Nikki Thorburn

To the place reveals a beautiful paradox of human nature – the nostalgia we keep for the place’s we’ve not yet visited, the the ones so often on our mind. In almost out of body experience, Nikki came to know this phenomenon first hand as she travelled overseas last year,

“The night I wrote it [To the Place], I had these images of me in these streets and a room, just somewhere – I didn’t even know where it was… last year I was living in London and I used to busk and I was selling demos, and someone got a hold of the demo from London and he knew a music producer in Paris… 

So I ended up meeting this music producer who was really cool and he helped me out, introduced me to a video guy – so I recorded this footage for To the Place in Paris. It was me in the streets of Paris this beautiful room in his apartment– I look back on the footage and think this is what I imagined when I wrote the song.”

To the Place is a title that resonates with the feel of the record, there's a little longing, some pure bliss...

“I named it To the Place because, especially when I wrote that song, it was just a time when I didn’t feel like I was where I wanted to be – I wanted to be somewhere else… I’m quite restless in that way, I’m always wanting to be somewhere else, somewhere more.”

The songs flow from one another, following Nikki’s inner musings. At first Walking in Circles, our purpose unknown, until the images come to mind of that place we’d rather be, that Sunshine Freeway.

“It’s a real summer song.”

There’s the wash of the ocean and the trickle of keys down the piano. Then later, my favourite line, where the suburbs become countries, sugar canes and river gum trees, side stall markets at the turn offs to the town.

“ I think a lot of it too, is that I’m someone who loves being on the road, when I’m touring I love going on the next place and travelling – I’m inspired when I’m moving and meeting new people.”

Just as Nikki has a way with words, so too does she with image – along with her music, she finds her creative expression within film. Walking in Circles is countryside manor with a twist, swirls of paint and ribbon and Eyes Closed was an ethereal shoot with wreaths and miniature ponies.

“It was so much fun, but then again I always have these crazy ideas, like the film guy when I first told him the idea and he was like “Really? You want horses and kids – that’s going to be a nightmare to film!”… I don’t know how it worked, but it did!” (Eyes Closed will be released later this year).

Though it’s not always about what you know, but who you know. There’s definitely a sense to that about the Australian music industry, as Nikki told me, “I know people in the industry who can help me along, because otherwise you wouldn’t have a clue.”

After being impressed by her music, Nikki was lucky enough to have Ollie McGill ( keyboardist of the Cat Empire) to produce her debut EP, To the Place. 

“I was expecting a ‘heads up, really good work – keep going!’ But instead he was like ‘come to Melbourne, I’ll produce you.’ It was cool because when I took my songs to this crazy jazz pianist, there’s a another level to the songs…“

Too often the mix of an EP falls flat, lacking the energy of a live performance - in contrast To the Place maintains the perfect balance between loose and tight. A captivating sound that could be described as ‘jazz tinged, ethereal, folk-pop feel,’ as Nikki laughs.

With shows later in the year supporting Mark Wilkinson, Tinpan Orange and a follow up EP Eyes Closed it seems that Nikki’s finally getting there, to where she wants to be, that something more.

“For me, I always put my music before anything else.”

Here's one of Nikki's recent videos for Brave Like a Lion from her forthcoming EP 'Eyes Closed' and beneath I've cheekily posted my favourite track from To the Place, 'Sunshine Freeway.' 

To the Place is available on Itunes, and soon - Eyes Closed!  

Kimbra

the bell talks to Kimbra about all things music and her debut record Vows, 

It’s not often that a musician’s sound or even style strikes you as entirely unique. These days’ popular artists are the products of major record labels, prepackaged against a tried and tested method. Think about it, Lady Gaga is merely a reincarnation of Madonna with the added interest of raw meat.

Thankfully there are some musicians that seem to bridge the divide between the old and new to come remarkably close to that elusive trait known as originality. One of those rare talents is Kimbra whose debut record Vows is a stunningly beautiful blend of pop, jazz and soul. If this isn't enough, her pure vocals seem to flawlessly carry each song and leave the listener with something to remember.

We love how your arrangements don’t seem to subscribe to any one genre. Are there any secrets behind your breathtaking originality?

I think the key for me has been listening to as much music and as wide a range as possible. That way you are constantly learning and being influenced by different approaches to music. At high school I started listening to a lot of experimental bands, and started gravitating towards interesting chord progressions or time signatures and that all starts to influence your songwriting over time. I also just try to stay truthful not over think the whole thing too much! I’ve always loved this quote by CS Lewis on the topic of originality: 'Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring two pence how often is has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.'

After three years of hard work Vows is now on the brink of release, what was the best thing about the entire process?

All that I learned from the people I worked with. I now understand the process of music production and feel confident arranging songs on my own – these skills have been so crucial to my growth. Although it has been a long process, I needed that time to actually solidify my sound and grow with the music. The collaborations are always the most revelatory – when someone helps bring something to the surface that you never knew existed.

Given the album title is there a continuing theme or line that ties the songs together?

When I listened back to all the songs of the album, I found the idea of making and breaking promises a very strong theme throughout a lot of the songs. The word ‘vow’ can be related relationships but it can also be relevant in a spiritual sense or just in the way we make promises to ourselves and decide what we will commit to throughout our lives. It felt like an appropriate title to introduce a very strong thread throughout the album.

How does it feel knowing that people all across the world are loving and listening to your music (Turkey included!)?

It’s really encouraging and humbling. You never know where a song will end up when you write it and to hear that someone on the other side of the world from a completely different culture has connected and resonated with your music will always be a wonderful feeling. It’s such a gift to be able to communicate to people on a global scale (as music can) so I feel very lucky to be a part of that.

Internationally your videos for Settle Down and Cameo Lover have also turned heads. Do you look forward to the creativity involved in producing a film clip?

It’s actually really refreshing for me to be able to get my head out of the music space and into the visual side of things! All the videos thus far have been a real collaborative process with my director Guy Franklin and it is really exciting to be a part of that element which is so crucial to the music. I see it as another extension of the world and experience of this album for people, so it’s really fun being involved in the concepts and of course picking the fun outfits!

Just for fun, if you could take to the stage with any artists (alive or dead) who would they be? 

That’s a toughie! But I would kill to sneak a moment in the spotlight with Prince. 

 Kimbra's Vows will be released early September just before embarking on a national tour to promote the new record - of course all the details on the gig guide.