Thank you so much for this post. I've been contemplating a lot on celebrity culture recently and how isolating it must be as an artist to share yourself so vulnerably for audiences while having them anonymously praise/judge you constantly... As a fan and musician, I really appreciate hearing your perspective. It’s so easy to forget that artists are humans too, just with a larger platform. That we all go through the gamut of human emotions, just wrapped differently via our own individual experiences. So happy that you are still finding ways to show up for yourself and your craft no matter how hard it can feel <3
It means a lot to hear you identify with this feeling! You’re right, it is strange. I go into more depth on the topic of Worship Culture / Celebrity Culture in my other post about this show called ‘An Experiment In Presence’. Love to hear your thoughts on that one too. Thankyou!
My brother and I went to exactly two of your shows this year--your show at the Fonda Theatre in L.A. and your show at the Sydney Opera house, which we serendipitously happened to be in town for. Crazy that those were two particularly important shows for you!
Wow that’s crazy! What are the chances?! Yes, both those shows have felt pivotal in me redefining what I really care about most as an artist / performer.
Agh K! I could tell in Boston at the meet n greet on the tour that you were a bit "out of sorts", but as gracious as ever and patient with that now ubiquitous exercise of meeting and greeting, please know that your vulnerability in sharing this is inspiring. That said. Thank goodness that fall off the stage was not worse than it was, especially wearing those KISS platforms! I would so love to be a part of a show like that where the audience is as much of an instrument as the act onstage. I think John Cage would be proud as that is a baller move in my opinion. Especially in a "Rock" style music program.
I love the idea of thinking about the audience as an instrument! You’re right. We are tuning to one another! And don’t forget the room! The architecture of a space plays a crucial role in the whole experience, we just don’t pause enough to listen to it.... And re: meet & greets, I’m beginning to brainstorm some new ways of approaching these for the future which I think might be more nourishing all round for everyone! They’re always a little tough for introverts like me, ha.
I think when introverts sense a fellow introvert, there is a drive to want to gather with them. It’s alternatly intimidating and nourishing, especially as creative types. It’s hard to convey alot of depth in anything one says in a minute or two of surface banter but we still try to honor that drive. I would warrant a guess that a good lot of your audience are introverted creative types more than willing to ride along wherever you drive us to! That’s an exciting prospect as a member of your audience! Being able to elaborate in this idiom is wonderful!
When you charge for performance, you become a jukebox. That may sound harsh, but it is an obvious reality. You are obligated to give a piece of yourself away and have it judged by others, Being a road musician is not easy.
The solution for nihilism is gratitude. Overwhelm the pain of the past with moments of gratitude in the present.
This reminds me of a story I read back when I was a teenager. And that's a many years ago... In the book 'Empyrion Book I: The Search for Fierra', there's a description of Fierra and it was fascinating. I remember one distinctive moment when the hero of the story is eating at a cafe that looked down to the stage of an amphitheater below. The music had started. The dancers came out and, based on what I remember reading, it was the most spectacular dance performance the hero (or I) had ever seen. It was completely breath-taking. And then, with the hero, we rose to stand and give a standing ovation. Only to find ourselves the only two people standing and clapping. The hero quickly sat down and looked and the tour-guide, shocked that no one else was clapping. And this is what stuck with me all these years... The tour-guide said, 'Yes the performance was exceptional, but they were doing not only because they loved to dance, but because it was a gift being given back to the Creator. Just like a miner works in the mine, toiling away to find precious stones that can be used to create beautiful art, the miner seeks no praise in doing a job well done, but rather loves the work the miner does and does it with all their heart FOR the Creator. No praise is needed becasue doing it for the Creator was enough. So it is for every task done in Fierra.' (Or something like that.) Of course Fierra is the author's depiction of a paradise location, but the description of Fierra really resonated with me. There were two ideas that occurred to me that day. One, doing things for the Creator is a reward in and of itself. And two, art is sorely underappreciated in this world. 30+ years later I still feel the same way. As I have gotten older, I find good artists, who aren't 'in it for themselves' are hoping to bring others along with them in their journey together as a peer. To enjoy the journey TOGETHER because the artist knows it's the journey that mater. Not the destination.
Recently, I have had conversations with God and for a whole year His response to me was one word: listen. So I did. Finally, things slowed down to where I started paying attention to things and people around me. As my journey with Him continued, I find I can summarize it in one rhyme.
