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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 Lee Johnson
Born (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34)
Hamilton, New Zealand
GenresPop, soul, jazz
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, tambourine
Years active2000–present
LabelsForum 5, Warner Bros. Records
Websitekimbramusic.com

Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990), known mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and guitarist. On 29 August 2011, she released a debut album Vows which reached the top 5 in New Zealand and Australia. On 22 May 2012, the album was released in North America. It initially reached number 14 on Billboard, but declined since. [1] Kimbra sang in the single "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye.

Biography

Early years

Kimbra Lee Johnson[2] was born on 27 March 1990 and grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand. Her father, Ken Johnson, was the head doctor at the University of Waikato's student health centre and her mother was a nurse. Kimbra 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 when aged 14-years-old. At the age of 10, Kimbra had begun writing songs, at 12-years-old Ken bought her a guitar and "after a few years of lessons, she was on stage, performing with her guitar tutor (she was never taught to sing)".[3] Kimbra made her first music video, "Smile", for the children's TV show What Now. Kimbra was a member of the Hillcrest High Jazz choir, Scat, and her teacher, Sue Radford described her as "a very talented young person in a range of different areas".[4]

Career beginnings

Early public performances by Kimbra included singing at the Waikato Times Gold Cup race meeting in 2000 as a 10-year-old, and singing the national anthem at age 12 before 27,000 people at the Auckland vs Waikato NPC rugby final. In 2007, after winning the Juice TV award for best breakthrough music video for her second single "Simply on My Lips", she came to the attention of ex-Independiente Records boss Mark Richardson (Jamiroquai, Paula Abdul) and his newly-formed management company and independent label Forum 5 in Melbourne, Victoria.[5] She signed with Richardson and relocated to Australia.[5]

Vows (2010–present)

In June 2010 Kimbra's first single on Forum 5, "Settle Down", was released. She had started writing the track four years earlier – it was finished with François Tétaz.[5][6] The music video was directed by Guy Franklin. Perez Hilton featured the track on his website citing "[i]f 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!"[7] On 10 December, the Australian 'indietronica' group Miami Horror released their single, "I Look to You" featuring Kimbra's vocals.[8] Kimbra also stars in its music video, which features wide-angle and kaleidoscope shots of her in face paint and dresses walking through golden fields.[9]

Early in 2011, Kimbra's song "Cameo Lover" was a finalist for the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and eventually won the competition. [10] In March she issued "Cameo Lover" as her next single, its music video was released in April and was directed by Franklin. On 15 July 2011, "Cameo Lover" won the songwriting competition, ahead of third placed song, "Somebody That I Used to Know", written by Belgian-Australian musician, Gotye.[11] On 7 June Kimbra signed to Warner Bros. Records New Zealand for distribution in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a worldwide deal for other territories with Warner Bros. Records in the US.[12] On 5 July Kimbra sang in Gotye's single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", which was mixed by Tétaz. Tétaz had recommended Kimbra to Gotye after a 'high profile' Australian female vocalist had withdrawn from the collaboration.[13][14]

On 29 August 2011 Kimbra's debut album, Vows, was released in New Zealand and 2 September in Australia. In its first week of release it charted at No. 3 in New Zealand, No. 5 in Australia and No. 14 in the US. In its second week, it rose to a peak of No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Australian producer 'M-Phazes' produced Kimbra's track "Call Me" and assisted on other tracks on Vows. Its artwork including body art and illustrations were created by Rhys Mitchell and Raphael Rizzo. She has won the Critics' Choice Prize at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards[15] and Best Female Artist and Best Song (for "Somebody That I Used to Know") at the ARIA Music Awards of 2011.[16] The US release of Vows featured new tracks not available on the Australian or New Zealand version of the album.[17]

On 19 January 2012, "Good Intent" was played on a episode of ABC's drama Grey's Anatomy. The track also appears in the video game, The Sims 3: Pets. Also in January, Kimbra won the "One to Watch" award at the 2012 Rolling Stone Awards.[18] Kimbra has collaborated with Mark Foster (of Foster the People) and DJ A-Trak on the track "Warrior", which was released on 2 April. On 14 April she performed "Somebody That I Used to Know" with Gotye on Saturday Night Live.[19]

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)

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". This is especially evident in her singing of "Somebody That I Used To Know" [according to whom?]. Comparisons have been drawn with Architecture in Helsinki, Amy Winehouse, Katy Perry, Meiko, and Björk [citation needed]. Her songs are heavily thematic and laced with jazz chords [according to whom?]. Kimbra's music pertains beyond the "four chord cliché but still mantains strong hooks and catchy melodies that are sometimes unpredictable but satisfying".[20] In an interview with American Songwriter, she listed Daniel Johns, Prince, Rufus Wainwright, Michael Jackson, Minnie Riperton, and Stevie Wonder as her influences.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Album title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS CAN NZ US
Vows 4 24 3 14

