{"id":176429722,"date":"2013-12-23T02:05:46","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T08:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/?p=176429722"},"modified":"2013-12-23T02:05:46","modified_gmt":"2013-12-23T08:05:46","slug":"interview-video-audio-kem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/2013\/12\/23\/interview-video-audio-kem\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW + VIDEO + AUDIO: Kem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<h1 id=\"title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: xx-large;\">KEM: <\/span><\/h1>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: xx-large;\">The Perfect \u201cKemistry\u201d for Music<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"content\" role=\"main\">\n<div id=\"post-14551\">\n<div id=\"details\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"about-hdr\" src=\"http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/about-hdr.jpg\" width=\"752\" height=\"347\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>Kem Owens<\/b>\u00a0has a timeless appeal, which draws his fans into each lyric he sings. This Detroit native has graced the charts with music, which keeps us tuned in for his next creative project. This singer, songwriter, and producer, has a style that he solely owns, and is respected for doing. His first album,\u00a0<i>Kemistry<\/i>, was independently released in 2001, and he was later signed to\u00a0<b>Motown<\/b>. That album was then re-released in 2003. He continues to tour, and gives his audience the memorable performances they have come to expect.\u00a0<b>KEM<\/b>\u00a0has taken the time to sit down with\u00a0<b>iRock Jazz<\/b>\u00a0writer,\u00a0Shonna Hillard,\u00a0to share his personal and professional story.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"922\" height=\"692\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9Pl_Y5A-ieI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0iRJ: With so many musical influences in Detroit, how did you find your voice?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM:<\/b>\u00a0My love for the instrument is really the driving force of what I do today. I have never been formally trained. My training has come through listening to a lot of great music, and having people show me things along the way. The\u00a0<b>Motown<\/b>\u00a0sound is obviously a part of Detroit\u2019s history. I had the opportunity to work with musicians [who] are from that era. I\u2019ve learned from them.\u00a0<b>Paul Riser<\/b>\u00a0has done string arrangements for me (on my last release), which is my Christmas album.\u00a0<b>Paul Riser<\/b>\u00a0did\u00a0<b>Marvin Gaye<\/b>,\u00a0<b>The Temptations<\/b>,\u00a0<b>Stevie Wonder<\/b>,\u00a0and all of this great music. On the jazz side, there\u2019s\u00a0<b>Al Jarreau<\/b>,\u00a0<b>Michael Franks<\/b>,\u00a0<b>Bob James<\/b>,\u00a0<b>Grover Washington Jr.,<\/b>and\u00a0<b>Weather Report<\/b>\u00a0was in the house [laughs]. So, just so much music has influenced what I do today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"kem\" src=\"http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/kem.jpg\" width=\"436\" height=\"307\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">iRJ: Tell me about the addiction you\u2019ve gone through?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:\u00a0<\/b>I think anybody that classifies themselves as [being] an addict is basically an addict for one reason, and that is, because on some level we don\u2019t think we are enough. We don\u2019t feel comfortable in our own skin. We\u2019re trying to escape ourselves on some level. It doesn\u2019t necessarily start out that way. I have a history of alcoholism and drug abuse in my family. First time I took a drink, or used drugs, I was very young. It wasn\u2019t really a big deal whatever the circumstances were. But, at some point, it became my refuge\u2026it became my higher power\u2026it became my God, to a certain degree. Drugs and alcohol was a place I ran to, to find comfort and to find solace, to find serenity (and to find peace and to be okay), and to feel okay about who I was. I think that\u2019s the underlying premise for anyone who\u2019s an addict. We have to learn how to be comfortable with ourselves, and [learn] how to navigate [through] life, and live life on life\u2019s terms without destroying ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">I think in the entertainment industry that just takes it to another level. I was an addict before I became famous, which is really a blessing for me. Fame is the most unnatural thing in the world, and we all crave it, and it is not for boys. You have to really be prepared, and grounded, and have an understanding of who you are, or else. If you are not prepared, it can ground you. We use drugs to try to cope. We have not learned to implement better coping skills in our lives. It\u2019s difficult just being a \u201cregular cat.\u201d Multiply that times one hundred while having to live all your life in the public eye. We feel that we\u2019re not enough. We feel like we need something in order to make us better, to make us fit in, and to make us cooler. That\u2019s what it was for me. And, I would guess, that\u2019s probably what it is, to a lesser or greater degree, with anybody who\u2019s an addict.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"922\" height=\"519\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0iDcMGuBNBo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0iRJ: During that time, during your lowest point of homelessness, what turned your life around?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cI was sick and tired of being sick and tired,\u201d as they say. I had burned all [of] my bridges, and I was sleeping outside. I come from a suburban household where my parents were prepared to send me off to college, to do that whole thing. We had two cars in the garage. My parents were professionals, college educated, middle class, and suburban African Americans, watching The Cosby Show [laughs]. And my life went left. At a time when all of my peers were going off to college, and getting married, I was in the \u201cheart\u201d of the city, eating out of trashcans; staying at rescue missions and soup kitchens, trying to \u201cfigure it out.\u201d People think my story is one of \u201crags to riches,\u201d but it\u2019s really the story of the prodigal son. I came to myself, and I surrendered to what was going on in my life. I accepted where I was in my life. And God brought some people into my life who showed me a better way to live. And I\u2019ve been [headed] on an upward trajectory ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"kem-int-b\" src=\"http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/kem-int-b.jpg\" width=\"488\" height=\"346\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">iRJ: How do you isolate yourself from being around that type of lifestyle today?