Speaking as an illustrator myself, I have found the artwork for Idols & Vices to be absolutely enthralling. Paired with the music, the art itself seems to posses a much more potent connection to the viewer/listener. At least it did for me! From what I’ve seen so far, the amount of creativity on display has been incredible. It’s been a treat to behold, and I want to spend as much time as I can exploring it.
Visual art and music both have a way of changing over time despite not changing at all. You could look at one painting every day for a week and still see something new in it if you’re really looking for it. Music of course does the same, and we can hear new things in songs that we’ve heard a million times, or have a new feeling be evoked by that same song depending on our mindset when we listen to it. When those two things are paired together, they build off one another in such incredible ways.
I think my favorite medium for art is the graphic novel since illustrations are such a powerful vehicle for storytelling, but obviously they lack a soundtrack. When reading a graphic novel, I can think of the music in my head, but of course that music wasn’t originally meant to be put alongside the story I’m seeing unfolding on the page. It makes me want to go out and MAKE something like that of my own. My love for illustration started with watercolor painting and the has evolved into graphic novel styled illustrations using graphite and ink, so to see those kinds of art used here inspires me so much!
My question(s) then is: Was the decision to incorporate this kind of art into this album something you had decided on early on, or did it evolve from a single piece of art initially? Did the art inspire the music or vice versa? Has your own growth with watercolor painting been a source of inspiration for this album and its artwork?
Kia ora Kimbra! Every time you put out some new music, I can't help but go back and rinse your past albums! For some reason listening to "Stuff I Don't Need" I felt a lot of resonances sonically with some older tracks - sometimes just very short phrases, flickers of sounds or even just triggering a really specific but amorphous feeling. I don't want to project onto your work, but I was wondering if sometimes you pick up threads from previous work and explore them in different ways? Or how you understand your body of work, whether this changes over time? (also hi from a fellow ex-hillcrest high schooler tehehe)
Are there certain visual fashion/video choices that you feel are essential to what makes up your music?
For example in Vows you almost always appeared with the same hairstyle and it looked sometimes like it was taking influence from female R&B and Jazz singers like the ones who influenced the material of that album. And from then on you usually appeared with long straight hair.
Is there a certain visual theme of this album as well that may be similar or different from the past?
Since we are having Idols and Vices Volume 1, have you already finished recording Volume 2? I really can’t wait for the album to drop and we all hope this will be release in vinyl too. Always remember that any music you birth will always be a gem for us, I can say that I’ll forever be a fan, bless you more and more power to you, Kimbra. 🪩💗💅🏼☁️🙌🏼✨
Talking about the toxicity of celebrity and the roles and identities that are created to safeguard your heart and your being, my mind goes to people like Syd Barrett, (Pink Floyd), whose journey was singular and one of the first real casualties of toxic celebrity. Then thinking about what The Beatles had to endure, (God knows what Tayler Swift is going through)! 2 movies come to mind that addressed these things in very different ways. A Face In The Crowd (1957) starring Andy Griffith, presented in a regular story form, as the person chosen that ascends into madness and ego mania. The other movie which is presented in a fully self referential way and was meta before that was a term. The movie HEAD (1968) starring The Monkees and written by Jack Nicholson, Bob Rafelson and the Monkees.(and yes. THAT Jack Nicholson)!
For anyone who think it is just an outgrowth of the tv show in its bubblegum sheen, the movie is gritty, difficult, challenging, disturbing and still relevant to this day. Without letting anything go, the first scene is Micky Dolenz jumping off of a bridge committing "suicide". It's about as heavy as it gets. I would be curious if you have seen it and if not you should, (on the Criterion channel!) as this album concept fully brings me to that place that they were in after the craziness of their very quick ascent into the mania that they were a "victim" of. It's pertinant.
HEAD especially has been written about a lot as to the general psychology that is on display here. Multi layered and indeed, at first it seems utterly nonsensical, as it flows as a stream of consciousness, (seemingly).
What was it like receiving a Grammy from Prince? Does he still influence your songwriting? And would U ever consider recording at Paisley Park for the next album?
- Do you have gibberish versions of hip hop releases? Like RNTBCK?
- I feel like I'm missing what toxic celebrity worship is. I've read all but I feel like I miss the point. I think it's because it obvious in your culture so you don't even say what is important for understanding but in Poland we don't do that toxic celebrity stuff at all. I think. So what it is? Because for now for me it's something like "artist has great carrier but in some mysterious way she can't handle paparazii and gets depressed and kills herself". Sorry for speaking this way but for real - I have no idea.