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
AUS NZ
2005 "Deep for You" — — non-album singles
2007 "Simply on My Lips" — —
2010 "Settle Down"[24] — 37 Vows
2011 "Cameo Lover"[25] — —
"Good Intent" 98 —
2012 "Warrior" (featuring Mark Foster and A-Trak)[26] — 22
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
(thresholds) 		Album
AUS AUT BEL (FLA) CAN GER IRE NZ SWI UK US
2009 "Asleep In The Sea"
(As Tall As Lions featuring Kimbra) 		— — — — — — — — — — You Can't Take It with You
2010 "I Look to You"
(Miami Horror featuring Kimbra)[27] 		— — — — — — — — — — Illumination
2011 "Somebody That I Used to Know"
(Gotye featuring Kimbra)[24][28] 		1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 Making Mirrors

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".[33] In 2012 Kimbra was nominated for two awards as a solo artist and won two awards as a featured artist.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Kimbra (Kimbra Johnson) Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year[34] Nominated
"Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra (Wally de Backer (aka Gotye), Luiz Bonfá) Most Played Australian Work[35] Won
Song of the Year[36] Won
"Cameo Lover" – Kimbra (Kimbra Johnson) Song of the Year[37] Nominated


ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually from 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In 2011 Kimbra won one award as a solo artist and two awards as a featured artist.[38] Gotye featuring Kimbra performed the single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", at the awards ceremony.[39][40]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "Somebody That I Used to Know" – Gotye featuring Kimbra Single of the Year Won
Highest Selling Single Nominated
Best Pop Release Won
"Cameo Lover" – Kimbra Best Female Artist Won
"Cameo Lover" – Kimbra – Guy Franklin Best Video Nominated


Other awards

Year Award Category Result
2007 Juice TV Breakthrough Video ("Simply On My Lips") Won
2011 2011 New Zealand Music Awards Critics' Choice Prize Won
International Songwriting Competition[41] Grand Prize Won
J Award[42] Album of the Year (Vows) Nominated
2012 Rolling Stone Awards One to Watch Award Won

References

  1. ^ http://stg-www.billboard.com/artist/kimbra/1606467#/artist/kimbra/1606467
  2. ^ "'Simply on My Lips' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  3. ^ Woulfe, C. (2010, 31 October). "Unchained Melodies". Sunday Star Times, pp. 16–18.
  4. ^ Louise Risk And Fairfax (10 June 2011). "Look at her now - news - waikato-times". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Baidawi, Adam (November 2011). "Kimbra, A Sound Unto Her Own". JetStar Magazine. Jetstar Airways. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  6. ^ "'Settle Down' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  7. ^ "Watch & Listen: Like Ice!". PerezHilton.com. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  8. ^ "'I Look to You' (ft. Kimbra) – EP". itunes.apple.com. 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Miami Horror - 'I Look to You' (ft. Kimbra) (official HD)". youtube.com. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  10. ^ http://www.vandayoungsongcomp.com/winners.html
  11. ^ "2011 Vanda and Young Songwriting Competition – Winners Announcement". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Kimbra Signs Worldwide Deal With Warner Bros. Records". Marketwire.com. 07 June 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Jones, Nicholas (15 February 2012). "Kimbra Replacement After First Choice Cancelled Reveals Gotye". Tone Deaf. Tone Deaf Network. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  14. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Gotye". Howlspace. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  15. ^ Bridget Jones. "Kimbra wins Critics' Choice Award 2011". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Kimbra wins Aussie music award". Television New Zealand. 28 November 2011.
  17. ^ "At Sydney airport..." Facebook. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  18. ^ Kimbra (26 January 2012). "Kimbra Wins A Rolling Stone Award". Kimbramusic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  19. ^ "Kimbra shares her joy". MediaWorks. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  20. ^ "Kimbra - New Zealand Musicians & Bands". Muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Kimbra last". American Songwriter. Retrieved 11 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "Evan" ignored (help); Text "Schlansky first" ignored (help)
  22. ^ "http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ALBUMaccreds2012.htm". Aria.com.au. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  23. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/67eErXXv7
  24. ^ a b "The Official New Zealand Music Chart: Chart 1789" (Rianz). 5 September 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  25. ^ "iTunes - Music - Cameo Lover - Single by Kimbra". Itunes.apple.com. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  26. ^ "iTunes - Music - Warrior - Single by Kimbra". Itunes.apple.com. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  27. ^ Lake, Limbo (30 July 2010). "iTunes - Music - I Look to You (feat. Kimbra) - Single by Miami Horror". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  28. ^ "iTunes - Music - Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra) - Single by Gotye". Itunes.apple.com. 05 July 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2011 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  30. ^ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (23 April 2012). "Certifications (Searchable Database)". RIANZ. Retrieved 22 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Ultratop - Gold + Platinum Singles - 2011". ultratop. 28 January 2012.
  32. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". IFPI. 31 January 2012.
  33. ^ "APRA Music Awards 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  34. ^ "Nominations > Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year – 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  35. ^ "Winners for the 2012 APRA Music Awards Announced". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 24 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  36. ^ "2012 Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  37. ^ "Nominations > Song of the Year – 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  38. ^ "The Countdown Begins....Nominations Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  39. ^ ARIA Awards 2011 at Allphones Arena begins with battle of the red carpet - news.com.au - Retrieved 28 Nov 2011.
  40. ^ Boy and Bear dominate ARIA awards - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Retrieved 28 Nov 2011.
  41. ^ "International Songwriting Competition". Songwritingcompetition.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  42. ^ Kimbra (26 September 2011). "Vows Nominated For A J Award". Kimbramusic.com. Retrieved 18 May 2012.

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