The present is a present, to be present in. Live every moment of it fully, with Him.
This rhyme came to me after I discovered we will ALWAYS have the now, the present. Even after I leave this body, I will still have the 'now' to live in. I believe there only only two laws that span the multi-verse: Love God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, then those laws will continue FOREVER. They will be true wherever, and WHENEVER, I am, so I daily ask God to help me obey those laws and as a result of that, wonderful things do happen. They are not wonderful because 'good things are happening to me', but because things happen (good and bad) and I am living through those things with Him, praying I can love others (including those who cut me off in traffic) along they journey.
All that to say, when I listen to artists now, I often find myself just closing my eyes, and forgetting my surrounding and listen to the music and the lyrics and go on the journey the artist is taking me on. I suspect many artist desire to simply bring the audience along on their journey, together.
Any mention of Khalil Gibran captures my attention. Read 'the Prophet' at age 17, years ago now, & was moved by it, which prompted a fascination with poetry since. Janaka Stucky is a current favourite.
Thank you for the music, poetry and the descriptions of your creative approach and its changing tones.
Settle Down at the Spotify House in 2012 was the first Kimbra track I heard. That one is still my favourite among all your versions I have listened to - love them all.
Kimbra, I saw you fall!!! Me and my partner were at the front row of that LA show. We were concerned, but also confused if you had actually fallen because when you came out, it was like nothing ever happened. You kept going and were so strong about it that we thought our minds were playing tricks on us. I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Although that shows admirable strength, I’m glad you’re letting your walls down a bit to possibly let yourself fall, feel it fully and then figure out next steps. I completely understand the need to re-evaluate how you go about performances in order to achieve true connection. It’s why we do it, and I’m glad you’re giving yourself the space and grace to experiment. 🫶
I believe that, as artists, our relationship with music is much like a marriage: we have to keep working on it and trying new ways to keep that spark alive. It represents challenges, emotional roller coasters, but also the growth of the deepest love we can experience.
Keep watering your seeds Kimbra! Looking forward to seeing what flowers bloom . 🩵
Thank you so much for this post. I've been contemplating a lot on celebrity culture recently and how isolating it must be as an artist to share yourself so vulnerably for audiences while having them anonymously praise/judge you constantly... As a fan and musician, I really appreciate hearing your perspective. It’s so easy to forget that artists are humans too, just with a larger platform. That we all go through the gamut of human emotions, just wrapped differently via our own individual experiences. So happy that you are still finding ways to show up for yourself and your craft no matter how hard it can feel <3
It means a lot to hear you identify with this feeling! You’re right, it is strange. I go into more depth on the topic of Worship Culture / Celebrity Culture in my other post about this show called ‘An Experiment In Presence’. Love to hear your thoughts on that one too. Thankyou!
My brother and I went to exactly two of your shows this year--your show at the Fonda Theatre in L.A. and your show at the Sydney Opera house, which we serendipitously happened to be in town for. Crazy that those were two particularly important shows for you!
Wow that’s crazy! What are the chances?! Yes, both those shows have felt pivotal in me redefining what I really care about most as an artist / performer.
Agh K! I could tell in Boston at the meet n greet on the tour that you were a bit "out of sorts", but as gracious as ever and patient with that now ubiquitous exercise of meeting and greeting, please know that your vulnerability in sharing this is inspiring. That said. Thank goodness that fall off the stage was not worse than it was, especially wearing those KISS platforms! I would so love to be a part of a show like that where the audience is as much of an instrument as the act onstage. I think John Cage would be proud as that is a baller move in my opinion. Especially in a "Rock" style music program.
I love the idea of thinking about the audience as an instrument! You’re right. We are tuning to one another! And don’t forget the room! The architecture of a space plays a crucial role in the whole experience, we just don’t pause enough to listen to it.... And re: meet & greets, I’m beginning to brainstorm some new ways of approaching these for the future which I think might be more nourishing all round for everyone! They’re always a little tough for introverts like me, ha.
I think when introverts sense a fellow introvert, there is a drive to want to gather with them. It’s alternatly intimidating and nourishing, especially as creative types. It’s hard to convey alot of depth in anything one says in a minute or two of surface banter but we still try to honor that drive. I would warrant a guess that a good lot of your audience are introverted creative types more than willing to ride along wherever you drive us to! That’s an exciting prospect as a member of your audience! Being able to elaborate in this idiom is wonderful!
