A Kimbra Celebration! - Part Three: I Look To You

Kimbra has shared an eclectic plethora of influences throughout her young career. This list includes such classic artists as Prince, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Jeff Buckley, etc. But it also includes many contemporary artists like Gotye, Bilal, Mew, Mark Foster, Janelle Monáe, Omar Rodríguez-López, Meshuggah, etc. Earlier on in her career, Kimbra absorbed a lot of energy from the artists she admires and outwardly expressed herself with that energy, creating an exquisitely vibrant sound.

Kimbra performing a cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean in 2008.

The above performance video is a wonderful example of how Kimbra can turn an already great song into something completely fresh and original. She draws that energy from her influences, but can twist that energy and focus it into something unique. You will also notice an element in this performance that will later become a staple in both her songwriting and live performances: the manipulation of her voice through looping.

Kimbra putting her own spin on Rihanna and Justin Timberlake in 2008.

So, why is this so important? A lot of artists experiment with vocal layering. No doubt about that. But what's important here is that Kimbra shifts this focus to her music and breaks free from the sounds that inspired her in the first place. Her influences pushed her to experiment with performances, and in turn, her performances encouraged her to experiment with her own music. This opened doors for Kimbra, allowing her to gather opportunities to shine in collaborations with some of her peers.

Kimbra appearing in As Tall As Lions' Asleep In The Sea (top) and Miami Horror's I Look To You (bottom).

Evolving beyond this point, Kimbra has said that she's constantly inspired by anything and everything around her: scenery, people and their complex relationships, film and popular culture, etc. She had already been writing songs for an album during this time, and we will look at why her debut record would come out at a perfect time in her young career. Moreover, why it displays another natural step in her evolution as an artist.