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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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