Inspired by Joni Mitchell and Bon Iver, Taiwanese-Australian songstress Kim Yang writes music on love, life, and mental health issues with evocative lyrics, driving melodies and soaring vocals. Her ethereal blend of sounds balances delicately between vulnerability and strength.
Since developing a passion for music at an early age, Kim has shared her voice everywhere from intimate bookshops to national television. In 2016, driven by a desire to share her stories with the world, Kim picked up her ukulele and guitar and started writing songs. She stepped out of her bedroom and into the streets, markets, and cafes of Canberra. Since then, she has collaborated with renowned local artists and played at major venues in Canberra, around Australia and overseas.
Kim has supported and shared the stage with ARIA awarded artists including Katie Noonan, Josh Pyke, Ben Lee, Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilby (The Church) and Fanny Lumsden. Kim has performed at the Australian of the Year Awards Ceremony, Sydney Folk Festival, National Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Australia Day Concert and sold out headline shows. In 2022 she was nominated as 2022 Artist of the Year by MusicACT, and toured Australia with 2022 Australian Folk Artist of the Year Fred Smith.
Kim has released two EPs and one live album with funding support from various government grant bodies. Her music has been aired on Australia’s double J, triple J radio stations, as well as community radio stations across Australia and Taiwan.
Kim is currently living in Beijing, China where she is expanding her skills as a songwriter, home producer and touring musician. She has been busy co-writing with various artists for her upcoming release in 2023.
“I used to be a shy person. I buried my feelings and refused to open up to others. But music and songwriting have helped me express myself. My mission is to encourage all people to be comfortable with themselves, and to be confident enough to embrace their passions and share their stories. Once you do you will find that your stories and experiences resonate with many others. After all, you are not alone” (Kim Yang)
Quotes
“Breathe taking; I felt like Kim had grabbed me by the hand and carried me through an amazing secret garden. There is a stillness in this much like walking through a forest, aware of how small we are in comparison to nature. It's humbling. Kim Yang is a force of nature, and she humbles me.”
“It's a little smoky, a little sweet – perhaps reminiscent of the great Tracy Chapman – and has a clarity that ensures you won't miss a word she sings”
“Kim Yang creates music for the soul. With her ethereal blend of sounds, she creates music that balances delicately between vulnerability and power. It feels simultaneously grounded and exploratory; it’s rooted in acoustic folk, but reaches far wider...”
“Kim’s clear tones hit you from the very first note she sings. Her voice reminds me of the timbre of Eva Cassidy mixed with the breathiness of Sarah McLachlan. In a word, beautiful.”
“Kim Yang is an outstanding singer/songwriter who bridges cultures with songs about her experiences in both Taiwan and Australia. Kim made her first appearance at the National Folk Festival in 2019 exciting and engaging audiences with her fresh and honest style. I’m sure this will be the first of many”
“Kim Yang is an artist with international quality, her music is just absolutely stunning.”
— ABC Radio Canberra
Projects
Muddy Wolfe band
2018 - 2020
Kim Yang was a member of Canberra Blues Rock band Muddy Wolfe.
Kim wrote and performed Life of a Working Man in the Muddy Wolfe Vol. 1 EP