By: Kat Harlton
Lead Photo: Connor Rancan
www.kimchurchill.com
Australian singer songwriter Kim Churchill recently released his new single “After The Sun”, which implements intuitive vocal melodies and a wonderful feeling of comfort. Kim’s ability to blend folk, rock, and blues into his sound is what makes his music so ear-catching. We had the opportunity to catch up with Kim and talk new music, his love for adventure and surrendering to life’s challenges.
Kat: Can you share some of the inspiration behind your latest single “After The Sun”?
Kim: It was written in Berlin early last year. I went there because I was incredibly inspired by the city and the architecture and the way enormous amounts of colours and art (especially the graffiti) was working its way into a city that had really been drained of such things over the last century. As we explored the city last summer, I also noticed all these beautiful examples of nature retaking old and decrepit buildings. It was amazing to see these structures just engulfed by trees and vines and flowers. It really stuck with me. Chasing beauty, especially natural beauty is something humans have done in one way or another since the beginning of time, except the truth is, I think, it comes and goes. It is always moving and making an appearance exactly as it wants to. ‘After the Sun’ is really an attempt to surrender to that process and enjoy the light and the beauty when it is present but allow it to go and understand it will always come again.
Kat: Do you have any musical artists, role models or sounds that either inspire your music, or you personally? If so, who?
Kim: Yes, currently my biggest role model in life is an Irish rapper, producer and screen writer who goes by the name of BlindBoy Boat Club. He has a podcast that I absolutely adore and I contribute each month to his patreon. He delves into everything from creativity, to mental health to wacky conspiracy theories with an ounce of truth but a comical playfulness. Sonically I would say I’m getting hate most out of Ben Howard at the moment. His album ‘Noonday Dream’ moved me to my core last year and helped me through some challenging life stuff. I love his honesty. It has stuck with me in a way I’m so enormously grateful for.
Kat: Who would you like to do a collaboration with?
Kim: I’d really love to sit down with Justin Vernon and work on something. Anything really, just the chance to bounce off him creatively and make a little something that existed would be a pleasure and I’m sure a wonderful opportunity to learn.
Kat: What is on your playlist?
Kim: Currently… Maggie Rogers, Big Red Machine, parcels, James Blake and Foals’new song. Oh and the beautiful new album from the Aussie singer songwriter Emma Louis. She has octave down her voice several times to create this odd new homogeneous character that I think is just brilliant. That and the song-writing is amazing and Tobias Jesso Jnr produced it and I love him incredibly!
Kat: Do you have any advice for emerging artists?
Kim: Don’t stop… that’s it really. It’s rather fantastic where you can get to over time. Nothing happens in the blink of an eye and just like anything that takes hard work, there will be plenty of times when you feel like stopping. When those times come… just don’t. Yeah. If you want to make it. Just don’t stop.
Kat: What’s next for you?
Kim: I’m at the very beginning of realizing a 4 EP collection that have all been recorded in different locations around the world with 4 different producers; One in Berlin which ‘After the Sun’ is from, one on Vancouver Island in Canada, one in the Blue Mountains, Australia, and one in the UK. I’ll be staggering the release over the next two years with a final ‘whole’ release at the end. It’s a heck of a lot of work but I’m really really enjoying it. I’ll tour for most of that time also promoting the different releases. It’s going to be quite busy, but I truly love it and honestly, I can’t wait!
For more on Kim Churchill visit: www.kimchurchill.com