Kiss Blog - Kevin Michael Interview

Kevin Michael Interview

"It's God given talent so I'll never take credit for it. I'm saying what other people won't say, I'm not afraid to be different."

Kevin Michael, heralded as Justin Timberlake's new competition, answered the phone singing when I called to talk about his new album, proving that his vocal characteristics along with his soulful music is what distinguishes him in the industry.

Critical acclaim is raining over this humble, self-titled 'weirdo' who used to spend his Sunday mornings miming to Indian music videos and who isn't afraid of being different. After a few days battling a cold, Kevin Michael is feeling on top of the world again, keen to 'get into it' and give me some breaking news.

Tell us about your new single (released on October 22nd)?

My new single, 'Don't Make Any Difference To Me (1 Love)', is a very important and personal song for me because it talks about three generations of my family; first generation being my grand-parents, when they got together, white woman, black man in the 60s, it was all so taboo. My mum was the second generation in the 70s, 80s, and then how it was for me being third generation, growing up in the 80s, 90s. Being biracial is more of an acceptable thing now. My personal belief is that we are all the most beautiful children in the entire world, I don't care about what nobody say!

Wyclef Jean produced the single, how was it to work with him?

It was cool especially as he's a fool, he's a clown. I've known him for five years going now. It was fun! He brought that Caribbean flavour to the single. It used to be just a pop song, and then he turned it into a cool pop song!

Tell us about your music journey, from growing up until releasing this album?

It has been a journey. I started out performing when I was 7/8, my father had a band so that was how I got my love for the music. When I was about 12, I started to record in the studio but that didn't work out. I was trying to be that young Michael Jackson but I was really shy so then, not really.

After high school I decided to pursue my musical career, so 16 was when I started writing my own material. Around 2004 I met the head of Downtown Records, when he was in the process of starting the label, and we started to write songs together, so when they were finally up and running, we did a deal and the rest is history.

What did you listen to growing up?

Man, everything. My father was into a lot of funk music and then in my mums house, it was a lot of 80s music. I also listened to what was on the radio, and I never say that I'm a normal person, I'm weirdo, when I was 8 or 9 years old I used to wake up early on Sunday mornings to watch the music videos on the Indian channels. They have another style of music, so I tried to mimic it (starts singing falsetto, Bollywood music). So I listen to a bit of everything.

A lot of great music has come from Philadelphia, what is it about the city that breeds it do you think?

I think that it definitely got its roots from that old Motown sound, and that Gamble&Huff has done great things for the city. I actually had the chance to go to Philly International, to see the original studio and the posters and everything's still the same. They have done a lot for the community, keeping it in the community, also encouraging and educating all the new cats coming up in the game.

What new angle will you bring to the soul scene?

What sets me apart from the others is the tone of my voice. It's God given talent so I'll never take credit for it. I'm saying what other people won't say, I'm not afraid to be different. I'm definitely a bit left-centered.

You are off on a US tour with Maroon5, what do you think about them?

Maroon5, they are killers man, I've always dug their music. It's like rock-fused pop with soulful voice. It's still cool, it's still relevant.

Do you have any plans to tour the UK?

I've got some breaking news, I finally got a booking agent for Europe. Nothing is set in stone but I'll stress to my label how important it is to come back to the UK. Half of my life I felt European, sometimes in America, we are very lose-minded, and I love coming over here because you are so open-minded you know, you are so 'whatever', I dig that!

We think you are very kissalicious Kevin, anything you want to add to your Kiss fans?

Just that please keep requesting the song, the video should be out soon and the album is out on October 29th. Understand that my music may be a little bit left of what is going on right now, it may take some time for people to understand and for people to get into it, but once you do I promise you it's real good music and it comes from my heart.

Interview: Julia Dinome
8th October 2007