TORONTO, ON- Probably best known for being featured on Gotye’s world-renowned and massively successful hit song ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’, Kimbra Lee Johnson (aka Kimbra) played to a sold out crowd at the Mod Club February 2nd in Toronto. With already finding commercial success in both Australia and her birthplace of New Zealand, Kimbra’s 2011 debut album Vows has been certified platinum in both countries. Although since then she has flown somewhat under the radar, Kimbra seems to finally be getting the recognition she deserves with the release of her recent singles “Everybody Knows”, “Top of the World” and most recently “Human”.
Arriving at the venue about an hour before doors opened to get a good front row vantage point, I could already see a sizable line of excited and eager fans lining up in the frigid cold. Nothing, not even the bitter wind, could deter these loyal fans. With the stage set about two hours later and the ground floor and mezzanine packed to the brim with people, the long-awaited performer took the stage. Not really knowing what to expect due to my unfamiliarity with Kimbra and her music, I was immediately struck by her unique stage setup. Being in the center of an elaborate work of four tall screens that came together to form a prism-like shape, she was illuminated by the very cool and artistic designs being displayed onto the four screens from two projectors. The dreamy tones that played off the screens added an already intriguing air about Kimbra that really captivated my attention.
Kicking off the night with a B-side from her first album, Kimbra’s soulful and powerful voice rang throughout as a mysterious synth played eerily in the background. Any pre-conceived notion that I had of her being another generic modern day pop singer completely flew right out the window within the first minute of her opening set. Blending a killer mix of both blues, indie rock, jazz and pop, Kimbra’s performance definitely made a fan out of me.
With her charming demeanor that boasts elegant looks and also a relatable quirky personality, I really appreciated and saw the look of gratitude she displayed to the audience when she thanked the crowd for coming out to support her. Encoring not once but twice, this alone was an enough to make it very clear to me just how much of an impact her performance has on new and returning fans alike that witness her musical prowess in it’s entirety.
Follow Kimbra on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
LIVE CLIPS
