‘Just a little bird with some headphones…’
A refreshingly light-hearted introduction to a powerful, old school soul voice that commands attention. This, ladies and gentlemen, is British singing sensation, Kymberley Kennedy.
The catchy tunes only serve to compliment her talent and, when coupled with her song writing prowess, prove that this girl is a force to be reckoned with. Kymberley has spent the last year working with producers from around the globe, honing her skills as a producer and putting her own stamp on infectious songs like ‘That’s What He Said’, which jokes about quitting singing on account of her being too loud.
Kymberley’s songs ooze enthusiasm and her jaw dropping vocals nail it every time. ‘Blackout’ is the poignant tale of somebody taking control of their life after being put in a position where they have none. The striking (almost) acapella composition makes for a stunning work of genius, promptly receiving support from BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio Introducing. There’s an air of humour in the quirky ‘The Big I Am’ and it’s right up there with ‘That Man’ by Caro Emerald. ‘Oh My Love’ is a magnificent pairing of smooth vocals and sumptuous lyrics which completely encapsulate the feeling of being in love. Phrases like ‘Your gift of freedom’s seeing me, always, as you do now’ show that you don’t have to belt out a number to make it beautiful. ‘I can do runs and a bit of vocal gymnastics,’ she says, ‘but just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.’
Hailed as a ‘vocal traffic stopper’ by Data Transmission and described as ‘one to watch’ by numerous radio presenters and publications (BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio Introducing, London’s Bang Radio, PopLedge, The Best In New Music), this lady has already amassed quite a following. She has two Glastonbury performances and a live session at Maida Vale studios under her belt and has worked with a string of exceptional producers on both sides of the pond, including Hype Jones (official remixes for Jessie J, Dev, Lil Wayne, Pitbull), Archie, Parker, Askillz, Krafty Kuts, DrumAttic Twins and Coppa & Matta. Last year saw the release of ‘The Good Girl’ EP with Grinny Grandad on Jam City records. Described by Groove Armada as ‘Motown meets Def Jam’, the track later featured on French film ‘La Croisiere’.
Her next project, ‘The Kym Possible Mixtape’, due for release in June, features a massive drum and bass remix of ‘All I Wanted’ by LadyBird and is a fitting extension of how Kymberley describes her musical tastes. ‘Think of music as a buffet and you can have a bit of everything.’ There she shows us that no genre is a sin, from ‘Four Leaf Clover’, a synth pop mesh of all things retro, to the exquisite ballad ‘Hit and Run’, which parallels in beauty to ‘Fear and Loathing’ by Marina and the Diamonds, minus the distorted synths.
Recent comparisons include the likes of Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson and Nikka Costa and with approval from The Invisible Men (Jessie J, David Guetta, Pixie Lott, The Noisettes) this girl is going places. We’re just along for the ride.
