By BILLY DIXON
MINT: I heard your track Single Spark on Triple J on the way into work this morning. How important was Triple J to your recent success? It’s aimed at a slightly younger demographic – is that who you were intentionally trying to target, or were you just seizing opportunities as they came along?
KIM: To be honest I love most of what is played on Triple J. The more I travel the world, the more I realise how cool it is. Of course I’m stoked to be in amongst all that great music and was very happy that it made sense for the station and for me. I think it helped a lot in Australia… naturally. It was also inspiring for me to move into those kinds of festivals and play to larger audiences. It’s helped me push my music and push myself to make sure I cut it on those bills.
MINT: You started playing to crowds when you were about 19 – was it intimidating playing in front of large crowds at such a young age?
KIM: Haha, yeah! I was more like 16/17 when I really started gigging. I was always so nervous before shows! These days it’s become and bit more manageable, it’s still a huge rush though, every time!
It’s wild for a job to consistently give you such a rush. I’m very lucky!
MINT: I read that your old man bought you your first guitar when you were 4 – how on earth did you know what you wanted to do with your life from such a young age?
KIM: I think I just always presumed that music is what I would do; I didn’t start thinking about things like “what I’d do with my life” until I was a lot older. By that time I had been playing for such a long time and really identified myself with music and guitar playing, so I just continued down that path really…
MINT: You’ve got quite a following in Canada and have toured most of North America… and you’re in Germany now. Where do you call home these days, or do you take it with you on the road?
KIM: Well for the last two weeks it’s been “the bottom bunk, third from the right.” Before that I had some time off and was hanging in Newcastle, NSW, before that I was recording in Toronto.
Home is no more than a state of mind for me. A set of beliefs and knowledge that accompany me as everything else continue to whirl and spin in different directions. I’m happy living in constant transition, it feels kinda homely in its own way.
MINT: Given you’re very instrumental and acoustic, how do you feel about “deep house” and electronic remixes of your songs, like Window to the Sky?
KIM: I love it! I mean the remixes that I have heard of Window to the Sky have been really interesting and some cool creative people have worked on them, for me it’s inspiring! I listen to a crazy amount of music across all genres; so I’m excited by anything that has been inspired by something of mine.
MINT: Where did your inspiration for folksy music come from? Can I assume you own a few Dylan albums?
KIM: Haha yeah! Dylan hit me really hard. He was the first one to really introduce me to song writing as an art.
More than anything though it was growing up on the Far South Coast and going to the Cobargo Folk Festival. That was my first festival experience and I went most years. I always wanted to be like those folk artists. These days I’ve moved into lots of different kinds of music but I’ve always had that soft spot for folk music.
MINT: Finally, some pop-quiz stuff – which country has the best crowds? What about the best food?
KIM: Hmm… Best crowds… I will be biased and say Australia.
Sure I’ve probably got sounder knowledge to draw from but we’re a good bunch and we make a great audience! If I can’t choose Australia, I’d say Quebec, Canada. Crazy bunch of very wonderful people there!
Best food… I’m a sucker for English food. Bangers & Mash with minted peas in a huge Yorkshire pudding, drowned in gravy. I could eat it forever!
So yeah, believe it or not I’m going for British pub grub!
