* VIDEO * Q&A with KIMBRA – The New Zealand & ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ Singer Talks: New Album, Working with John Legend + Matt Bellamy of Muse and More!

Kimbra Lee Johnson, known mononymously as KIMBRA, is a New Zealand recording artist based in Los Angeles. Kimbra’s unique musical style draws from many different genres, often blending more modern electropop and R&B with classic jazz and soul musical elements. Her musical influences range from Prince and soul singer Minnie Riperton, to Bjork and Jeff Buckley. Her unique style was showcased on her debut album,Vows, which was released in Australia in 2011. Singles from the album include “Settle Down”, “Cameo Lover” (which won an Australian Recording Industry Association Award), “Good Intent” and “Two Way Street”.

A reworked version of the album was released in Europe and the United States in 2012. It featured several new songs, including “Come into My Head”, “Warrior” (on which Kimbra was joined by musicians Mark Foster from Foster the People and DJ A-Trak), and a cover of Nina Simone‘s “Plain Gold Ring”. On August 29, 2011, she released her debut album, Vows, which reached the top 5 in New Zealand and Australia. On May 22, 2012, the album was released in North America, debuting at number 14 on the Billboard charts. Kimbra is featured in the 2012 multi-platinum single “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye.

On February 10, 2013, she and Gotye won the Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards Show for “Somebody That I Used to Know”. This achievement made her only the third New Zealand singer to win a Grammy Award in history. Kimbra’s second studio album, The Golden Echo, was officially released on August 19, 2014 to positive critical reception.

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with KIMBRA between shows. Check out their fun video interview below!

To learn more about KIMBRA , visit her HERE .

About the Author

Nicole DeRosa joined the All Access Music Group family in February 2012. She loves the infectious energy and enthusiasm of the music industry and she feels right at home having music compliment her every day. Nicole blends her experience and skills which she has culled from her time working in New York as a photo researcher and editor at Entertainment Weekly and Harpers Bazaar Magazine. After New York, Nicole moved to London for school and there she stood in line for hours on Oxford Street to hear Paul McCartney play an impromptu concert on a rooftop. Another notable experience while living in London was her first time ever calling into a radio station, she won an invite to a record release party with the Beastie Boys for their album 'Ill Communication'. "I love London as it has such a vibrant and diverse music scene and I couldn't help but go out every night to check out gig after gig. It was a wonderful time." Living near the notable Sherpards Bush Empire music venue one of her most favorite concerts to date was seeing Bjork. Nicole has also worked for Walt Disney World in Product Development and later went on to work at Disney's Feature Animation Archives in Florida. Nicole has a passion for travel and adventure and has always wanted to live in California so she packed up and moved four years ago to the "left coast" and has been loving it ever since.