My journey into rock photography began when a friend of mine, who was working as a sound engineer at the American Legion in Hollywood, Post 43, invited me to join him one day. As I hung out, I started taking pictures of the bands performing there. That moment marked the beginning of my love of photography. I soon realized that aside from playing music, capturing musicians and intriguing subjects through my camera lens was another passion of mine.
Written and photography by Louie Figueroa
I started frequenting the Legion, and one evening, I saw an incredible singer performing with a band called the Lonesome Soul Quartet. I felt compelled to approach her after the set. Her name was Kimbra Westervelt, and that evening sparked a lasting friendship. Over the years, I’ve watched her perform countless times and collaborated on numerous photo shoots across Los Angeles. Our working relationship is mutually rewarding—she often praises my work, saying I take the best pictures of her.
Kimbra is a lot of fun to work with, as her background in music and acting gives her an innate understanding of what works in front of the camera. She has a keen awareness of lighting and composition, which are crucial elements for capturing remarkable shots. When I started taking pictures for S.L.R. magazine, Kimbra was the first musician I knew I wanted to showcase.
Kimbra and I met recently at a coffee shop in beautiful downtown Burbank. This is our interview:
LF:
Where are you from originally?
KW:
I was born in Los Angeles, and I’m a second generation Californian.
LF:
When did you discover music and who were your earliest influences?
My earliest memories of singing go back to when I was around seven years old. I would sing along with the radio and think, “Hey, I sound pretty good!” Thankfully, I was singing in tune (laughs). My grandmother was a professional opera singer, so my father often said I inherited my vocal ability from her.
Growing up in the suburbs, rock music was always around. My friend’s older sister, who occasionally babysat us, played a lot of Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. That was my first introduction to rock. My dad, who had eclectic musical tastes, would bring home albums by female artists and say, “You’ve got to check this out!” He was the one who introduced me to Bonnie Raitt, whose early work was so diverse.
I was also a huge fan of Linda Ronstadt and her powerful voice. And of course, the Wilson sisters—I thought Ann Wilson was the ultimate female rock singer, and her voice remains incredible to this day. Later, as I studied music, my appreciation expanded to include everything from classical to jazz.
LF:
Besides singing, do you play any instruments?
KW:
I play guitar, mainly rhythm, and a little keyboards. I like to play the mandolin when I can.
LF:
You and I have talked about your days performing with the USO. How did you get involved with that?
A friend of mine was in a group that performed with the USO, and they were rehearsing in L.A. I joined one of their sessions and sang for them, and they invited me to join the group. It was an amazing experience—we were a diverse mix of performers united by our love of performing and entertaining.
Through the USO, we got to perform for American troops stationed abroad, traveling everywhere from the Middle East to Africa. We were so young, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world while doing what we loved. I’m still close to the performers I toured with, and I’ve stayed connected with Bob Airhart, half of the comedy duo Ace N Airhart who opened for us on a couple of tours. We’re talking about working on a project that he’s involved in.
LF:
Out of all the shows you have performed in, are there any memorable ones that stick out in your mind? KW:
Africa was magical. The USO tour there was an unforgettable experience. I want to go back!
After returning to the States, I got the chance to work on some great session gigs. I performed in a show singing backup vocals for Paul Rogers during his Muddy Waters Blues tour, with Slash playing guitar for much of the tour. Working with such talented rock musicians was incredible.
As a solo performer, I’ve toured Italy several times, even being part of an “Italian Celebrity Tour.” Although I wasn’t an Italian celebrity (laughs), and the only American, I was honored to be voted the “best singer” of a few of the shows during the tour. Singing in stunning venues, including a castle, was an experience I’ll never forget.
LF:
I know you also act in films and stage productions. Did you always want to act? KW:
I took drama classes in high school, and my teacher encouraged me a lot. However, I didn’t think much of it at the time. Around the same time my father enrolled me in a two-year program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute they had for teenagers. He had friends who taught there and believed not only that I would enjoy it, but also that it could be valuable if I truly wanted to pursue acting. The program was intense, but it provided me with invaluable lessons.
After completing the two-year program, I continued my training with Susan Peretz for about a year. At around 19, I began acting professionally, taking on bit parts in movies and performing in plays. One of my earliest stage experiences was the musical South Pacific, which also marked my first equity production. I absolutely loved the experience. While some in the rock community view musical theatre as corny, I found the technical challenges compelling—and let’s not forget the joy of acting in the theatre that comes with it!
Music has always been a constant thread in my life. I’ve had some vocal performances in some successful movies and t.v. shows. Recently, I participated in an equity-staged workshop of an original rock musical, which was an incredible experience. I had the chance to collaborate with talented musicians like Paul ILL, who has worked with renowned artists such as Pink and Alicia
Keys. Working with such inspiring individuals was not only rewarding but also deeply motivating.
LF:
I know that you studied music. Where did you go to school?
KW:
I did go to college and graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in music. I picked CSUF because it was close to home and their music program was pretty good. It was important for me to stay in Southern California at the time but I couldn’t study anywhere where I couldn’t also perform music. It would have been too stifling, but I also wanted to learn about literature so I picked a major that I thought would help me with my writing.
LF:
So when did you know you wanted to be a singer/songwriter? KW:
I started playing the guitar when I was about 10 years old. By the age of 16, I began exploring the world of music performance. I auditioned for a band that was searching for a singer—and I got the gig. That’s when I started writing songs, and for the next two years, I was highly productive.
Before this, my father often encouraged me to listen to various singers, but I didn’t take his suggestions seriously until I was about 16. After graduating high school early and before starting college, I decided to focus on working with the band. I would travel to L.A., stay with the guitarist’s family, and start collaborating on songs. The guitarist, who had founded the band, was incredibly supportive, and it was during this time that I wrote my first original songs. Looking back, I was so young, but it was an incredibly prolific period in my life.
Then the recent pandemic hit, and it gave me a lot of time for introspection. Being at home, I decided to return to songwriting. I teamed up with a nearby friend, and we began creating music again. I realized just how much I had missed writing and performing my own original work. It also reminded me that music has always been my “first love.” Now, I’m back to creating and performing with renewed passion and a full-force dedication.
LF:
Do you like touring?
KW:
I do when the situation is right and the accommodations are good, it can be very rewarding, nothing like performing live-it can be the most fun. Right after the pandemic ended, I did a couple of tours in the Nashville area with an Americana artist named Crosby Tyler. I had sung back ups for him on one of his albums when he came to L.A. to record and he asked if I wanted to come to Northeastern Tennessee and do a small tour before heading into Nashville. I have been there twice now and really loved it. When in California, I perform around L.A. a lot, mostly private parties and clubs. Besides music and acting, I also do voice-over work which is fun and can be very challenging but it’s another form of artistic expression. Occasionally I get to do character voices which I enjoy a lot. All of it keeps me very busy. My latest project is my podcast. The pandemic was a very productive time for me because I started doing a podcast with my friend Kellie. She asked me to do one with her, which eventually led me to doing my own, Candid with Kimbra. I have a lot of music people on but I talk with all different kinds of people. We have interesting conversations about everything from moviemaking to legal matters, which doesn’t sound that fun, but we make it fun and I learn new things too.
LF
What are your future music plans?
KW:
I plan on doing more original music and would like to place some songs in movies when the opportunity arises. I have interpreted songs that have been placed in some high profile movies but now I want to get my own songs in something. As you know, I have used your pictures on the cover of my singles so I want to take this moment to say thank you for the great shots. I am very happy to see that you are sticking with it and following your passion.
Contact info:
IG:
Leave a Reply