Kimbra Johnson’s ascension to stardom began in 2000, when as a 10-year-old she wowed guests with her singing at a Waikato Times Gold Cup racing event, before placing second in the 2004 Smokefreerockquest competition (behind a band called Incursa from St Peter’s College in Auckland) while attending Hillcrest High School. When that anger is channelled healthily it can be a real powerful force for positive change.” “I've been exploring anger.” What kind of anger? “Personal anger, anger that's directed at the world at large. And soul is something that's really needed right now.īut there are other emotions at play in the new recordings, she says. It's a time that requires music that has a deep soul.
She recently gave listeners a taste of her new direction with a demo version of a song called Different Story, which she says is “about meeting my boyfriend and learning his story. no one throwing anything else in to muddy the waters.” but it's been a pretty interesting experience with just myself and a co-producer in the studio. “I'm pretty strong-willed and if there's something I think needs to be in the recording I'll stand up for it. It is now a different creative environment for Kimbra, who is now working as an independent artist, after having spent the best part of a decade signed to the Warner Bros record label. And soul is something that's really needed right now.”