And it would be cool to explore cultural aspect of creating music. TRUE cultural aspect. Believe or not - it's not about apperance of the body at all. For example I didn't want to sign up for Koru because Kimbra said it is like "inner circle". Which in my culture just cannot be good - it reminded me history lessons about european history in xx century, it reminded me of Dante's vision of hell... it CAN'T be good. But then again - graphic on Idol's&vices is EXACTLY how I imagined this inner circle. And I think it helped me process it and overcome my interpretation. (and I find curious that there was even a poem about circles and fear) So through art it was possible for me to connect even from different culture.
So I would like to explore it and my question is: have you ever encountered other examples of art helping overcome cultural differences? You travel so much!!!
FINE, I made up my mind while baking pizza. I actually had even broader question and I'm going to fix it now. So I kinda "skipped" the part when I was supposed to say that I can feel that this toxic celebrity worship maybe just blaming relation between listeners and artists. But it is easy to blame audience because they are first to eat fruits. So if fruits are poisoned then they are first to get sick. I feel like actual source is your music industry and relation between artist and rest of workers. Despite superficial appearance. And I didn't want to share it because my thoughts have roots in book I'm reading right now (Damn the machine - The story of Noise records) and I wasn't sure because I'm about to finish it so it is shallow for me. (thoughts need to settle). BUT APPARENTLY I loved new track from the album and somehow I couldn't listen to it. And I caught myself red-handed that I speak in half-truth, so there it is. Fix. But there is more to it - I noticed that A&R guy has credit in tracks and it is in contradiction with earlier posts. (this is why we have armor now????) But it's not really my stuff so.... WELL APPARENTLY IS because I love new track and I want it! So there we go, I have now BOTH pizza AND music, that's something for friday. (with salami - simplicity brings understanding!)
> Since “A Reckoning” was so vulnerable and revealing, I was able to put back on the armour and fanfare when I worked on this record
Thank you for taking these out of your being, and putting gold like these in your writings. I am eagerly waiting for the new releases. Have presaved it!
Speaking as an illustrator myself, I have found the artwork for Idols & Vices to be absolutely enthralling. Paired with the music, the art itself seems to posses a much more potent connection to the viewer/listener. At least it did for me! From what I’ve seen so far, the amount of creativity on display has been incredible. It’s been a treat to behold, and I want to spend as much time as I can exploring it.
Visual art and music both have a way of changing over time despite not changing at all. You could look at one painting every day for a week and still see something new in it if you’re really looking for it. Music of course does the same, and we can hear new things in songs that we’ve heard a million times, or have a new feeling be evoked by that same song depending on our mindset when we listen to it. When those two things are paired together, they build off one another in such incredible ways.
I think my favorite medium for art is the graphic novel since illustrations are such a powerful vehicle for storytelling, but obviously they lack a soundtrack. When reading a graphic novel, I can think of the music in my head, but of course that music wasn’t originally meant to be put alongside the story I’m seeing unfolding on the page. It makes me want to go out and MAKE something like that of my own. My love for illustration started with watercolor painting and the has evolved into graphic novel styled illustrations using graphite and ink, so to see those kinds of art used here inspires me so much!
My question(s) then is: Was the decision to incorporate this kind of art into this album something you had decided on early on, or did it evolve from a single piece of art initially? Did the art inspire the music or vice versa? Has your own growth with watercolor painting been a source of inspiration for this album and its artwork?
Such great questions! Can’t wait to answers these on Sunday! See you there Matthew :)
Kia ora Kimbra! Every time you put out some new music, I can't help but go back and rinse your past albums! For some reason listening to "Stuff I Don't Need" I felt a lot of resonances sonically with some older tracks - sometimes just very short phrases, flickers of sounds or even just triggering a really specific but amorphous feeling. I don't want to project onto your work, but I was wondering if sometimes you pick up threads from previous work and explore them in different ways? Or how you understand your body of work, whether this changes over time? (also hi from a fellow ex-hillcrest high schooler tehehe)
I love this question / reflection Olive... already planning what I'll say to this on Sunday. Thank you for the thoughtful note, see you then
Love the new track, kind of a FlyLo vibe which can only be a good thing
Are there certain visual fashion/video choices that you feel are essential to what makes up your music?
For example in Vows you almost always appeared with the same hairstyle and it looked sometimes like it was taking influence from female R&B and Jazz singers like the ones who influenced the material of that album. And from then on you usually appeared with long straight hair.
Is there a certain visual theme of this album as well that may be similar or different from the past?
