Musical Chairs: Kimbra

Monday, October 29, 2012

Surprisingly, my introduction to Kimbra wasn't the smash-hit she duetted on with Goyte in "Somebody I Used To Know", but my dear friend Simoa saying that she reminded her of me! After seeing her on Tumblr a few more times I finally decided to watch a video of hers (Cameo Lover) and it was love at first listen.


Not only is Kimbra incredibly talented (for Settle Down - written when she was only 17 - she loops her own voice to create the beat and sings lyrics about the pressure to grow up and get married), but her aesthetic is INCREDIBLE.

When she isn't wearing dresses made specifically for her by designers (like this banana dress that I ADORE), she wears pieces found at the thrift store and alters them personally with her own "bad" sewing and safety pins.

"I love a lot of vintage styles and 50′s dresses, I’m also drawn towards artists like Bjork & Prince etc who embrace theatrics in not only their music but they way they present themselves visually. It just helps create a ‘world’ for the music, and add other dimensions on stage."


Another element of Kimbra I love is how her style is usually read as super sweet, but she still loves to veer on the darker side when she dons almost black lipstick, a see through top, or leggings Beetlejuice would be jealous of.

I highly recommend watching her truly infectious live performances - she smiles in between serious lyrics and dances around the stage effortlessly whilst wearing towering heels!

Now please excuse me while I go put on a petticoat and bright lipstick ;D

REQUIRED LISTENING
Cameo Lover
Settle Down (Live)
Come Into My Head
Warrior (Live)

PICTURE SOURCES
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = ?

49 comments:

  1. you know, i've never actually listened to kimbra before but she definitely has great style! i might have to check out her music now.

    littlehenrylee

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    1. Please do! That's why I included the links at the bottom of the post :DD

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  2. Freakin' LOVE her. I saw her in New York just a bit ago and she is AMAZING live. I can't wait to watch that video about her tour dresses! Thanks for posting. :)

    xoxo,
    Laura
    http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com/

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  3. Yes, the yellow dress! And the see through top! And the Beetlejuice leggings. EVERYTHING.

    PS: I'm still obsessed with your drawing. ;___;
    Lovely post per usual. ^__^

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  4. I'm so glad you love her as much as I do!!!! Her style really caught my eye, she knows how to be sexy without going overboard and showing too much skin. Great illustration, too adorable!

    Burgundywhispers.com

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  5. I think you two might be long lost sisters!

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  6. Love Kimbra with all of my heart. Have you seen the Come Into My Head video? It's pure bananas, in all the right ways. And I totally see the resemblance!

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  7. I saw her on cardon daily a few months ago, and loved her!


    http://www.etsy.com/shop/OwlEyeVintage

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  8. Kimbra's style is so unique. I love watching her videos, there's always a cool story behind them!

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  9. I keep meaning to check out her music. I see adorababe pictures of her on tumblr all the time, and many of my favorite bloggers love her.

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  10. Love her!! her outfits are always adorable x

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  11. I love your illustrations, you are so talented!!!
    Love this one of Kimbra, bet she's stoked. :D

    xxx Romi > .<

    ★☆Romiya Fashion Inspiration Blog☆★

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  12. i love cameo lover!

    i love how she could dress vintage or dark and still manage to look extra adorable. <3

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  13. wow you did it awesome, did you "paint" it on your own ? wow, you are so talented <3
    http://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/

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  14. Your illustration of Kimbra is absolutely gorgeous!

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  15. Her outfits and hair are just stunning!

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  16. kimbra is amazing! her style and vocals are completely unique. and if you haven't seen the videos of her live at sing sing, you should! she sounds even better live!

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  17. I just love her style and her songs are all wicked addicting!

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  18. Kimbra really is great. I've loved Settle Down for some time now!

    <3 Melissa
    wildflwrchild.blogspot.com

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  19. this is totally you! I can definitely see that! I love finding another seamstress in this world!

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  20. love kimbra's music ~ and now i love her style too :3

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  21. I'm really proud to say my friend Penny designs lovely leggings worn by Kimbra, there's a whole gallery here I'd like to listen to more of her music, I'll definitely click on some of your links above :)
    Cute illustration too!
    x

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  22. Settle down is my favorite ♥♥

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  23. I looove her voice. Settle Down as such a catchy tune and the video was beauuutiful.

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  24. Oh my gosh, some of those dresses she's wearing totally scream KAILEY! That's pretty awesome. Love her style!

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  25. I just scrolled through your blog and all I can say is you are perfect, cute, darling, and so so pink--i love it! So glad to have found you, and am following from here on out. And I love your illustrations! =)


    <3Jo of thelittledandy.com

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  26. I adore Kimbra-- and she does remind me a bit of you. Then again, there's no way she's as foxy as you are! I love this illustration--- you're so talented! xo

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  27. Thanks for this post, it's so interesting and I found a new artist to listen to :)

    Lana, xo
    http://fashionfake.blogspot.co.uk/

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  28. With love from your newest follower!! <3

    I found you via Pineneedle collective- you are glorious!!
    Maybe we can follow each other?

    xx
    http://meohmyyy.blogspot.com.au/

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  29. Oh wow... She looks just like the kind of singer you'd absolutely adore... I shall come back and listen to her music when I'm not in a theatre! :)

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  30. It's one of my favorite singer! Her style is unbelievable!

    http://www.frenchinlosangeles.com/

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  31. She's gorgeous! I need to check out her music!
    I love the illustration you did of her

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  32. I adore her and definitely see a resemblance between you two! I discovered her with Settle Down(that video!), and then was surprised to see her duet with Gotye! Of course, I love her stage outfits, and she's got some great style off stage, too! (http://www.fashaddictblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kimbra1.jpg) great illustration you did here!

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  33. I love Kimbra! I replay her Cameo Lover music video all the time :)!

    p.s. super cute illustration!

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  34. I love your illustration of her! Beyond cute!!

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  35. Oh my GOD, the second two pictures are so you! She's lovely, I'm definitely going to give her music a listen (:

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  36. Love Kimbra! She's so fun and upbeat and has an amazing voice!
    ~Sara

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  37. She is beyond amazing! And your illustration is absolutely fantastic!

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  38. her style is so much fun - and i LOVE your illustration of her

    <3 katherine
    of corgis and cocktails

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  39. Her outfits are amazing!! I'm definitely looking up her music :)

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  40. I love your layout! I didn't realise her style was so quirky, must listen to more of her songs.

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  41. I've loved Kimbra for a while now and am kicking myself for not getting tickets to go to the Vodafone NZ music awards because she won something like FIVE awards and performed live. Her outfit that she wore to it was amazing. Here's a link if you want to have a wee look: http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kimbra+2012+Vodafone+New+Zealand+Music+Awards+N6ETTiR7Ceul.jpg
    :)

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    1. Ahh she looked SO STUNNING and the NZ awards! That dress was absolutely perfect <3 I can't wait for the ARIA awards next!

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  42. kimbra is super cool ever since she started coming on tv here i loved her! finally a quirky nz singer :)

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  43. I love her, and my favorite songs from her album are Posse and Settle Down. Her voice is infectious and catchy and I love listening to her and watching her perform live! Sometimes, when I'm alone in my room and I'm dressed up to go somewhere, I just pretend like I'm on atage and lipsync all her songs. :DDD

    http://youthsavage.blogspot.com

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