'I don't know if I can reach that standard' - Kimbra deflects Prince comparisons

Kimbra says she's living a busy life but is trying to 'roll' with the demands of a touring lifestyle. Photo / Dean Purcell

Hit Kiwi singer Kimbra Johnson says comparisons to iconic rocker Prince are "flattering" - but she's not letting the compliments go to her head.

Kimbra, whose album Vows debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard US charts today, is riding a wave of success in America, where her single with Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know - has spent six weeks at No. 1.

Accolades have been heaped on the Hamilton artist - the biggest coming from Warner Brothers Records chairman Rob Cavallo, who said Kimbra "had the potential to be like Prince".

But, in an interview with nzherald.co.nz, Kimbra said she took claims like that with "a grain of salt".

"That's pretty big praise to be given. I would never want to put that kind of expectation on myself," she said while backstage after a New York concert.

"I find it very flattering, but (Prince) is like my idol - I don't know if I can reach that standard."

Life is extemely busy for Kimbra, who has notched up appearances at Coachella and on the Jimmy Kimmel show and is currently touring with Foster the People.

She has tours booked until December, including shows in Switzerland and Turkey.

"It's weird to have my life planned out till December, it's pretty intense (that) my life operates to a schedule now," she said.

"Life is seasonal and you have seasons where you have to spend your life on the road. I know the time will come where I will be back to a much more relaxed kind of existence. I'm just rolling with it."

Kimbra said she heard her song with Gotye everywhere she went in the US, including many remixes, but admitted she wasn't sick of it yet.

"Sometimes it's hard to muster the same energy for a song you've sung so many times. For me, I look out into the audience and when I see their reaction to that song it energises me.

Her "holy crap" highlight was having Tears For Fears member Curt Smith visit her tour van as "I'm a big fan".

But she admitted: "There have been countless moments that I've been grateful for in the last six months."

Watch the video for Kimbra's Warrior:

- Herald online