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0Once you\u2019ve changed your mind about [doing] a thing, this is with anybody (and in any circumstance), initially, in the recovery process, you have to make those decisions\u2026[like] who to hang out with. You have to insulate yourself, and do all of these things. But, as I continue to live this life, that\u2019s not even on my radar. It doesn\u2019t even enter my space. I don\u2019t have a \u201chang up\u201d with people drinking or getting high; I just can\u2019t do it, and I accept that [I can\u2019t]. I\u2019ve been doing this long enough where it is not even an issue for me. The people who are the closest to me are aware of that [fact]. We chose what we ultimately bring into our lives; that\u2019s our choice. It comes to a point when you\u2019re beyond influence, and beyond peer pressure, when you have aligned yourself with the right way of living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><br \/>\niRJ: You financed your very first album on your American Express card. How did you market yourself once it was done?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0Well, I have a great manager, Toya Hankins, the general of my team. If I \u201cdrop something down\u201d on her, she runs with it. There were a lot of hands that were helping us put the\u00a0<i>Kemistry<\/i>\u00a0CD on the map. We did street marketing campaigns in Chicago. A team of people in Chicago passed out CDs on the street; giving them away, so people could hear this music. All I was trying to do was put my CD in people\u2019s hands. At that time, there were a lot of \u201cmom and pop\u201d record stores in the city that would allow us to come in, and put CDs in their stores on consignment. My job was to fulfill orders at stores; pick up money; record keeping; and we would sell them online. I tell anybody coming up, if you can prove that people want to buy what you have, in whatever industry, success is inevitable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"922\" height=\"692\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gbhN3GEgMQU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0iRJ: Tell me about the lyrics you sing.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM:<\/b>\u00a0I\u2019m a songwriter, first. It\u2019s what I do best. I\u2019m a romantic at heart. I don\u2019t sit down with a particular thought in mind. I just sit down, and wait for the miracle to happen. The biggest part for me is showing up and sitting down at the piano, and finding something that I like; building upon a great melody, and establishing a great hook. There [are] a lot of references out there for writing a great song. I\u2019ve been very fortunate to have success as a songwriter. It all comes from a genuine place. I speak from the heart, to the heart. I want to make the listener feel something. I don\u2019t want people to just be entertained\u2026I want them to be moved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"922\" height=\"519\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dHd89cWxoNI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">\u00a0iRJ: How would you describe the Kem brand?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0I think it would encompass love, relationship, elegance, style, fatherhood, spirituality and faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b><br \/>\n<\/b><strong>\u00a0iRJ: Tell me about your nonprofit organization.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"539565_213388515430050_183646821_n\" src=\"http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/539565_213388515430050_183646821_n.jpg\" width=\"192\" height=\"188\" \/><\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0Mack and Third is a 501(c)(3) [non-profit organization], which I started officially in 2012. Mack and Third is [at] the intersection of the Detroit rescue mission where I was a resident in the darker period of my life. It\u2019s a vehicle I use to give back to individuals and organizations who are doing the same type of work the rescue mission was doing; helping the homeless; substance abuse issues; domestic violence issues, and hunger issues. We raise funds, and raise resources, to give back to our community (and other communities as well) to help them to continue to do the work they are doing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><br \/>\niRJ: What project are you working on currently?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><b>KEM<\/b><b>:<\/b>\u00a0The latest thing is I shot a video with\u00a0<b>Ron Isley<\/b>. I have a duet with Ron Isley that\u2019s on his album. The song is called \u201cMy Favorite Thing\u201d. I wrote, produced, and performed on this record with\u00a0<b>Ron Isley<\/b>, which is the highlight of my life, having one of my music mentors perform one of my songs. Now, I\u2019m out on the road with<b>The Isley Brothers<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0<b>Maze Featuring<\/b>\u00a0<b>Frankie Beverly<\/b>. I\u2019m recording a few bonus songs to accompany my\u00a0<i>What Christmas Means<\/i>\u00a0album for the holiday season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">To find out more information about\u00a0<b>KEM<\/b>, and his tour dates, please visit,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicbykem.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">www.musicbykem.com<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MusicByKEM\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">www.facebook.com\/MusicByKEM<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: medium;\">Words By\u00a0<strong>Shonna Hillard\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&gt;via:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/2013\/10\/kem-the-perfect-kemistry-for-music\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/irockjazz.com\/2013\/10\/kem-the-perfect-kemistry-for-music\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; KEM: The Perfect \u201cKemistry\u201d for Music Kem Owens\u00a0has a timeless appeal, which draws his fans into each lyric he sings. This Detroit native has graced the charts with music, which keeps us tuned in for his next creative project. This singer, songwriter, and producer, has a style that he solely owns, and is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[6],"tags":[4,12,11],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176429722"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176429722"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176429722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176429724,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176429722\/revisions\/176429724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176429722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176429722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176429722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}