Kimbra: Q&A with somebody that you should know

If you’ve listened to the radio at all the last few
months, there’s no way to miss the infectious hit single
“Somebody That I Used to Know,” the biggest song of the
year.

While it has skyrocketed singer/songwriter Gotye to
worldwide fame, it’s also made a star out of 22-year-old
Kimbra, the Kiwi pop songstress who nearly steals the
song.

Kimbra comes back to town Tuesday with Foster the
People at WaMu Theater after a triumphant show with Gotye
earlier this year at the Showbox. We talked on the phone
this week about the surprising success of a song she was
only asked to sing on at the last minute, and the rave
reviews for her own album “Vows.”

Josh: “Does it bother you to be asked constantly about
somebody else’s song?”

Kimbra: “It’s been really great to see people just as
enthused by that strong as they are with my own record,
which is really awesome. And I mean of course I’m
flattered and so excited to have been a part of that
collaboration, so I don’t see any kind of negative side to
what’s been an amazing platform and I’m also so blessed
to be apart of such an artistic song and artistic kind of
collaboration for pop right now. So yeah, it’s not a bad
thing in my book.”

Josh: “Did you have any sense the song you recorded
nearly a year ago would become so big?”

Kimbra: “When I first heard the song, I really liked it
and I was a big fan of Gotye even before I worked with
him. I guess I had an inkling before it was released it
would connect with people because he has the really
wonderful ability of capturing emotions and they are
really kind of honest. But, it just didn’t cross my mind I
guess because it just sounds so different to everything
else that’s out there. It was a really exciting surprise
to come and see people so craving that song. It shows a
lot about making a shift in pop music at the moment, kind
of starting to really crave a little more honesty in the
lyrics.”

Josh: “I love that you actually beat that song and beat
Gotye in a song writing competition with Cameo Lover, your
own song from your debut album Vows. It’s pretty funny
that you actually were the winner. But do you worry that
you’ll be branded an overnight, flash in the pan?”

Kimbra: “It’s pretty crazy. I mean from the outside it
seems that it just kind of went from little gigs to just
these massive concerts. For me I guess, it has kind of
felt like a steady and gradual thing. Of course, that gave
it much more momentum when that song hit, but I had been
working so hard behind the scenes developing a good idea
of where things were about to go and about to put out my
record, so it didn’t feel like it happened too fast, you
know what I mean? It felt like I’d done the ground work
for it and it was the right time.”

Josh: “While “Somebody” is a bit of a downer, in
watching you and your band perform there is a tremendous
joy and energy. How important is it to keep your music
upbeat and fun?”

Kimbra: “It’s really important. I mean the guys in my
band I’ve known since I was quite young. They’re also from
New Zealand and they played in one of the most fun punk
rock bands that I was really into when I was younger. And
they add a kind of exciting dimension to the live mix. And
I really enjoy just watching them jam you know, and I
think
that’s important for me to enjoy my band as much as I
enjoy coming to solo shows or being in the studio. That
energy I think, translates to the concept of having a more
exciting time when they can feel that we’re also enjoying
it on stage. So yeah, I’m glad that you picked up on
that.”

Josh: How has it been touring with Foster the People?
It’s interesting they were in a similar position as you
last year on the heels of their unexpected hit “Pumped up
Kicks.”

Kimbra: “It’s really fun. We are all getting along
really well and obviously I’ve already collaborated with
Mark (Foster) on the track that was for Converse. So we
already have you know really great kind of chemistry
creatively. And hopefully we’ll get back to my music on
this tour. It’s just hard to find moments. But yeah, it’s
been really fun, like really great crowds, really great
venues. I’m really excited to be on this tour.”

Kimbra and Foster the People perform Tuesday June
26th at Seattle’s WaMu Theater along with Mayer Hawthorne.

Josh Kerns/Seattle Sounds