When you charge for performance, you become a jukebox. That may sound harsh, but it is an obvious reality. You are obligated to give a piece of yourself away and have it judged by others, Being a road musician is not easy.
The solution for nihilism is gratitude. Overwhelm the pain of the past with moments of gratitude in the present.
Give your dog a hug for me... and maybe a treat?
I'm sorry those things happen to you Kimbra Johnson. Sometimes words fail.
This reminds me of a story I read back when I was a teenager. And that's a many years ago... In the book 'Empyrion Book I: The Search for Fierra', there's a description of Fierra and it was fascinating. I remember one distinctive moment when the hero of the story is eating at a cafe that looked down to the stage of an amphitheater below. The music had started. The dancers came out and, based on what I remember reading, it was the most spectacular dance performance the hero (or I) had ever seen. It was completely breath-taking. And then, with the hero, we rose to stand and give a standing ovation. Only to find ourselves the only two people standing and clapping. The hero quickly sat down and looked and the tour-guide, shocked that no one else was clapping. And this is what stuck with me all these years... The tour-guide said, 'Yes the performance was exceptional, but they were doing not only because they loved to dance, but because it was a gift being given back to the Creator. Just like a miner works in the mine, toiling away to find precious stones that can be used to create beautiful art, the miner seeks no praise in doing a job well done, but rather loves the work the miner does and does it with all their heart FOR the Creator. No praise is needed becasue doing it for the Creator was enough. So it is for every task done in Fierra.' (Or something like that.) Of course Fierra is the author's depiction of a paradise location, but the description of Fierra really resonated with me. There were two ideas that occurred to me that day. One, doing things for the Creator is a reward in and of itself. And two, art is sorely underappreciated in this world. 30+ years later I still feel the same way. As I have gotten older, I find good artists, who aren't 'in it for themselves' are hoping to bring others along with them in their journey together as a peer. To enjoy the journey TOGETHER because the artist knows it's the journey that mater. Not the destination.
Recently, I have had conversations with God and for a whole year His response to me was one word: listen. So I did. Finally, things slowed down to where I started paying attention to things and people around me. As my journey with Him continued, I find I can summarize it in one rhyme.
The present is a present, to be present in. Live every moment of it fully, with Him.
This rhyme came to me after I discovered we will ALWAYS have the now, the present. Even after I leave this body, I will still have the 'now' to live in. I believe there only only two laws that span the multi-verse: Love God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself, then those laws will continue FOREVER. They will be true wherever, and WHENEVER, I am, so I daily ask God to help me obey those laws and as a result of that, wonderful things do happen. They are not wonderful because 'good things are happening to me', but because things happen (good and bad) and I am living through those things with Him, praying I can love others (including those who cut me off in traffic) along they journey.
All that to say, when I listen to artists now, I often find myself just closing my eyes, and forgetting my surrounding and listen to the music and the lyrics and go on the journey the artist is taking me on. I suspect many artist desire to simply bring the audience along on their journey, together.
Any mention of Khalil Gibran captures my attention. Read 'the Prophet' at age 17, years ago now, & was moved by it, which prompted a fascination with poetry since. Janaka Stucky is a current favourite.
Thank you for the music, poetry and the descriptions of your creative approach and its changing tones.
Settle Down at the Spotify House in 2012 was the first Kimbra track I heard. That one is still my favourite among all your versions I have listened to - love them all.
Kimbra, I saw you fall!!! Me and my partner were at the front row of that LA show. We were concerned, but also confused if you had actually fallen because when you came out, it was like nothing ever happened. You kept going and were so strong about it that we thought our minds were playing tricks on us. I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Although that shows admirable strength, I’m glad you’re letting your walls down a bit to possibly let yourself fall, feel it fully and then figure out next steps. I completely understand the need to re-evaluate how you go about performances in order to achieve true connection. It’s why we do it, and I’m glad you’re giving yourself the space and grace to experiment. 🫶
I believe that, as artists, our relationship with music is much like a marriage: we have to keep working on it and trying new ways to keep that spark alive. It represents challenges, emotional roller coasters, but also the growth of the deepest love we can experience.
Keep watering your seeds Kimbra! Looking forward to seeing what flowers bloom . 🩵