Fridae

In fact, last Spring when she was preparing to visit the East Coast of the US for what turned out to be a premier appearance at the Boston Opera House, a first for the area, she was waxing poetically about the fact that her next big push was going to be into Asia. After all, she had already scored a gig for Circuit Asia in the Philippines, which, by all accounts, was just as legendary (and as successful) as her Boston appearance.

"It was something that I had always wanted to do, and it was one of the best experiences of my life," says Kimberly.

"The crowd, the Asian men, are always so appreciative with whatever you have to give to them, and it just really makes you want to give them your very best. Even here in California, Asian men seem to be my biggest fans, and I couldn't ask for a better more loyal fan base. There's a true connection there."

And Kimberly says that's just one of the reasons she's heading to Taipei to play Fridae's Snowball on Dec 23.

Kimberly's love affair with Asia, and the stealth with which she has managed to penetrate Asia and subsequently swell her fan base, is no coincidence: a renaissance woman in every sense, Ms S is a devout follower of Eastern thought, something that translates into her music and daily life, and a martial arts expert and teacher. Throw accomplished surfer, budding guitar player and entrepreneur into the mix and what you have is a lady jock who can boast superlatives that fly right well above her contemporaries.

Did I mention that she is also receiving very positive accolades for her recent Centaur release, Global Grooves: Kimberly S?

For all the hard work and ever-changing schedule, one thing about Kimberly is consistent: her genuine mix of confidence and modesty. No shrinking violet, Kimberly is clearly taking to the decks with the best of them, and, as her hobbies suggest, taking to shark infested waters both figuratively and literally � she's made a splash in industries and hobbies that are dominated by men.

That said, she's also a survivor. Back surgery a little over a year ago stunted the regularity of her beloved sparring (she's a second degree Black Belt), but she's still a thrill seeker.

Nothing says that more than her performance schedule, something she recently discussed with Fridae in anticipation of her upcoming gig in Taipei.

æ: Before we get into your upcoming globetrotting, let's discuss Global Groove. Are you pleased with the outcome?

Kimberly: I'm really pleased. You know, a lot more goes into making one of these CDs than people think. You can't just pick a bunch of songs and put out the first mix. It takes a lot of time and a lot of tries to get it right. After I looked at the first list of songs, I knew that I had to change some out. You've got to have that good mix of great sound and something that is marketable. So, we got some great new stuff and a couple Billboard charters on there, and it's great.

æ: Who are your inspirations right now?

Kimberly: Of course I'm a huge fan of Ralphi Rosario. I really like the House stuff he's been doing lately� it's very edgy and much more sophisticated than some of the other stuff out there. Offer Nissim is another one. His mixes are very emotional.

æ: Any particular tracks that have your ear these days?

Kimberly: You know, when you listen to dance music all week, and I'm talking about 200 new songs a week, your favorite can sometimes be replaced in three days! I guess there's always that one song that stays with you forever, but when I get home, it's really not dance music that I'm listening to.

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æ: What's in your CD player these days?

Kimberly: (Laughs) So opposite of what you'd think. I'm really into acoustic stuff � Jack Johnson, Ben Harper. That's what inspired me to start taking guitar lessons. And, I of course love the classics, Fleetwood Mac� I worked in music retail for 13 years, so I have a really vast appreciation for all styles.

æ: Taiwan! The last time we spoke, you told me that your raison d'etre was to spend more time spinning in Asia and, in just a few months, the dream has come true.

Kimberly: I'm just so excited! I'm excited to see the city and play for the boys over there.

æ: A two fer!

Kimberly: You bet. I'm just so thrilled, because, after Circuit Asia, I have tons of support over there.

æ: Do you find that the Asian audiences respond to you differently than your US audiences?

Kimberly: The crowd, the Asian men, are always so appreciative with whatever you have to give to them, and it just really makes you want to give them your very best. Even here in California, Asian men seem to be my biggest fans, and I couldn't ask for a better more loyal fan base. There's a true connection there.

æ: So, what will you be doing when you're not spinning?

Kimberly S: Shopping! Jason Tang, who I think is my number one fan and who helped out with getting me the Fridae gig, might be coming along and showing me around. And, I'm hoping my partner, Leslie, will be able to go.

æ: What will you be playing for the guys in Taipei?

Kimberly: well, for Manila, I played my usual set: upbeat, very positive� never really dark, but some tribal and progressive house. As far as Taipei is concerned, I've talked with some people and I've been told that the crowd is a little more progressive as far as sound goes. I'll probably go a little harder but throw in some more vocals to balance it out. You've got to have peaks and valleys � if you do one thing all night, you lose people. It's the same everywhere. When I go to New York or Miami, I have to do more tribal. When I'm in San Francisco, I have to do more techno. It all works out.

æ: And everything seems to be working out in your personal life as well. Things are good with Leslie and you've started strumming.

Kimberly: Everything is great. I'm still training in martial arts and teaching periodically. I spend as much time as possible at home. I manage myself, so that chews up a lot of time, but I have my family and my pets and everything is just great right now.

Snowball'5 will be held on Dec 23 at MOS Taipei, followed by the Follow Me Christmas party at AXD on 24 Dec, and G5 at Luxy in the wee hours of 25 Dec. Due to venue constraints, an extremely limited number of weekend passes are available online. Thereafter, tickets will only be sold separately.