Kem
Fans want to know!!
What would your music smell like if you described it in fragrant notes? Christi- Seattle
I used to have a candle, I can't find it anymore. They've stopped making it, it was called “Blackberry Basil,” that's what it would be.
Being that you are a touring artist, does Mack &Third ever partner with any other non profit organizations in other cities with similar missions? Noika- Seattle
Mack & Third does support other organizations nationally. We've supported Jack & Jill, Brotherhood in L.A., and the YMCA in New Orleans. We give across the board not just Detroit we support missions that are doing work in Kenya and Haiti also. Wherever there is a need and wherever we can serve, that's what we're about.
What was it like to transition from your label Kemistry as a self-publishing artist to your big deal with Motown, legally was there anything you learned or would have changed or advice you now have to artists approaching similar situations? Aisha – Detroit
The transition was relatively quick. I released Kemistry on my own label, then eight months later I was on Motown. It was kind of a whirlwind in business terms. No more of money coming straight to me, it was like now I had a middle man. However, I still retained creative control. If you are a successful indie artist it really gives you a lot of leverage when you go to sign to a major label. Because you were independent you already have a sense of what the business is, and you're coming in having been successful and having sold records so most likely you'll keep your creative control and most likely you are in a better bargaining position. I sold 17K units of Kemistry before we signed, at $10 per, that's $170K. Gross profit if you can make 100K a year selling a record that's pretty good. So you're now in the position, especially in this climate,to ask the label, “Why do I need you?” It really puts you in a better position if you can do that. It's a different time now than when I was selling records but I would definitely advise people to learn the business and understand it. Don't be an artist out here that doesn't pay attention to the business side. You don't have to know everything but you do need to have an awareness of things and hire people who do know everything, to know what you don't know.
How can R&B return to loving lyrics-what do you think is missing for today's younger/newer stars that has them emphasizing sex over intimacy? Thembisa-Brooklyn
I think that's going to take care of it's self. The nature of R&B is changing what we're listening to. I'm in the Top 10, but Sam Smith is also in the Top 10 also John Legend with songs like “Stay With Me” and “All of Me” With artist like Adele and artists that are making these songs with acoustic instruments it's returning to songs that really mean something. If you're not talking about anything then ultimately you're not going to win. It's unsustainable, people are not gonna be singing “skeet skeet skeet” twenty years from now. So it's going to take care of it's self. Also, we are in the day & age of internet and you can get music from anywhere in the world, so what you're creating is in competition with everything else in the world at the same time. What you're creating has to be good, if that's all you're bringing to the table you're not gonna win.
What inspires you to make such soulful music? Tre- Detroit
I write the songs that I would like to listen to myself. I just really want to make great music. That's all I've ever wanted to do all of my life. I'm a romantic at heart I believe in love I think that ultimately everybody else does too. That's what we are all looking for, that's what we're here for. That's what means the most to us love. Even our quest for material things... it's really a thirst for love. It's a privilege to have a job that allows me to express that.
Describe the feeling you get when you perform at home? Are you more relaxed like you're singing in front of family, grandma and cousins? Pleshette- Detroit
No I'm not more relaxed, actually performing at home is nerve-racking because I know all of these people. When I go to all of the other cities if the show is not good I don't see them any more, in Detroit I live with these people. You want to make sure the show is fresh and you don't want to wear out your welcome at home. I love performing in Detroit, but because it's Detroit I feel like there is a higher expectation so we have to be in the mindset to bring it when we come home.
My Questions:
KP: Walk us through you evolution in music... From the inside looking out, What has it been like for you?
K: Starting out on my own label those were some fantastic days. I didn't have this big vision to have a record label, I just wanted to put my CD out, as a result I ended up setting up distribution for myself, putting CDs in stores on consignment, learning how to purchase my own bar code, trademarks and copyrights. All of this infrastructure had to be set up for which I had no training for, it was like on the job training by default because I wanted to put my music out. I was going to the P.O. Box getting checks for tens of thousands of dollars from people and I was waiting tables. It was really an amazing time. I think it really laid the foundation for the success that I've been able to have almost 15 years later since my debut album. We're still out here doing this thing so I have lot of gratitude for the journey and a lot of respect for the grind. It's been a terrific ride.
KP: Your single “Nobody” from Promise to Love recently reached #1 on the Urban AC Radio chart. It’s the second #1 single from the album, When you release a project do you envision every song hitting number one?
K: Actually, this is the 1st time that I've had 2 songs off of the same album at #1. I always expect them to be in the top 10. I always expect one to go to #1, but for all of the singles to a least reach top 10. This is the first time that two songs have reached #1, so it's a big deal.
KP: Promise To Love is consistent to what your fans have come to expect from you, but tell me how did that Snoop Dogg collaboration come about?
