Exposed Vocals Interviews Keemo

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

Keemo:: the story is in the music, growing up in Jamaica it wasn’t supposed to be this way for me I was supposed to follow the protocol and be like everyone else but I’m not like everyone else, there is a burning, undeniable passion inside my heart for hip pop and there was nothing that any doubter in my surroundings could do or say about that to change the undisputable fact. The funny thing about me becoming an artist is that I’ve always been insecure about my skills I didn’t know what people would think, but the industry needs more down to earth artists and what Keemo brings is a personal outlook on life but also stepping into other people’s shoes and honing their energy after all isn’t that what hip hop is all about?

 

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

Keemo:: At school I was “Miggie” which is a shortening for my last name so when I first started out I called myself Miggie Smalls to pay homage to my favorite rapper Biggie Smalls, but it just wasn’t me I needed my own identity something that feels personal and one that connects me and my audience. Keemo was the name given to me by my family and people closest to me and so I wanted my fans to know they are my family cause without their support, you get lost in the world wondering what went wrong there are a lot of artists who wear the name but none take more pride in it than I do.

 

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

 

Keemo: I personally love online music sharing applications, we live in the technological age and not everyone has time to go to the store and buy albums especially in Jamaica where we rarely have stores that sell albums, most of the time people just bootleg music, so I think it’s good to connect the fans with music through the internet its faster and easier for all parties. My music is free to listen to, If it were up to me albums would be free too but I understand the need for a currency, I believe that the fans deserve the utmost benefits from artists, when you start putting price tags on everything your vision becomes blurred and the fans start to question you, they are loyal to you why not show them your loyalty with free music?

 

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Keemo: Just be patient and keep working because hard work always pays off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

 

Keemo: I mostly write when I need to express my thoughts on either personal events or just things happening around me that I take note of, or whenever I hear a beat that someone else dropped something nice on and I want to outdo that person, I’m a competitor it’s in my blood and so whenever I feel the need to remind people I do. The process is just to let it flow I just follow the words and they take me with them and just hope that they don’t make a detour.

 

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

Keemo: No website at the moment I just dropped my first record the other day, hit the studio dropped the vocals on the beat and made sure that was perfect. My Soundcloud is https://soundcloud.com/keemo562 there is more to come as long as the fans are hungry.

 

 

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

Keemo: Honestly I don’t know I would probably use it to help my family out make sure they got everything they need I wouldn’t want a year off though I can’t go a day without music, a year? That would be murder.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

Keemo: Word of mouth is what I have been doing but in this age that’s not enough especially in Kingston where hip hop is not the main genre and so I turned to twitter to get some clout going hopefully that works to my favor.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

Keemo: It all depends if the Villains want a mixtape Ill drop one for them its all in their hands always will be.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

 

Keemo: Id be doing mixed martial arts I still continue to train and If music wasn’t my main act, that would definitely be a close second act.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

 

Keemo: I took time off from everything else to do this I stopped going to school, quit my job, this is my main focus and I don’t want any distractions at this point I want to be able to cease any and every opportunity to be heard.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

 

Keemo: Anything can happen, who knows what ill bring to the table this year, all I can promise is it will be worth listening to thanks for the interview and for allowing me a platform to speak my mind and get the listeners involved, one love to the villains.