INTERVIEW: KIMMERLY

Based in Fort Myers, Florida, KIMMERLY is the moniker of American artist Carson Ruby Kimmerly. The singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer offers her all round musical talents to deliver her unique sonic vision via her own brand of acoustic indie folk songs.

Offering a delicate sound of intimate and emotive writing, she crafts delightful soundscapes full of bright melodic leads and intricate arrangements to reflect her elegant vocal work. Earlier this year she made her debut with the single “Waterlily”, a song inspired by the works of Claude Monet.

Listen to Waterlily below

As an artist who creates deep links between her sound and her inspirations, she often looks to art history as her muse for compositions. With her sophomore single, she pays a respectful nod to the prolific and often misunderstood genius of Vincent Van Gogh, captured beautifully on “Starry Night”.

Listen to Starry Nights below

An exciting artist on the rise, KIMMERLY is gradually unveiling her works, showcasing the depth of her creativity and talent as she blurs the lines between genres and toys with different styles, all filtered through her own sonic lens. As she prepares to release her debut full length album this October, we got a chance to catch up with KIMMERLY and find out more about her, what inspires her and what she has in store for the future.

Read out interview with KIMMERLY below.

How did you first get into making your own music?

I have always loved singing and ‘writing’ my own little songs. It was just a child’s play when I was that young, but it was always a genuine interest of mine. When I was in sixth grade, I joined my school orchestra on the violin. The violin was just easy for me and I picked it up quickly. I don’t know exactly when I decided that music was my life’s purpose, but I’m glad I did! After I made up my mind, I continued on the violin, taught myself the acoustic guitar and piano, and taught myself music production.

How has your sound progressed since you first started?

When I first started making music, I was taking much more of a synthetic approach. I used digital instruments and experimented in the pop genre more. I think this was somewhat in rebellion to my classical background, which I wasn’t too fond of as a younger teenager. Now, I will proudly tell you that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my classical training. I have definitely come full circle and let my roots back into my sound. I use both my violin and acoustic guitar in almost all of my tracks.

Which artist do you draw most inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from classical artists, mostly classical visual artists. I have already referenced some of my favourites in my discography already – Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Da Vinci. I am also enamoured with Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and Marcel DuChamp (influences which will show up in my music soon).

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

It really depends on the song of mine… but I’d say a couple safe bets for enjoying my music would be art museums and parks. Most of my songs are directly inspired by famous works of visual art (like Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’, Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Nights’, Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, and more to come!), hence the art museum. Nature definitely plays a part in my sound, too. I think my organic style of acoustic instrumentation is nicely accompanied by the beauty of the outdoors.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Lately I’ve been on a bit of a Nirvana kick. The remastered version of ‘Nevermind’ is a true piece of history and just a great album overall. There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. You really can’t beat the classics!

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I want people to experience real music with real instrumentals. Mainstream music is so manufactured these days. Synthesisers are overused, lyrics are written by corporate songwriters, and the main focus is always the money. I want people to listen to music that is written, performed, and produced by a genuine artist and their team – and this doesn’t just include my music. I want people to use my music as a way to find other indie artists too.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival?

I’m really not a huge fan of festivals and the like, but I would absolutely love to hear Fiona Apple perform. She is so unapologetically herself and to see her in person would definitely be an experience. I was supposed to see Melanie Martinez on her ‘K-12’ tour back in 2020, but the show was disappointingly canceled. She’s another one I would love to see in person; she really puts on a show! I guess a solid third choice for me would be the Backstreet Boys. I did see them in concert on their ‘DNA’ tour and the energy was unlike anything I’d seen before.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

My advice for artists wanting to follow in my footsteps is to listen to your own music on a regular basis – especially finished pieces that you’re most proud of. I find that if I start to religiously listen to other artists and compare myself to them, their sound bleeds into mine and I lose my own voice trying too much to emulate the artists I admire. I guess what I’m trying to say is that your music career needs to be focused on you, not on being the next fill in the blank popular artist name.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the near future?

Glad you asked! I am working on a big album release towards the end of this year… and I’m already thinking a lot about my big project for 2023 as well. More information on all of that will be coming soon.

With her debut record on the horizon, she’s recently shared the lead single from the forthcoming album with her brand new track titled “Mona Lisa”.

Listen to Mona Lisa below