When it comes to making music, every musician has their own journey. And Kimberly June has been on that road—with plenty of twists and turns along the way—for as long as she can remember.
She began singing solos in her church choir at a young age, unknowingly kicking off her lifelong passion for music. After years of participating in talent shows and summer programs, when the time came, Kimberly recalls, “I was the first person in a massive family, for generations to follow an artistic career, and I truly know I had no choice. I tried to pass music off as a hobby until I called my parents crying just after starting college, apologetically breaking the news that I had to do music … there was no other choice.” In particular, she has fond memories of playing in a jam band in Naples, Maine, where her family is originally from. Without much experience, they were initially skeptical, but she recalls how they ended up teaching her jazz and blues standards and pushing her out of her comfort zone.
After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston for a period, Kimberly transferred to Belmont University, where she fell in love with the Nashville music scene. At just 22, she quickly signed a publishing deal there and married another songwriter and producer. With the mentorship and collaboration of veterans of the industry, she easily gained her footing in Tennessee.
However, Kimberly’s journey in art was not meant to conform to the 9-to-5 routine of Nashville. So, at 25, burned out and disconnected from her passion, she went to Hawaii, leaving the industry, her marriage, and her past in Nashville. There, she found healing and recovery, now being able to release music on her own terms. And although she works with producers and recording studios in LA and Nashville, she can now manage her music from anywhere. She has brought that spirit with her since she arrived in Bend toward the end of last year, noting, “I decided to spend this winter in Bend, and just yesterday I was in my room here doing two different recording sessions with producers in Nashville via Zoom and Sessionwire. I’m a full-on indie artist doing it my way.” And Kimberly’s way is highly personal, as she puts it, “I have found that my mind works very differently than most people.” What once felt like a curse—having songs pop up in her head all the time—has become a blessing. And as the music comes to her in chunks, with lyrics, melody, and instrumentals all together, she allows her songs to develop at a natural pace, regardless of whether that takes days, weeks or months.
Distilled into a few words, Kimberly describes her style of music as “Indie folk-pop and soft-rock.” However, she does not let that confine her creativity, having grown up loving genres like 90s grunge, R&B, jazz, and Latin music, to name a few. When describing her musical inspirations, Kimberly says, “I find myself pulling from all different genres when I create, not on purpose but because it’s just ingrained in my brain at this point.” And it’s through this mixture of influences that she can show her message. A self-described “health and wellness” enthusiast, yogi, and mental health advocate, Kimberly spent the last month designing new journals with her 27 favorite writing and introspection techniques, and is excited to begin selling products that feel authentic to her mission. In her music, she says this focus also appears: “I write my songs based on my own life experiences… some about relationships, but more recently, I write about how incredible and mysterious life is, mental health, spirituality, and the essence of love, in both romantic and non-romantic senses.”
At Silver Moon on March 12, Kimberly will perform her most popular tracks alongside her new, unreleased musical explorations. She has a few favorites of her own, including “Someone Who Gets Me,” which got featured in the Netflix show, “Love Is Blind.” “I was jumping up and down screaming when I saw it… what a thrilling feeling,” recalls Kimberly. While her music has also been featured in other major TV series like “The Rookie” and ABC’s “Nashville,” she also highlights collaborating with other well-known artists such as G. Love, Donavon Frankenreiter, and, more recently, touring with Nahko and Medicine for the People. She has enjoyed being able to organically grow her fan base around the U.S., and for those wondering what to expect, Kimberly says, “I feel deeply, and in turn, so do the listeners… there’s also some sass, humor, and sarcasm… and maybe a few passive jabs at an ex-boyfriend.”
Kimberly June At Silver Moon
Thur, Mar. 12, 7-10pm
Silver Moon Brewing
24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend
bendticket.com/events/kimberly-june-3-12-2026
$12.24
Related
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
