Kimbra is Bringing ’90’s Music’ to The Roxy Theatre

Juliana Jurenas

New Zealand pop star Kimbra may have risen to fame as a guest on Gotye’s “Somebody I Used To Know,” but it’s not where her career stopped. Since then, she has accrued a solid fan base with two solo albums. Her most recent, “The Golden Echo,” is an exploration into a slightly different sound from her album “Vows.” In 2012, “Vows” was released in North America,  its hit “Settle Down” rising high on the singles chart. However, “The Golden Echo” focuses on a wider range, as the album is full of odes to the ‘pop’ genre, spanning the decades.

Having written songs since the age of 10, Kimbra Lee Johnson was never formally “taught” how to sing. As she became a more skilled guitarist, throughout her teen years, she started performing and received attention at multiple music competitions. She eventually made the move to Melbourne, Australia, and signed with a record label at 18.

Kimbra since launched herself onto the scene with her soulful, jazz-influenced voice and collaboration with multiple artists, from John Legend to Foster the People brainchild Mark Foster. Only 24, Kimbra is the third Kiwi in history to win a Grammy.

Now on tour, Kimbra is hitting the Sunset Strip and performing at the Roxy on Oct. 23. Opening for Kimbra will be the Brooklyn-bred Empress Of, which showcases the vocals of Lorely Rodriguez, a new electro-indie artist and perfect complement to Kimbra. The ethereal Empress Of offers airy vocals and dream-pop, and will round out an evening of progressive music.

Kimbra explores a range of genres, and her fan base is expectedly broad. Her vocals  range from a lush, slow-driven hush to a wrenching, soulful twang, and her newest album showcases her interest in electronic elements, with songs like “90’s Music” and “Miracle,” which wasn’t apparent in her first album.

If you’re expecting the fluid, dulcet sound of “Somebody I Used to Know,” or even the colorful timbre of “Vows,” dare to be surprised. Kimbra is unabashed in her commitment with experimentation, and may not be the artist that you remember from her last phase.

Kimbra will be at The Roxy Theatre on Oct. 23. Tickets are available at Ticketfly.