Kimbra Johnson

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Kimbra Johnson

Kimbra Johnson, who performs simply as Kimbra, rose to prominence after competing three years running in the high school Rockquest competition, while a student at Hillcrest High School. This included making the national finals twice, and taking second place at the 2004 national competition. From these winnings (and with two rounds of New Zealand on Air funding) she has recorded two songs, Deep for You and Simply on my Lips, both with videos that have recieved airplay on the C4, Alt TV and Juice TV music channels. She also had the song Thoughtful Escape included on the Smokefree Rockquest 2005 compilation. Her Simply on my Lips video ultimately won the "Breakthrough Video Award" at the 2007 Juice TV Awards.

"Johnson" from Cameo Lover video

Kimbra entered the first Play it Strange National Secondary Schools Songwriting Competition in 2004, making the top 10 of over 300 entrants, and from this had the song It Takes Time included on the Play It Strange Top 20 Volume 1 compilation. In 2005 she placed in the 31st to 50th place bracket of the same competition with the song Reminisce. She describes her music as a fusion of jazz, funk and soul.

Early public performances by Kimbra included singing at the Waikato Times Gold Cup race meeting in 2000 as a ten year old, and at twelve singing the national anthem before 27000 people at the Auckland vs Waikato NPC rugby final. In June 2006 Kimbra sang in front of 30000 people at an All Blacks vs. Ireland rubgy test match at Waikato Stadium.

In 2007, she duetted with Gian Perrone on the Dynamo Go song Sad Again, which was released on the Affordable Pop Music EP. She also performed at the 2007 Hamilton Circle Jerk, covering songs by Amy Racecar and This Night Creeps.

In 2008, Kimbra signed a contract with Australian company Freemantle Media, leaving Hamilton for Melbourne following a performance at the Hamilton Gardens summer festival. In that year she also featured on the Nesian Mystic song Mr Mista on their album Elevator Musiq, which reached #3 in the New Zealand charts.

In 2011 she signed to Warner Bros Records, and was named by Hollywood blogger Perez Hilton as "one to watch". Her debut album, Vows, was released on 29 August 2011. In the same year she was on the release Somebody That I Used to Know by Australian artist Goyte. The digital download-only single peaked at #1 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and has entered the New Zealand Charts at #4.

Releases

Vows album cover


Published Articles

  • Young Singer Hits Right Notes, Waikato Times, 8 February 2001, p3
  • Kimbra, Emily Rock to the Top, Waikato Times, 19 June 2004, pA2
  • Judges Wax Lyrical about Johnson's Polish, Waikato Times, 14 October 2004, p12
  • Broken Arm no Barrier to Win, Waikato Times, 4 July 2005, p3
  • NZ Anthem Nothing Irish for City Teen, Waikato Times, 10 June 2006, pA3
  • Kimbra interview, Nexus, 21 May 2007, p34
  • Last Chance to see Kimbra Live, Hamilton Press, 20 February 2008, p20
  • Look at Her Now, Waikato Times, 10 June 2011 [1]

External Links

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