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Kimbra

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Kimbra
Kimbra on stage at the 2011 Moomba Festival.
Kimbra on stage at the 2011 Moomba Festival.
Background information
Birth nameKimbra Johnson Zottola
Born (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34)
OriginHamilton, New Zealand
GenresSoul, alternative, jazz
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2005–present
LabelsForum 5, Warner Bros. Records
WebsiteKimbra's official MySpace

Kimbra Johnson (born 27 March 1990), known mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer/songwriter from Hamilton, New Zealand. She is currently based in Melbourne, Australia.

Kimbra's debut album Vows was released on 29 August 2011 in New Zealand, and 2 September 2011 in Australia on Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Biography

Early years

Kimbra Johnson was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and remained there for the majority of her childhood. She attended Hillcrest High School, rising to prominence as a musician after competing in the national schools' competition Rockquest for three years running, where she was awarded second place in 2004 at age 14. Her upbringing was not particularly influenced by music, but at the age of 10 Kimbra began writing songs. Kimbra's father Ken was the head doctor at the University of Waikato's student health centre and her mother was a nurse. Ken bought Kimbra a guitar when she was 12 years old, and "after a few years of lessons, she was on stage, performing with her guitar tutor (she was never taught to sing)".[1]

Kimbra made her first music video on the New Zealand children's TV show What Now. The video was entitled "Smile".

Career beginnings

Early public performances by Kimbra included singing at the Waikato Times Gold Cup race meeting in 2000 as a ten year-old, and the national anthem at age twelve before 27,000 people at the Auckland vs Waikato NPC rugby final.

After winning the Juice TV award for best breakthrough music video for her second single "Simply on My Lips" in 2007, Kimbra, then aged seventeen, came to the attention of ex-Independiente Records boss Mark Richardson and his newly-formed management company/independent label Forum 5 in Melbourne, whom she signed with and relocated to Australia to begin work on her debut record.

Vows (2010–present)

Kimbra's first single "Settle Down" was released in 2010 with the music video directed by Guy Franklin. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton featured the track on his website citing "If you like Nina Simone, Florence & The Machine and/or Bjork, then we think you will enjoy Kimbra - her music reminds us of all those fierce ladies!"[2]

On 7 June 2011 Kimbra signed to Warner Bros. Records New Zealand for distribution in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a worldwide deal for all other territories with Warner Bros. Records in the US.[3]

Kimbra's debut album Vows was released on 29 August in New Zealand and 2 September in Australia. In its first week of release the album charted at #3 in New Zealand and #5 in Australia. In its second week of release the album rose to a peak of #4 on the ARIA Charts.

Kimbra and the Australian/Belgian artist Gotye teamed up for the single "Somebody That I Used to Know". The single was a commercial success charting nationally and internationally. The song peaked at #1 in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The single has currently been certified 7x Platinum (490,000+ units sold) in Australia.

The success of the collaboration resulted in Kimbra's singles Settle Down, Cameo Lover and Good Intent to chart within the Australian Top 100 Singles Chart.

She has won the New Zealand Critics' Choice awards 2011.[4] She also has won for Best Female Artist And Best Song "Somebody That I Used to Know" at the 2011 ARIA awards.

The US release of VOWS will feature a few new tracks not available on the Australian/ New Zealand versions of the album.[5]

On January 19, 'Good Intent' was played on a episode of ABC's drama Grey's Anatomy. This same song also features on the popular video game, The Sims 3: Pets.

Live Band

  • Fagan Wilcox - Samples / Synth Bass / Vocals (2009-present)
  • Timon Martin - Guitar / Vocals (2009-present)
  • Stevie McQuinn - Drums (2010-present)
  • Ben Davey - Keyboards / Vocals (2010-present)
  • Dave Marley - Bass (2011-present)

Previous Members

  • Stan Bicknell - Drums (2009-2010)
  • Joe Cope - (2009)

Musical style and performance

Kimbra's musical style harbours "smoky soul, flights of dazzling invention and intricate layers of deeply felt emotion". Comparisons have been drawn with Nina Simone, Architecture in Helsinki, Amy Winehouse and Björk. Her songs are heavily thematic and laced with "quirky" jazz chords. Kimbra's music pertains beyond the "four chord cliché but still mantains [sic] strong hooks and catchy melodies that are sometimes unpredictable but satisfying".[6]

Discography

Studio albums

Album Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS NZ Certifications
Vows
  • Released: 29 August 2011 (NZ)
  • Label: Warner Bros. Records Inc.
  • Format: CD, Digital download
 4 3 AUS: Platinum

NZ: Gold

Singles

  • "Deep for You" (2005, recorded at York St. Studios)[7]
  • "Simply on My Lips" (2007, recorded at The Labs Studios)[8]
  • "Settle Down" (2010, recorded at Sing Sing Studios Melbourne) – #37 NZ[9]
  • "Cameo Lover" (2011, recorded at Sing Sing Studios Melbourne)[10]
  • "Good Intent" (2011, recorded at Sing Sing Studios Melbourne) – #98 AU

As a featured artist:

References

  1. ^ Woulfe, C. (2010, 31 October). Unchained Melodies. Sunday Star Times, pp16–18.
  2. ^ http://perezhilton.com/2010-08-20-watch-listen-like-ice
  3. ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Kimbra-Signs-Worldwide-Deal-With-Warner-Bros-Records-1524021.htm
  4. ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/5747730/Kimbra-wins-Critics-Choice-Award
  5. ^ http://www.facebook.com/kimbramusic/posts/10151115872075401
  6. ^ http://www.muzic.net.nz/artists/2038.html
  7. ^ http://www.amplifier.co.nz/track/28565/deep-for-you.html
  8. ^ http://www.amplifier.co.nz/track/28564/simply-on-my-lips.html
  9. ^ RIANZ CHART 1789 05 September 2011
  10. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/cameo-lover-single/id429572914
  11. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/i-look-to-you-feat-kimbra/id382896188
  12. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/somebody-that-i-used-to-know/id448315985
  13. ^ RIANZ CHART 1789 05 September 2011

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