K: On the song “Downtown” I was going to actually rap myself, I did a song with Ron Isley called “My Favorite Thing” and I'm rapping on that. I don't consider myself a rapper but if it's my song, I'm writing it, and I feel like I can pull it off I'll do it. I was going to do that and then somebody sent me a Youtube clip of Snoop Dogg and 2 Chainz singing one of my songs. They were singing “I Can't Stop Loving You” and come to find out Snoop digs what I do. I was flattered that these guys who live in the hip-hop and rap world really dig what what I do. I decided that if I could get a real rapper my preference would be Snoop, so I reached out to him and he graciously made his debut on a KEM record.
KP: On this album you made sure to introduce your audience to the awesomely talented L'Renee, who I also had the pleasure of featuring in the past, it was very gracious to give her a solo song on your album. Please tell us more about her!
K: L'Renee is the first artist who is signed to my label Kemistry Records she is a Detroiter, she is extremely bad (as in good) and I believe in her talent. She's got a big voice, she is a singer's singer, she puts you in the mind of the legends that I adore Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle etc. I really wanted to let the world know that I believe in her and that she's coming out. My belief in her talent is so strong that I gave her a spot by herself on one of my albums. I'm really happy about that and I'm looking forward to you guys hearing more from L'Renee.
KP: Your current tour with Charlie Wilson and Joe has been getting rave reviews, it's being coined in some cities as “The R&B event of 2015.” What's it like sharing a bill with those two?
K: Its incredible, Joe is a R&B balladeer staple, with a lot of hits and he's a great singer. I consider both of them to be my partners in R&B crime. We all have songs in top 10, this tour is a testament to R&B and the fact that people love R&B. There is a dialogue going on about the state of R&B. We have to figure out how to connect with our fans or customers on a retail basis we gotta figure that piece out. As far as live performances they come to the shows, there is no lack of love. We're playing arenas and we're packing people in all over the country. It's a real honor, Charlie Wilson is one if my musical mentors, we've done a lot of shows together over the years. We had talked about touring on this scale before. Now we're talking about recording together. I love him, I admire him... Charlie is our Uncle. He's in his 60's working harder than Chris Brown as far as singing and dancing on stage. I want some of that to rub off on me. Overall, It's been tremendously successful and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to perform with them both.
KP: Besides your music, What's on your playlist right now?
K: (He struggled to narrow it down) Jill Scott, Sting, Isley Brothers, Janelle Monae, everything else is throwback like Micheal Jackson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Cameo and those types of things.
KP: Just in the past year you've been nominated for NAACP Image Award and a Grammy and in the past nominated for BET and Soul Train awards, are there any other achievements that you are striving for?
K: Yes, I want to win one! I want to win all of them. I want to have my songs in films and win an Oscar, I want an Emmy all of that. I'm also working on doing more acting for sure.
KP: Everyone knows your Non-profit Mack & Third is near to your heart, how did the organization come to be? Why is it so important to you?
K: We started Mack & Third in 2009 it was initially the idea of my manager Toya Hankins as a vehicle to raise awareness and give back to our community. It eventually turned into something that we didn't expect. We've had 3 or 4 events and each event gets bigger and we're able to touch a lot of people it's important for me to to give back and Mack & Third is an great vehicle to be able to do that.
KP: Any advice for upcoming Detroit artist?
K: Make sure that this is what your supposed to be doing. Don't waste your life you life chasing something that is not meant for you. Learn the business and practice your craft, and perform wherever you can, whenever you can, and in front of whoever you can. Develop the skills to be in the business, but first and foremost be sure that it's what you're supposed to be doing. You can't get up on stage just because your mama thinks you sing good in the living room. You really have to make sure that this is what you're supposed to be doing. Don't waste your life doing something that you are not meant to do.
KP: Do you find it hard to be a part of a label that is in control of your music while running your own label where you are in control of someone else's music?
K: I'm surrounded by a lot of good people, my label is great. I have creative control over everything so that's not an issue for me. The day to day the business and behind the scenes stuff is handled by other people. I'm mostly involved with the creative side and I oversee what's happening and I'm involved with what's happening but it's important to have a good team of people around you and I definitely have that.
KP: The question we all want to know... Whats' next for KEM?
K: I'm working on a book, and after the tour I'll spend some time writing again. I'll start cultivating songs for other artists and other projects. We'll be working on getting L'Renee's project done and continuing to put great content out into the universe. That's really what I'm sent here to do, to carry this message of love and music wherever I can, so anything helps me facilitate that, that's what I'm going to be about.
KP: I leave the floor open to you, what word would you like to leave your fans with?
K: I want people to reach out to me at www.muiscbykem.com and on all of the social media platforms and let me know what you're thinking, I want to hear from you. I'm actually online listening to you and conversing with you. I want to hear from, you reach out don't hesitate.