Some four years separated the release of Primal Heart, Kimbra’s third studio album, from its predecessor The Golden Echo. Not that the New Zealand native was ever resting on her laurels in the intervening period, mind you – a lot of time went into crafting this record, as the self-described perfectionist herself will attest to. “There’s a lot of development that goes into the way that I work,” she says.
“Obviously, you start with the initial idea, which I then go in and try to filter through what I have available to me in the studio. Often, I’ll be inspired enough to get someone else involved – that’s something, I’ve found, that comes pretty naturally to me. I think it’s fun to see the way a song evolves, because it always changes depending on which track I’m working on. Writing helps to keep your ideas alive, and they’re always worth holding on to.”
Primal Heart was raised by a village of collaborators, songwriters, producers and consultants. Among the people whose fingertips passed through the record are EDM veteran Skrillex, pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, famed producer John Congleton, R&B megastar Anderson .Paak and Jaga Jazzist’s Lars Horntveth. It’s a truly diverse array of names and stylistic approaches, which is something Kimbra stands by and testifies to. “You never really know if you’re going to vibe with someone,” she says.
“It’s funny, the universe will surprise you sometimes. There have been sessions that the label has set up just to try it where I haven’t been very positive going into it, but then something incredible happens when we come together. The different viewpoints that you have will end up leading you to this common ground that is really, really interesting. It’s not black and white by any means, but I will say I’m drawn to people that are willing to be adventurous and that are open to using their imagination.”
Despite being released only two months ago, Primal Heart already has a lot of mileage underneath it. Having toured extensively before its release, Kimbra is confident in the new material’s live execution. “I found that the songs came to life in really interesting ways,” she says. “I even went in and made a couple of changes to a few songs just because I was discovering new things about them by playing them live. It was a really interesting development process.”
The live show she is set to bring to Australia in a matter of weeks is one that is unlike any she has done before – an audio-visual representation of the album’s greater themes. “Primal Heart is an album that really hits you in the chest, and I wanted the live show to reflect that,” Kimbra says.
“It’s a very visual show – I wanted it to reflect the nature of improvisation and building a song up live, but still with that same electronic element that you hear on the record. At the same time, I also wanted to present something really intimate – something that’s a lot more directly connected between myself and the audience.
“It’s simultaneously the most minimal and the biggest-sounding show I’ve ever put together. I’ve only got two people on stage with me now, and I’m doing all of the drum programming live as well – it’s a bit of a change from my usual five-piece band, but I’m really enjoying the chance to do something different.”
Much like fellow countrymen Neil Finn and Russell Crowe before her, Kimbra has been instinctively claimed as “one of our own.” It’s a classic Australasian cliché, but Kimbra certainly understands the connection – indeed, it runs far deeper than most people think. “Melbourne was a place that I feel like I was really able to kickstart my career,” she says. “It feels very familial when I’m there, in particular – a lot of the people who come to my shows in Melbourne have been coming out to see me since day one. I have a feeling this tour is going to be very emotional – it definitely feels more so than when I’m touring the States, that’s for sure.”
