ through to some bewitching moments like ‘Plain Gold Ring’.
Here Kimbra chats with me about the album, getting naked with Gotye and tentative plans to crack America next year. She walks me through Vows‘ extensive creative processes from experimenting in the studio with her asthma inhaler through to the album art direction and original illustrations created for each track. We also discuss her significant signing with Warner Bros. Music and how coming correct as a “package” helped her seal the deal.
Kimbra‘s interview first aired on JOY 94.9‘s Diff’rent Strokes with Jade and Dave. Y’all can read the full chat after the jump.
