In 2017, Australian Cabaret Artist Kim David Smith celebrated New Year's Eve with two concerts.

In 2018, Kim returns to the stage, but this time he is celebrating Gay Pride, Summer, and the Pop Goddess herself, Kylie Minogue!

In this NEW interview, Kim once again answers my call, but this time around he shares:

• How he fell for Kylie Minogue
• What he has learned from her artistry
• The Kylie Minogue song he would love to sing a duet on with her
• What is something he can't get outta his head
• So much more

Connect with Kim: Website, Facebook, Instagram

"Come on baby, do The Locomotion" with Kim David Smith on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 9:30pm, as he sings the music of Kylie Minogue.

From "Locomotion," all the way through Kylie's latest release Golden, Kim sings it all.

1. This June you are returning to Joe's Pub with a brand new show that salutes the music of pop goddess Kylie Minogue. Anyone who knows you, knows how much you love her. But for those who don't know, when did you first fall for Kylie? A very close family friend gifted me my first Kylie record (on vinyl!) when I was six, and given I was indoctrinated at such a young age, it feels as though Kylie is a member of the family.

My littlest sister, Jacqueline, is a huge fan also, and with consistent pressure, we have mum fairly secured in our Kylie clutches as a regular listener. We’re still working on our sister Suzie, though. She’s proved somewhat resistant. We’re like Mormons about Kylie.

2. How do you feel Kylie influenced your own musical stylings? Mostly Kylie's influence on my work is in how I think my face looks onstage. I think about how gorgeous she is under stage lights, and I’m like “that!” That’s how I want to feel onstage; all cheekbones and porcelain gorgeousness, drenched in pink and purple gels.

3. What is something you learned from Kylie that you take with you in your everyday life? I think primarily my work ethic (the woman is constantly, exhaustingly busy), and also the way I go about my work — Kylie’s reputation is for being extremely kind and friendly on the set of music videos and with her tour teams, and so I’ve made it something of a loose mantra for me when collaborating; Do as Kylie Does (and I purposefully try to avoid being a Mariah or a Madonna. I feel like they operate mostly from a centre of ego and “me-ness,” which is usually what people do when they’re stressed or feeling insecure).

Kim David Smith performing at Joe's Pub

4. What do you feel is the biggest challenge to learning Kylie's music? The biggest challenge in learning up all this Kylie music is to not imitate her “oooo” vowel, which is distinctly Kylie in it’s sound. The other main challenge is in learning it all accurately; I’ve spent decades singing along to what I think is on the page, and now that I have the music and charts in front of me, I’m finding strange, unexpected intervals, and that I’ve fudged a lot of runs and the like while singing along for fun.

5. What was the first song you knew you just had to include in this show? Definitely “I Should Be So Lucky” which I’ve included in my neo-Weimar cabaret shows for years. I’ve been singing it in German paired with two of my all time favorite Friedrich Hollaender tunes, and the song holds a very special place in my heart (in either language).

6. If you could duet with Kylie on any song of hers, which one would you choose? Of hers I’d probably choose “I Believe In You,” or “In My Arms,” either of which I think would make really fun duets, though I’ve really always wanted to sing weird old German cabaret tunes with her! That would be such hilarious fun.

Kim David Smith (Photo Credit: Chantar Photography)
Kylie Minogue Kiss Me Once album cover

7. Of course my first introduction to Kylie was her hit song, "Locomotion." If you were to create a new dance, what would you call it? I’d call my original song-and-dance combo: “Yo, Yo, Yo What Time Is It? Time To Sit Quietly And Read Your Book On The Train,” and there would be no dancing.

8. Another one of my favorite Kylie songs is "Can't Get You Outta My Head." What is something you just can't get outta your head (whether it be Kylie related or not)? I’m usually always thinking about what I’m going to prepare for dinner, and what a lucky (lucky, lucky) man I am to live the life I do. These thoughts are set against a fairly constant musical backdrop of “Spinning Around,” “In Your Eyes,” and “Like a Drug,” which are easily my personal biggest Kylie ear-worms (and which I’m nearly always humming).

9. On Kylie's new album, she has a song "A Lifetime to Repair." What is something that has taken you a lifetime to repair? That song is amazing! It’s my current favorite from Golden. I’ve been having a great time listening to and getting to know this new album, and am especially head over heels for “Lifetime.”

I guess the events I’ve repaired myself from include the usual childhood bullying most of us gay boys go through (though that’s not what the song is about), and past relationships. I mostly think about these experiences as occasions of galvanizing and perspective-building, though there’s been a lot of hurt to process, too.

10. Another song off her new album is "Sincerely Yours." If you were to write a letter to Kylie, what would you say to her? My letter to Kylie would consist of a couple of binders-worth of detailed instructions and diagrams for music videos I’ve made up in my mind over the years. I’d also include a gold-leafed invitation to my Kylie show on June 25th, and have a birthday card stuffed in there for good measure. Happy 50th birthday, Kylie!

More Kim David Smith Interviews:

2025 (Read Here): Channeling Marlene Dietrich with Mostly Marlene LIVE at Joe's Pub
2019 (Read Here): Morphium Kabarett Live at Joe's Pub
2017 (Watch Here): No Thrill From Champagne at Pangea NYC

Kim David Smith, Photo Credit: Kevin McDermott

More on Kim David Smith:

Kim David Smith is described by Broadway World as the "David Bowie of cabaret," "slyly subversive" by the Wall Street Journal, and labeled the "male Marlene Dietrich" by the New York Times, Australian Kim David Smith is a Helpmann Award nominated singer and cabaret performer, known for his Weimar-era inspired works that juxtapose authentic musical material with stylistic takes on current popular tunes. His electro-pop albums Nova, Supernova, and cabaret EP, The Tease, are available on iTunes and Amazon.