On her remix video for “Everybody Knows,” she said, “I was a big fan of the Norwegian band, Apothek, and I had an idea early on about the remix. I wanted to reinterpret something in a way that they felt connected to, and they came back with this remix and I thought it was very powerful. We wanted to showcase a different side of the song, and how it spoke quite a lot to oppression in different ways. We had the idea to create a visual piece, and the song was the perfect accompaniment to that.”
For this video, Kimbra partnered with Safe Horizon, a large non-profit organization for victim services in America. “When you are creating something like this, it’s a sensitive topic but also powerful. It’s a great time to expand from being a piece of art and partner with a charity that is doing things every day to actually raise awareness for the reality of these situations for various people. It allows people to take their action further. That’s the beautiful thing about partnering with charities and organizations. It allows the music to go even beyond just being a piece of art, and being able to help people in a certain situation,” she explained.
On her future plans, Kimbra said, “I am starting my European tour. I’m in Norway at the moment. It’s a great tour, and I will also be touring the United States in January. It’s going to be a really busy few months with the new album coming out. It’s very exciting.”
Regarding the digital transformation of the music industry, Kimbra said, “It is a constant evolution. It is changing every day. When I was young, I was using MySpace, and that’s how I got my music out there, and then, before you know it, that was gone, and then, there was something else. I was always a part of the Internet age, where everything was moving every day. It is clear that people are more song-oriented. I still think there is very much a place for albums, and it’s a beautiful thing to see vinyls in this age.”
She listed Rufus Wainwright as her dream male duet choice. “I love him. That would be amazing!” she exclaimed.
For aspiring artists, she said, “It is important to learn your craft in a deep way! Take the time to learn all aspects of the music industry and music technology. Nowadays, it’s not enough to be a great singer. You need to be savvy on the music industry. You need to have skills in production and how to make a basic demo. It gives you more freedom in this industry, if you are able to articulate your vision.”
In 2013, Gotye and Kimbra won the coveted “Record of the Year” Grammy, for “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which was presented to them by her ultimate idol, Prince. “I was handed it by my all-time idol, Prince, so it was pretty incredible,” she said. “It was crazy, and a very, very special night, and a lot of amazing memories.”
She defined the word success as being able to “Freely express herself.” “When I get to freely express who I am, and have a connection with people, and touch them in their lives with my music,” she said. “I feel very blessed.”
Kimbra’s “Everybody Knows” is available on iTunes.
To learn more about singing sensation Kimbra and her new music, check out her official homepage.
Read More: Digital Journal reviewed Kimbra’s remix video for “Everybody Knows.”
