I’ve always been envious of people who have always known what they want to do with their lives. I only really figured out what my dreams were in my 20s, so I’ve always felt a step behind my peers who were working on their crafts since they were kids. Kimberleigh Venty is a 22 year old musician who is ahead of her peers and I suspect it might have something to do with the fact that she’s been signing for most of her life already.
Kimberleigh joined the Tygerberg Children’s Choir at the age of 10 and has pursued a career in music ever since. After school, Kimberleigh studied jazz at UCT and now she has condensed everything she’s learned over the last 12 years into a beautiful EP called ‘Practice Room’ that showcases her vocal range and diverse songwriting skills.
The EP opens with a ballad about selfcare called “Space and Silence” which sets you up for the general tempo of the release but it’s probably the most traditional song on the EP. From there, things get poetic and more experimental. Most notable for me is track 5 on the EP, “Chamber of Secrets”. It reminds me of Lark who were a phenomenal South African band but at 22 years old, I’m not sure Kimberleigh is familiar with Inge Beckman and her band. Personally, I’d like to see Kimberleigh taking this moodier route more than the traditional but I might be in the minority.
‘Practice Room’ offers a diverse mix of sounds across the 7 songs, which is wonderful for showcasing Kimberleigh’s talents, although I’m not entirely sure if she’s figured out exactly where she wants to go with her sound. She’s young though, so she’s got time. She’s certainly got the chops and I’m looking forward to watching her continue to grow.
Listen to ‘Panic Room’ here.
