Kiwi pop star up for eight awards

Kimbra Johnson could have a big night in Australia. Photo / Supplied

Rising Kiwi songbird Kimbra is preparing to celebrate after featuring in eight nominations at Australia's top music bash.

The Hamilton-born singer-songwriter's combination with Melbourne-based star Gotye on the hit single Somebody That I Used To Know is in the running for seven gongs at the Aria Awards in Sydney today. The song reached No1 on both sides of the Tasman this year and was a smash in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Kimbra, 21, is also nominated in the Best Female Artist category at the Arias for her hit single Cameo Lover.

"It is very exciting for someone as young as Kimbra to get this kind of recognition overseas," a spokeswoman for the singer's New Zealand record company Warner Music said.

"She is delighted at the news and it underlines what a promising talent she really is."

The Aria nominations follow Kimbra scooping the Critics' Choice prize at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards in Auckland this month.

The musician also had a song featured on the video game Sims 3: Pets and her recent debut album Vows shot to No3 in New Zealand in its first week of release.

"It sounds cheesy but I do think music has called me to it and I feel like I have a responsibility to go forth and pursue it," Kimbra, who now lives in Melbourne, said.