Following the release of her new single ‘Mona Lisa’, we had a chat with the creative and rapidly-rising KIMMERLY
Having been through a variety of guises and stage names over the last few years, classically trained Carson Ruby Kimmerly has found her feet as KIMMERLY, emerging in June with her debut single ‘Waterlily’. The multi-talented and multi-faceted artist has a fierce sense of uniqueness to her process and sound, and her debut EP Of Music and Muses (Volume One) has continued to establish the distinctive and one of a kind nature and charisma she exudes.
Following on from the EP the artist has released ‘Mona Lisa’, a track that finds inspiration in a variety of places, including the titular work of art itself. Everything about KIMMERLY and her sound feels artistic and poised, boasting an unrivaled sense of creativity and freshness that sets it aside, free from conformity and genre convention. We had a chat with the exciting artist to find out some more about her journey and her sound.
Who TF is KIMMERLY?
KIMMERLY is the artist born as Carson Ruby Kimmerly. I am a singer, an instrumentalist, a poet, a composer, a producer, a performer, and simply a lover of all things art.
How long have you been making music?
I have been making music since childhood in all the usual kiddy ways – singing little tunes to myself, playing with my battery-powered plastic keyboard, and having concerts for my stuffed animals. I didn’t start making music in a serious way until I started the classical violin at age eleven. Since then, I have gone on to teach myself the acoustic guitar, piano, and music production.
Why do you make music?
I have been down a lot of different roads in my life, but every one of them has led me back to making music – so it’s just what I do now. After considering a number of different careers while I was still a student, I realized that making music was the only thing I had ever done that I enjoyed every moment of. I loved the process as much as I loved the finished product, and that realization sealed the deal for me.
What are your biggest influences?
I can find inspiration in most anything, but my biggest influences over all are visual artists of bygone art eras. A few of my notable artists are Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh. I also have a mild infatuation with Marcel DuChamp.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
My best moment so far was when I stumbled across a couple of TikTok-style videos set to my song ‘Waterlily’. The videos were created by an incredibly talented painter named Casey Krawczyk and featured her making progress on her painting titled “Water Lilies on Cranberry Pond”. I went on to contact Casey and it was a heartwarming moment for both of us. I had no idea that my music made such an impression on anyone, let alone another artist. It was truly the best moment of my musical journey so far. You can check out Casey’s works HERE.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
I would describe my sound as acoustic. The mood and style of instrumentation definitely varies a lot across my body of work, but I alway make it a point to avoid synthetic sounds. My music is mainly acoustic guitar and violin based (and sometimes my piano).
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
I really don’t have a certain criteria for myself to feel I’ve truly “made it”. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve already gotten more of a taste of my dreams than many people ever will, and for that I am very thankful.
We love your new single ‘Mona Lisa’, what more can you tell us about it?
‘Mona Lisa’ was written during a very chaotic time in my life over a year ago. I wrote, recorded, produced, and finalized the track from my home studio just weeks before moving over 1,000 miles from my hometown to my current location in Florida. The track was one of the most meticulous I’ve ever worked on. I wouldn’t accept anything less than perfection and it took quite some time before I felt satisfied with the song. Looking back on it now, I am happy with the finished product. You can watch the lyric video on my YouTube channel.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I am currently in post-production for a full album-length release I have planned for the end of this year. The project is inspired by Renaissance art and my own experiences with the ocean.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
I receive a lot of support for my music – from blogs and curators I have contact with, my friends and family, and of course from my mom… but the person most invested in my music at this point is definitely me. As bad as it may sound, I genuinely do listen to my own music. It helps keep me in touch with my own brand of music and keeps me excited about moving forward with my art!
