21 Comments
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Steve D's avatar

So well written ❤️ Having seen your live stream on IG after your bike accident it is neat to read your written account of how it transpired here on Substack. I am in an extremely loud 10 year old birthday party house right now so I only managed to read half of your post but will save the rest for a calmer peaceful time lol. Thanks Kimbra. Glad you made it out if this accident mostly unscathed! Crazy to think the person who opened the door on you just drove away though!

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Albert's avatar

Perfect for me on Sunday. Thank you for opening my almost everything

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Laura Rizzotto's avatar

What a delicious read! Like @Steve D below I also saw the livestream and it's interesting to see now the full reflection of it all in written form. The line "paint insists to be heard" will stick with me, what a powerful statement. Lovely to read your thoughts and experiences as always Kimbra!

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Kimbra's avatar

Thanks so much Laura!

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Tim Elsenburg's avatar

Hope those bruises are healing :-) This was so lovely to read, because ultimately it’s such a pragmatic, physical (rather than spiritual woo-woo, which - tbf - I’m more and more open to anyway) response to an abstract idea. I’ve made a lot of music and I’m often guiltily ambivalent about whether the songs are armour (‘built’... watertight... even if they don’t move people, it’s hard to demean lyrics out of context, or criticise mix or arranging / compositional decisions), or the opposite (my conscious intention). I’m beginning to realise that trusting physical, bodily responses might be the key to letting go, especially the voice, but also how bass, for example, makes me feel. Texture too... Sounds can be texturally hooky. Let the body lead sometimes, I guess is the point. My band mate has just submitted her MA dissertation on the history of emotions (and in particular, the role of music) and she makes the same connections between the body and the emotions. Fascinating. Thank you 🙏

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Kimbra's avatar

Let the body lead. You got it. It's so much more intelligent than we think. Thanks for all these thoughts!

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Amit's avatar

Thank you for sharing a lot in this post. Glad to hear you are doing ok.

I find your insights into listening to the body very valuable. It's something, i have also realised, on my personal journey. A book, related to trauma processing, "The body keeps the score" completely shifted it for me and set me on this journey of listening to my body.

I used to say to a loved one that the body will demand rest from you if you don't give it rest. I, was actaully not listening to my own advice :D haha. Sounds like something you have also had the insight into. I guess, that's the shared humanity of us all.

Thank you for writing these posts. It has been a great joy to discover them.

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Ming Hui's avatar

It’s a small world. My husband used to go to lessons with Cheryl too. Those vocal warm up poses look very familiar! Such a weird coincidence to come across this article, but sorry too to hear of her passing. Thanks for sharing.

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Kimbra's avatar

No way Ming! That's crazy. And yes, I miss her.

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Kayleen Hunsaker Smith's avatar

WoW! ...and I am really glad you didn't break something or hurt yourself worse than you did.

Joni Mitchel was probably around 9 when I was born, so I didn't really appreciate her until I was a lot older.

...and I love wearing AirPods around the house when listening to music.

I can sing as loud as I want w/o anyone hearing and I personally think I sound amazing because I have the artist singing in my ears!

When my sweetheart husband died over 15 months ago, I found that I made sounds that were totally unfamiliar to me.

There were times in the car when some song would come on the radio and as I inhaled I was actually making an animal guttural sound.

I still to this day will find myself actually yelling or saying something out loud with those emotions that overcome me and I have learned to lean into the grief...and I guess it's good because then I can move forward with finding gratitude which equals resilience.

I find that it is good to just learn to be in the moment...not too look too far in the past or look to far into the future.

I Can Be Me Right Now!!!

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Kimbra's avatar

Always take an opportunity to sing to yourself! Such a wonderful way to insert a little play into our days...

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Cathy R. Payne's avatar

I'm so glad that you're okay. I appreciate you sharing your reflections with us about your scare, your vocal lessons, and your beloved coach. Your writing is raw, heart-felt, and honest. It's also very effective. Thank you.

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Glovefit's avatar

Since I've introduced myself in last community post, I will let myself comment on this one. I noticed that when you wrote about throat being like footless sock you presented below photos of very tense feet, on purpose of course. It led me to interpretation that yes, throat is loose. But because its loose and fragile it must be affected by surroundings, by rest of tense body. And that's it, insight I took for myself :)

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Kris's avatar

It’s simultaneously very surprising and not surprising at all to hear you don’t do vocal warmups. I’ve often felt, with performances, that I’ve been at my best when I haven’t done any vocal exercises in prep but just physical exercise and stretches, and counter to that, I’ve often felt that I weakened my voice by doing vocal warmups beforehand.

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Em's avatar

💛💛💛

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Michael Matthew Lindner's avatar

Sometimes it's hard to realize what you are saying because your story always speaks so clearly to me, but I hear you above all those words. I hear you... the person that created herself great. It's a lot for me to have and I cherish it. There's a mark on my arm where you hurt yours. I don't know how it got there. A and that paining of the bird flying before a face. That picture inspired.me to go visit my bird only to find he died 3 weeks ago and it wasn't good. How can I not feel what I feel I mean that kind of connection is beautiful and makes the loss less painful. But that's what you are to me. You are something of a miracle and I mean that seriously and in the best way. I am here to learn from you and support you in these efforts. I may not be the best but I will do my best here for you. You can count on that.

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Marcus Nobreus's avatar

Love it! Thanks for this lovely bike crash and what a remarkable voice coach! May she rest in peace!

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Kathy's avatar

Your post it note is the best and smartest move back to health!

You are right about the body - it chooses a whisper, nudge, shout, speed bump, car door and the list escalates, so I'm happy you weren't too far down.

Thank you for this gift from your accidental soul call of (term for what arises & lands & heals for me):

"Soul Calling You! Are You Listening?"

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Timothy Hall's avatar

Nice watercolor.

BTW - I used to ride a bicycle everywhere when I was young. Now, at 71, I drive everywhere. But because I used to ride a lot, when I open my car door I always open it just a crack in case someone is riding by me AND I look before I open the door completely. Not sure how much it'll help if the rider is reaching forward for a cell phone... we didn't have those in my day.

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Ken's avatar

Terrible thing, crashing on a bike. Glad that you're all right.

Thank you for writing this piece.

There are writers that work with the body as well. Lidia Yuknavitch comes to mind. Searching, trying to spell her name correctly, I see she also has a substack.

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