Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990), known mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand recording artist based in Melbourne,

Australia. On 29 August 2011, she released her debut album, Vows, which reached the top 5 in New Zealand and Australia. On 22 May 2012, the album was released in North America, debuting at number 14 on the Billboard charts.[1] Kimbra is featured in the 2012 multi-platinum single "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. On 10 February 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. Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early years 1.2 Career beginnings 1.3 Vows (2010present) 1.4 Live band 1.5 Previous members 2 Musical style and performance 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 Singles 3.3 As a featured artist 4 Awards and nominations 4.1 Grammy Awards 4.2 APRA Awards 4.3 ARIA Awards 4.4 Other awards 5 References 6 External links Biography[edit]

Early years[edit] Kimbra Lee Johnson[2] was born on 27 March 1990 and grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand. Her father, Ken Johnson, was the head doctor at the University of Waikato's student health centre, and her mother was an orthopaedic nurse. At the age of 10, Kimbra began writing songs. When she was 12, her father bought her a guitar and "after a few years of lessons, she was on stage, performing with her guitar tutors (she was never taught to sing)".[3] Kimbra attended Hillcrest High School, competing in the national schools' musical competition Rockquest for three years running, where she was awarded second place in 2004 at the age of 14. Kimbra made her first music video, "Smile", for the children's TV show What Now. Kimbra was a member of the Hillcrest High jazz choir, Scat.[4] Career beginnings[edit] Early public performances by Kimbra included singing at the Waikato Times Gold Cup race meeting in 2000 as a 10 year old and singing the New Zealand national anthem before 27,000 people at the 2002 NPC rugby union final. In 2007, after winning the Juice TV award for Best Breakthrough music video for her second single "Simply on My Lips", she came to the attention of ex-Independiente Records boss Mark Richardson (Jamiroquai, Paula Abdul) and his newly formed management company and independent label Forum 5 in Melbourne, Victoria.[5] She signed with Richardson and relocated to Australia.[5] Vows (2010present)[edit] In June 2010, Kimbra's first single on Forum 5, "Settle Down", was released. She had started writing the track four years earlier it was finished with Franois Ttaz.[5][6] The music video was directed by Guy Franklin. Perez Hilton featured the track on his website citing "[i]f you like Nina Simone, Florence & The

Machine and/or Bjork, then we think you will enjoy Kimbra her music reminds us of all those fierce ladies!"[7] On 10 December, the Australian 'indietronica' group Miami Horror released their single, "I Look to You" featuring Kimbra's vocals.[8] Kimbra also stars in its music video, which features wide-angle and kaleidoscope shots of her in face paint and dresses walking through golden fields.[9] Early in 2011, Kimbra's song "Cameo Lover" was a finalist for the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition and eventually won the competition.[10] In March she issued "Cameo Lover" as her next single, its music video was released in April and was directed by Franklin. On 15 July 2011, "Cameo Lover" won the songwriting competition, ahead of third placed song, "Somebody That I Used to Know", written by Australian musician, Gotye.[11] On 7 June Kimbra signed to Warner Bros. Records New Zealand for distribution in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a worldwide deal for other territories with Warner Bros. Records in the US.[12] On 5 July Kimbra sang in Gotye's single, "Somebody That I Used to Know", which was mixed by Ttaz. Ttaz had recommended Kimbra to Gotye after a 'high profile' Australian female vocalist had

withdrawn from the collaboration.[13][14]