FEATURE: Interview With Kimbra

Being name checked by Perez Hilton will garner you some major worldwide attention, but it’s her unique songwriting and tone that make Hamilton born Kiwi Kimbra one of a kind.

A few years ago you made the decision to move to Melbourne. Why did you do that and, looking back, do you think the move has shaped you more than if you’d stayed here?
Yeah - I think the move to Melbourne was quite defining in the sense that I was 17 at the time. Whenever you make a big move like that, it’s going to shape who you are and the kind of art that you make. Just being around new musicians, collaborating with producers and learning how to produce music myself. All of that stuff is pretty integral I think. But both New Zealand and Australia have been crucial for the stage that I’m at now.

Your single ‘Settle Down’ was a huge success in New Zealand. Were you surprised about how well it did?
Yeah...I mean, I never have too high expectations of how things will be received. I always hoped that people would get into it, but I didn’t imagine it would quite have the online response that it did. It was awesome to see people from America really responding and I have people writing to me from Turkey and Brazil and these kind of places that you’d never dream of that are really buzzing on it. It’s pretty humbling.

Kimbra - Settle Down

The new single ‘Cameo Lover’, what’s it about?
It’s about a figurative male character who’s disconnected himself from life and descended into a world of greys. The song’s about me calling him back to embrace colour and love and life again. It’s an anthem of hope.

Kimbra - Cameo Lover

What do you think makes New Zealand musicians different from artists around the world?
Because we’re a little bit more isolated from the rest of the world, I think we’ve got something to prove, and maybe we’re a bit less influenced by everything that’s going on in America. I think we push more originality. I think that’s great, and I think that’s what makes New Zealand music so awesome.

What advice could you offer other musicians weighing up the option of moving overseas for the rest of their careers?
You just have to do what feels right, and what feels best for your growth as an artist. I think everyone should experiment with spending time overseas, because you just grow so much and you learn about other cultures. But ultimately home is where the heart is, and where your friends are, and where musicians are going to help you grow.

What is the one interview question you can’t stand?
I really don’t like the question ‘when did you start singing?’ It’s like, ‘come on dude - what do you think?’ [For] most people… it’s there from the start, it’s in your spirit. It’s just a really obvious question.

Have you had a train wreck of an interview?
Not off the top of my head. I reckon I would have done some pretty funny ones back in Rockquest days - I reckon I was pretty dodgy.

Are you passionate about travelling or does it sometimes get you down?
I like travelling when you actually have time to spend in the city. We did a tour in Australia where we were just in and out. You know, we just went to the city and then left. That gets a bit draining, just living out of a suitcase and being in hotel rooms. But when you actually get to soak up a city, I really enjoy that part of it.

Can you remember the worst gig you’ve ever done?
It was part of the tour I did in Australia where we were supporting a band [and] we played in Wollongong. There was no one there, not a soul. Only the other support band were there, and we didn’t gel with them all that well. They were sitting there with this really patronising look on their face, and were doing the old ‘slow clap’. It was just such a gutting feeling playing to a totally empty room - a bit hard on the ego.

What is a great gig you have done - what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Meredith Music Festival. It’s this big festival in Australia that’s held in a natural amphitheatre out in the country. Neil Finn actually headlined it, which was awesome. It’s just such a good vibe. There’s only one stage that everyone has to sit and watch. That was a real experience.