Long description
Take a voyage somewhere free, grown up and sexy. Break away from the formulaic. Go somewhere pleasant, peaceful and soulful, where true love and lazy afternoons reign supreme. That’s where Detroit native and singer/ musician KEM takes you on his sophomore LP KEM Album II. Filled with songs you can really ride to, he sticks to the critically praised R&B/jazz sound that made his debut album Kemistry, a certified gold hit.
“To me, this album is better than the last one, because I feel better as an artist,” KEM admits. “I stayed in the vibe of the first CD. I took the production up a notch. And I had more time to develop my songs.”
KEM knows singing songs for adult contemporary listeners is what drives his success. “I am not trying to market to that get naked crowd. My primary purpose is to serve people who like what I am doing.”
It’s precisely this crowd that the musician sings to on KEM Album II. With the lead single “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” KEM sets himself apart from his contemporaries with raw and unselfish emotion. He believes his honesty is one of the main reasons he’s garnered such a devoted fan base.
“I toured with songs from the album and I did about 15 or 20 cities. And the crowd sung the words of the new songs like they had heard them before. After I noticed the audience’s reaction, I went back in the studio and changed some of the songs. Now it’s more lyrical. I talk about love. I talk about walking in faith. I talk about God. Mostly, my songs are about the human condition.”
Frustrated with the glut of tired songs he heard on the radio and determined to breathe some fresh air into the scene, KEM wrote, produced and financed his debut album by waiting tables and singing Top 40 covers in a wedding band. Motown later signed KEM and re-released the Kemistry album which went on to sell over 500,000 (Gold) copies in the US.
And though hip-hop dominates and most R&B is a hybrid, KEM kept the MC’s on the sideline. “There is no rapping on my album. I feel like there are a lot of people who already do that.”
KEM Album II is jam-packed with hot tracks. On “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” KEM pens a classic love story that pulls no punches. “I deal with the struggle of relationships and how hard it is to love someone. It’s something adults can relate to.”
His label mate Stevie Wonder plays the harmonica on “You Might Win,” an upbeat message about giving your all. “The song is about stepping out and taking a chance. Go for it. Chances are that if you put your heart in it, you’ll get whatever you are seeking in life.”
Finally, there's s a soul singer who concentrates on nothing but the music. "There is no gimmick," KEM says with a mischievous grin. "Just a cat and his keyboard and that's good for me."