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Biography of Kem(Motown Records)
Dude is killing competition
KEM
KEMISTRY
Nothing can be better than KEMISTRY for the soul. Motown's rising star, KEM, delivers a debut album rich in emotion and vocally textured. KEMISTRY blends saucy scats and soothing lyrics with bass, drums, guitar and percussion. KEMISTRY is the essence of everything we love and miss about soul music.
KEM, a self-taught musician, wrote and produced KEMISTRY. He was born in Nashville and raised in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown Records. "I wanted to make music all of my life. I started playing piano when I was five," he recalls. "My grandparents had a piano in their house and my earliest memory of playing was on that piano. There's something about a piano that turns me on."
The first single released, "Love Calls," speaks to the magnetic force of love. This song tugs at our emotions through an intense urban groove and a moving hook, "... there's no where to hide when love calls your name."
KEM's captivating singing style carries listeners from the past into the present, reminiscent of a time when music played a significant role in "break ups and make ups." The KEMISTRY odyssey is a 10-song heart-felt journey through love, loss and redemption. It begins with "Matter of Time," one of KEM's personal favorites. This track sets the tone for an album that tells stories of hope and persistence. KEMISTRY realizes that occurrences in life, which we might think are bad, prepare us for better things. "Matter of Time" is a reflection of my life," reveals KEM. "The rough spots in our lives give us character. I don't regret the past...it's an integral part of who I am today," he shares.
"Miss You" is a sexy ballad laced with the sweet sounds of tenor sax and the attitude of a smoke-filled room. This one has soundtrack written all over it.
The album's signature song "Brotha Man," is a deep testament of faith. A uniquely crafted arrangement of beats, melodic vocals and an intermittent flow, "Brotha Man" is KEM's story of the wondrous workings of God. A welcomed reassurance that spirituality has a home in soul music. This complex arrangement also features KEM's soulful, vocal interpretation of musical instruments, a scatting style that is uniquely KEM.
Deep admiration for musicians like Grover Washington Jr., Steely Dan, the O'Jay's, Stevie Wonder and Prince played a major role in shaping KEM as an artist. KEM and his band have performed on the same stage with acts such as WAR, Donald Byrd, Rachelle Ferrell and MeShell N'degeocello.
KEMISTRY, a timeless album came together after years of career-changing experiences, and has been more than two years in the making. While working on the CD, KEM waited tables, sang with a gospel troupe and a Top 40 wedding band. But he never lost sight of his dream. Instead, he stepped out on faith, quitting his job and going after his dream. He looks at this album and it's upcoming releases as "great testimony to any one who's ever been told to go out and get a real job."
"Success is an inner job, for me doing anything less than what brings me joy is not an option," states KEM. In March of 2002, KEM independently released KEMISTRY and sold more than 10,000 CDs to music lovers before piquing the interest of Motown Records.
KEMISTRY is soul music for the mind, body and spirit.
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