Kimmortal is a hip-hop rap artist who is also a singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Vancouver, Kimmortal is proud of their Filipino heritage. They defined themself as a “queer non-binary multi-hyphenate artist” who wishes to create “immersive environments that make queer and diasporic folks feel a sense of belonging and empowerment”. I got a chance to watch Kimmortal live in concert, and I should tell you, it was a bangin’ performance with a lot of spirit and power.
Kimmortal is no stranger to activism and breaking the boundaries. Their songwriting style is honest and unapologetically bold. A lot of their songs touch on the topic of race, gender, identity, personal growth, and criticism of society. And Kimmortal combines their witty lyrics with pumping beats and fast raps. As a result, we can hear their anger and frustration wrapped in a blanket of hope in every single word.
In the past ten years, Kimmortal has released three albums. Their second album, “X marks the Swirl”, was a long-listed nominee for the Polaris in 2019 as well as Breakout West Music Awards 2020 in “Hip Hop and Rap”. On top of that, Kimmortal has opened for big names, including Thundercat, Shad K, Ruby Ibarra, Saba, and Saul Williams. And if you think that’s impressive, here’s one more of their achievements. One of their songs called “This Dyke” was featured in the hit series The L Word: Generation Q. Kimmortal shows no signs of stopping. They just finished their US tour this summer, and not long after that, they dropped their latest album, “Shoebox”.
The latest thing that Kimmortal just released is their music video, “Blue and Orange”. What’s interesting about this music video is the fact that it tells the story about a Filipina lesbian couple. The two main characters in the story, Darla and Cecilia, were based on a real couple that had to struggle with anti-LGBTQ society back in the 80s. The old policy forced them to be apart for years before they can finally be together again. In this song, Kimmortal switched their fast rapping and head-banging beats with tender singing wrapped in a sweet ballad. The title “Blue and Orange” represents the two colors of the sky that melt together on the most beautiful time of the day. If you are interested in watching “Blue and Orange” by Kimmortal, you can check out the video below.