she did a lot of performing in NZ winning young talent contests n shit before hopping over to Auslandia n workin on her debut. here's the interview i did with her from 2011 (the same issue also has interviews i did with Van Hunt & Dego):
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http://issuu.com/fjordemagazine/docs/fjorde_spring_summer_magazine_issue_5?mode=window&layout=http://skin.issuu.com/v/dark/layout.xml&showFlipBtn=true

V: Hi! This is Vahé from Fjorde Magazine in Melbourne, how's it goin'?

K: Great, thanks! I just got back from NZ, we were playing a gig which was a lot of fun.

V: I'm fairly certain that you probably haven't encountered too many people named "Vahé" (vaa-hey) in New Zealand (a bit more likely in Melbourne). along those same lines, i've never encountered a "Kimbra". was wondering what the history or meaning behind the name was? (i'm apparently named after an ancient Armenian king who went up against Alexander The Great in battle and...well, lost. badly).

K: I think the meaning is ‘Royal Meadow’!! Hmm. I’ve heard it’s quite popular in Turkey too? But there’s no big story behind the name that I know of – my parents simply heard of an author with the name back in NZ and loved it!

V: I like to describe your music as 'genreless'. That is, you place no borders on the creative process. I'm curious to know what has influenced you over the course of your career (including back to your early teens when your were winning national music comps) to arrive at this unique result? Was it all musical or do you draw influence from other forms of art as well?

K: I love films and books. I watch a lot of animation and Disney, and I also like books on philosophy or religion. But the main influences definitely come from artists I’ve listened to. They range from Rufus Wainwright to NIN or The Mars Volta all the way to Minnie Ripperton. I try to listen to as much music as possible (provided it challenges me or makes me respond in an emotional way!) so that I can draw from a wide range of styles when I go to write my own music. I like to think of songs in a very visual way so it’s important to be inspired by different art-forms as well because they all help in creating a ‘world’.

V: Is any of your work based on or inspired by real-life events (either in your own personal life or in others)?

K: Every song is triggered by a personal experience in some way. Even if it’s just a thought I’ve had or an observation. Often an emotion is exaggerated when I’m writing the song but it’s still always from a personal place in some way.

V: Who comes up with the ideas for the music videos? The wardrobes in particular are eye-catching (especially in "Cameo Lover"). Is anything specially designed for a video or do you source the fashion from elsewhere?

K: I have a stylist on board for the clips but it’s always very collaborative as I like the outfits to be true to my own style and what I would wear on stage. Mrs Press made the dress for Cameo Lover especially for the clip and I also had dresses made for the most recent clip, Good Intent. The ideas for the film clips are a collaboration between me and the director Guy Franklin. I usually have an initial idea and then he’ll take the vision and place it in a more provoking, cinematic context.

V: You appear to be the one & only featured artist on Gotye's latest album (other than Gotye himself). How did the collaboration come about? And how cold did it get on the "Somebody That I Used To Know" video set?

K: It was a grueling video shoot. Mainly because of how long we were required to stand when the painting was being done. Stop motion animation takes a really long time but although it was physically challenging we all knew it was going to be something special so you just have to push on! I met Gotye through the producer Francois Tetaz who we have both worked with on our records. I believe he suggested me for the song and I’m glad he did!


V: When you first appeared on my radar last year I'm sure others like me automatically assumed you were still a brand new artist, but technically you've been doing your own music thing for a decade now. And now at age 21 you come off as a pretty 'complete' artist. How did that early experience help shape the person & artist you are now?

K: I think it was a real blessing that I started gigging and pursuing music at a young age, it just meant that I did the groundwork and became confident at my instruments and writing songs early on. Of course I learnt most when I moved to Melbourne but the early years were a crucial part of my growth and progression towards the sound that I’ve come to now.

V: Have you been approached by any other artists for songwriting work or guest vocals? And who would you love to work with in 2011 & beyond?

K: I’m a big fan of Daniel Johns and now that Silverchair are on hiatus maybe I have a shot at working with him – ha! There are many artists I’d love to work with, perhaps Rufus Wainwright?

V: Your debut album "Vows" is out September 2nd, & along with songs like "Plain Gold Ring" & "Settle Down", I get the feeling the album will largley have a 'marriage/committment' theme to it?

K: The album is called VOWS because I quickly realized that a lot of the songs touched on the idea of either making or breaking promises and further, the idea of attachment. The word ‘vow’ is broader than just a romantic context for me, it can be spiritual or personal – the things we vow to in our lives say a lot about who we are so I felt it was an appropriate title to sum up the theme of the album.

V: Have you been living & recording solely in Melbourne since you moved in 2007? And how did the change of scenery effect your music & the creative process?

K: Yes, I haven’t had another job – this has been my focus. The change of scenery was crucial because it challenged me and threw me out of my comfort zone, which is always a great recipe for creativity I find. I also spent time in America when I needed a new dose of inspiration, as there were times when I became stagnant working on the album in Melbourne. I had to constantly keep challenging myself in order to complete the album.
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V.

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http://confessionsofacurlymind.com
https://soundcloud.com/confessionsofacurlymindredux
https://soundcloud.com/generic80sbadguy
https://soundcloud.com/miles_matheson

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