Carson Ruby Kimmerly, who goes by the stage name Kimmerly kicked off her musical journey with a violin, this journey started quite early as she felt music was a part of her and played a major role in her life.
“I started producing music at a very young age, and naturally wasn’t great at it on my first try. I found my own voice by using my acoustic instrumentals and classical influences, but it took me time to develop my style.”
– This is how Kimmerly described her musical growth during a recent interview with Mister Styx of Musicarenagh.
Kimmerly is not only glued to one side of art but her interests spread to other parts of art, she disclosed she was a lover of all types of art: paintings, collages, poetry, music, nature, pop culture.
Recently she released a romantic song on valentine’s day which is a soundtrack in the film ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ which was originally produced by Julia Michaels’
Using her guitar and violin, KIMMERLY transforms the OG pop tune into a melancholic alt-pop anthem. Heaven is a ballad with a sensual touch that is perfect for couples and sets the mood right.
In the interview, Kimmerly shared some bits and pieces of her personal life amongst other things.
Get the full story below while you enjoy Heaven
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What is your stage name?
I am known professionally as KIMMERLY.
Is there a story behind your stage name?
Yes, there is. It’s quite a boring story, to be honest. The single-name alias I have adopted is simply my maiden name. My given name at birth was Carson Ruby Kimmerly, but I never thought that name was fitting for my artistic vision.
I’ve always been famously indecisive, so choosing a stage name was one of my main struggles when I first decided to join the music industry. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have quite a history of abandoned personas that never amounted to much…
Ultimately, I decided to go simply with KIMMERLY – a name that was artistic enough to carry my sound, and personal enough that I’d never lose sight of my roots.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from wherever it’s convenient. I am a lover of all types of art: paintings, collages, poetry, music, nature, pop culture, etc. My debut album ‘Of Muses and Music’ boasted Monet’s Water Lilies paintings, Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’, and more titular works as its references.
For my latest release (my cover of ‘Heaven’), I took a cheeky take on some recognizable traditional and vintage religious artworks for the aesthetic, as well as adding in some Valentine’s Day imagery.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
I have always enjoyed music and have especially fond memories of a lot of the CDs that my mom had in her car when I was a little kid. I always tell people, though, that my true musical journey began when I started on the classical violin in sixth grade.
Through my years as a violinist, I learned all I needed about music theory and instrumental performance. I was playing professional literature by the time I got out of middle school and went on to win a number of awards in violin performance.
I even had a career as a violin instructor for a short time. My skills in music eventually translated into writing my own materials and producing my own tracks.
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Not particularly. I was always the creative one in my small household. My dad was self-taught on a couple of instruments, but nothing nearly as serious as my journey became.
I was blessed to grow up in a school system that had ample resources for art and music education and allowed me to hone my skills at school as well as in my free time.
My family was always very supportive of my creative aspirations and never tried to steer me any other way.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
It was never a question that I was meant to do something creative. My ultimate goal ended up being music-based due to my natural affinity for the art and my genuine love of writing and producing songs.
One notable artist that really helped spark my ambition (and interest in the music industry specifically) was Melanie Martinez. Her unbounded creativity and devotion to her own unique image convinced me that I, too, could create something larger than myself that could bring others joy.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
While a lot of my skills are self-taught, I attribute most of my knowledge of music to my background in classical violin. I never would have been able to teach myself on the guitar and the piano if I had not started out with a strong understanding of such a complex instrument like the violin.
My classical education also provided me with a comprehensive knowledge of music theory, essential for writing and composing. Lyrically and vocally, I have always just relied on my natural abilities to carry me.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
The first concert I attended was the Backstreet Boys (on their DNA tour). They’re energy was… contagious! I had a lot of fun that night. Other than that, I’ve just been to a pretty impressive amount of classical/chamber orchestral concerts, many of them as a performer.
I was almost able to see Melanie Martinez live back in 2020 on her k-12 Tour, but the show was canceled due to COVID. I am still salty about that one to this day…
How could you describe your music?
I tend to bounce around a lot when it comes to sound and influences, but my basis is always my acoustic instrumentals and my subject matter is usually on the melancholy side of things.
I group my music under the ever-broadening genre of alternative music for simplicity’s sake.
Describe your creative process.
I think that my creative process is a little unconventional to most. I don’t always feel inspired to record and produce music, so I tend to go for long periods of time without doing much at all (besides working on the marketing side of the business).
I am, however, always coming up with new ideas. I fill up pages on the daily of lyrics, ideas, and song titles. I prefer to hand-write mostly. I’ll admit, I do end up misplacing quite a bit of material this way. When I do decide I’m in the mood to record and produce, I do it all at once.
I will record, mix, and finalize a track all in one day. Then, I sit on my finished (or mostly finished) projects until I feel it’s the right time to share them with the world.
What is your main inspiration?
My inspirations are mainly classical. Whether it be music, art, poetry, or whatever else, I prefer to look backwards. My instrumentals are suggestive of classical composers and sounds.
The artworks that I call my muses date back as far as the 1500s. Basically, I find inspiration in the artistic culture of times past.
What musician do you admire most and why?
I have a very strong respect for any artist that writes their own lyrics and melodies, and those who do their own instrumentals. I hate how the music industry has become so manufactured.
So many ‘artists’ these days aren’t artists at all; they’re just a pretty face to sell other people’s works. I’ve always admired artists like Fiona Apple who have a very hands-on approach with their music.
Has your style evolved since the beginning of your career?
Yes, definitely! I started producing music at a very young age, and naturally wasn’t great at it on my first try. I found my own voice by using my acoustic instrumentals and classical influences, but it took me time to develop my style.
I hope by now that I can translate a consistent, creative voice through my discography.
What are your interests outside of music?
Obviously, I love art. I both create and study art in my free time. I like to work on the business side of things, too, which translates well to my music career. I also find a lot of enjoyment in physical movement and exercise.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
The biggest issue for most indie artists, I’d think, is just trying to figure out where to start. Music is such a saturated industry, but it’s also an industry where saturation isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It can be so confusing. Sometimes just trying to figure it out is exhausting… but when you can accomplish anything in this business it feels so damn good!
What are your plans for the coming months?
I have a very unique release that I’m working on for the next month or two… more to come on this project soon! It’s going to be a fun one, for sure 🙂
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
I am chatting with some really cool indie artists that I’ve made personal connections with about possible collaborations. I hope to be able to share some cool projects with my audience soon!
What message would you like to give to your fans?
I would just like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has taken the time to listen to my music and explore my visuals. I know that my dream of making it in this industry is hardly unique – but if I stand out to you for whatever reason, that means a lot to me.
