Melbourne-based artist Kim Yang is entering a pivotal phase of her career, moving from emerging songwriter to fully realised album artist with an increasingly global outlook. Celebrating a new single ‘ Forever This Way’, Kim Yang pondered Six Quiz for us. Watch it here.
As you’ll hear in the Six Quiz video, right now Kim is building momentum around her debut album Turn On The Lights, which arrives in May. The project reflects a deeply personal creative evolution, drawing on her experiences as an immigrant, a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, and someone who has navigated self-doubt and mental health challenges. Across the record, she blends English and Mandarin songwriting and incorporates international collaborations, signalling a more expansive and outward-facing artistic identity.
Musically, her approach is grounded in intimacy and honesty. Influenced heavily by Bon Iver’s raw, unpolished aesthetic, she embraces imperfection and emotional authenticity over technical precision. That ethos carries through her songwriting and production style, which leans toward organic, folk-tinged sounds with room for subtle orchestral elements.
Her latest single, Forever This Way, is both a personal and professional milestone-written for her husband and marking a more openly vulnerable side of her artistry. The track has already received a visual rollout, premiering through the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia as part of a curated music video program, giving her exposure beyond traditional music channels. The video itself reflects her minimalist creative instincts, focusing on mood, presence, and human connection rather than narrative. The video was filmed beautifully at Melbourne/Naarm’s Bakehouse Studios
Practically, Yang is also shaping a career built around mobility and independence. She travels extensively with a compact, foldable guitar, allowing her to write and perform anywhere, reinforcing her identity as a globally emerging, self-contained artist. This portability feeds directly into her songwriting process and international collaborations.
Live performance is becoming a bigger part of her artistic vision too. She’s not just touring the album, but actively expanding her sound on stage-expressing a desire to work with string quartets and orchestras to create a richer, more communal live experience. That ambition will be realised in her album launch show at The Street Theatre in Canberra, where she’ll perform with a full band, string section, and vocal ensemble.
In the short term, she’s rolling out additional singles like “Bottom Line” ahead of the album, alongside key appearances such as CresFest. Beyond Australia, she’s preparing to take the next step internationally, heading to Europe in mid-2026 for festivals and new opportunities.
Kim Yang is transitioning from introspective, homegrown songwriter to a more confident, globally minded artist, one who is embracing her story, scaling up her live performances, and positioning her debut album as both a personal statement and a launchpad for wider recognition.
Catch the first live glimpses of Kim’s debut album Turn On The Lights at her upcoming shows this Autumn.
Upcoming Shows:
Saturday 11 April – Sunday 12 April
CresFest, Creswick, Victoria
Tickets
Turn On The Lights (開燈) Album Launch
Saturday 16 May
The Street Theatre, Canberra
Early Bird Tickets; limited time and capacity
Tickets