Got lots to say on this. Let’s dive in to it on Sunday. Great question
Since we are having Idols and Vices Volume 1, have you already finished recording Volume 2? I really can’t wait for the album to drop and we all hope this will be release in vinyl too. Always remember that any music you birth will always be a gem for us, I can say that I’ll forever be a fan, bless you more and more power to you, Kimbra. 🪩💗💅🏼☁️🙌🏼✨
I think you’ll be excited to hear my answer to this Patrice. Let’s just say there’s lots in the making. I’ll unpack more at the Zoom event!
Talking about the toxicity of celebrity and the roles and identities that are created to safeguard your heart and your being, my mind goes to people like Syd Barrett, (Pink Floyd), whose journey was singular and one of the first real casualties of toxic celebrity. Then thinking about what The Beatles had to endure, (God knows what Tayler Swift is going through)! 2 movies come to mind that addressed these things in very different ways. A Face In The Crowd (1957) starring Andy Griffith, presented in a regular story form, as the person chosen that ascends into madness and ego mania. The other movie which is presented in a fully self referential way and was meta before that was a term. The movie HEAD (1968) starring The Monkees and written by Jack Nicholson, Bob Rafelson and the Monkees.(and yes. THAT Jack Nicholson)!
For anyone who think it is just an outgrowth of the tv show in its bubblegum sheen, the movie is gritty, difficult, challenging, disturbing and still relevant to this day. Without letting anything go, the first scene is Micky Dolenz jumping off of a bridge committing "suicide". It's about as heavy as it gets. I would be curious if you have seen it and if not you should, (on the Criterion channel!) as this album concept fully brings me to that place that they were in after the craziness of their very quick ascent into the mania that they were a "victim" of. It's pertinant.
Oh cool, so there is a lot of thought into it. I'm interested as psychology major, I will check your materials!!
HEAD especially has been written about a lot as to the general psychology that is on display here. Multi layered and indeed, at first it seems utterly nonsensical, as it flows as a stream of consciousness, (seemingly).
Hi Kimbra,
What was it like receiving a Grammy from Prince? Does he still influence your songwriting? And would U ever consider recording at Paisley Park for the next album?
- Do you have gibberish versions of hip hop releases? Like RNTBCK?
- I feel like I'm missing what toxic celebrity worship is. I've read all but I feel like I miss the point. I think it's because it obvious in your culture so you don't even say what is important for understanding but in Poland we don't do that toxic celebrity stuff at all. I think. So what it is? Because for now for me it's something like "artist has great carrier but in some mysterious way she can't handle paparazii and gets depressed and kills herself". Sorry for speaking this way but for real - I have no idea.
And it would be cool to explore cultural aspect of creating music. TRUE cultural aspect. Believe or not - it's not about apperance of the body at all. For example I didn't want to sign up for Koru because Kimbra said it is like "inner circle". Which in my culture just cannot be good - it reminded me history lessons about european history in xx century, it reminded me of Dante's vision of hell... it CAN'T be good. But then again - graphic on Idol's&vices is EXACTLY how I imagined this inner circle. And I think it helped me process it and overcome my interpretation. (and I find curious that there was even a poem about circles and fear) So through art it was possible for me to connect even from different culture.
So I would like to explore it and my question is: have you ever encountered other examples of art helping overcome cultural differences? You travel so much!!!
FINE, I made up my mind while baking pizza. I actually had even broader question and I'm going to fix it now. So I kinda "skipped" the part when I was supposed to say that I can feel that this toxic celebrity worship maybe just blaming relation between listeners and artists. But it is easy to blame audience because they are first to eat fruits. So if fruits are poisoned then they are first to get sick. I feel like actual source is your music industry and relation between artist and rest of workers. Despite superficial appearance. And I didn't want to share it because my thoughts have roots in book I'm reading right now (Damn the machine - The story of Noise records) and I wasn't sure because I'm about to finish it so it is shallow for me. (thoughts need to settle). BUT APPARENTLY I loved new track from the album and somehow I couldn't listen to it. And I caught myself red-handed that I speak in half-truth, so there it is. Fix. But there is more to it - I noticed that A&R guy has credit in tracks and it is in contradiction with earlier posts. (this is why we have armor now????) But it's not really my stuff so.... WELL APPARENTLY IS because I love new track and I want it! So there we go, I have now BOTH pizza AND music, that's something for friday. (with salami - simplicity brings understanding!)
> Since “A Reckoning” was so vulnerable and revealing, I was able to put back on the armour and fanfare when I worked on this record
Thank you for taking these out of your being, and putting gold like these in your writings. I am eagerly waiting for the new releases. Have presaved it!
All the best and thank you.