Exposed Vocals Interviews KRLIVE

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Well i was introduced to exposed vocals by my manager .

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

 As a Child growing up in Jamaica in the parish of St.Catherine in the harsh community of Central Village where gangs,crime and violence was apart of everyday life.I always had a special love for music, Artist like the great Micheal Jackson,Bob Marley,Buju Banton and a host of other artist played a huge part in my life journey to adult hood .i use to be able to sing and Dj most of the hits from dancehall and hip hop artists until i started writing my own.In the process i had always been writing poems and drawing, it has been a passion of mine until this very day.I always carry a bag with me everywhere i go in case i get an inspiration to draw or write something new.As a teenager my friends became aware of my talent and we started challenging each other on the streets in the neighborhood where i made a name for myself as the community artist performing on stage shows and events in the area.As i grow older my love for the craft became stronger being inspired by artist such as Spragga Benz, beenie man ,bounty killer , my style changed and became more hardcore which the  streets had more appeal to including the ladies so i took it more seriously.

  My talent became recognized when i was introduced to bounty killer in a studio session, shortly after i started going on stages with him and others where i learned alot about performing and what the life of an artist involves.The late night travelling ,recording,performing were all apart of it. A year down the line i met with some other producers (Trendsetter Records) where i had my first single out which got alot of airplay on jamaican radio .From one single to another things started picking up until i got a chances to travel on my first show to Antigua opening for another artist. The following year i got a chance to perform on the greatest one night show in jamaica call (STING) where the reception and experience was amazing even performing in the United states .Things were on the up and up until my manager got ill and past away, things took a turn at that point. I started focusing on my arts for a couple years going back to school and getting a diploma and other certification ,after achieving all this i worked for a few years in the graphics and printing industry where i gain a wider knowledge on the business. therefor starting my own clothing line (Freeupclothingco.) The music was always apart of me so even though i no longer had a team i was always recording and developing my growth as and artist.

       My close friend which i refer to other as my cousin who passed away in 2012 was one of my main support as an artist ,we always dreamed of starting our own record label called BLACKANGEL RECORDS,we put all we could in creating our own recording studio and artist development ,when he died at the age of 26 that was what gave me the drive to make this dream a reality by any means.I started recording alot more pushing the limits making myself be heard ,by the means of social media and other means of promotion.

I released my first track from our black angel label called stay focus and made video for it which people really gravitated to and made a real good impacked on others,with its positive energy i stared placing more focus on that side of me ,and a more conscious level,producing songs with the same positive energy. Now on to bigger things im currently sign to hamage1019 records which we have been making alot of strides with my new single BETTA MI A LOOK  produced by prime time boss records.and other singles such as BE MY GIRL, and DEH SUH MI LOVE. Things seem to be more structured and we plan on taking KRLIVE to the highest peak of his potentiality

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

Well my legal name is Kevin Ricketts so i thought of KR but at that point our danchall culture was very hardcore so i used to go by the name Kritical Reaction ,which was given to me by my cuisine,i stared using kritical which was shorter and it went well the hardcore persona but after a i while realized other ppl were using it as well and it was’t so easy to locate my music when streaming.So as the years goes by my style of music changed along with maturity so i went back to KR which i started with and added the live to it,which im presently know my many now as KRLIVE.

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

Artist: Yes thats how i started out in making fans have the opportunity to listen more seeing that im kinda new on the scene so its not a bad thing by giving away music for free cause my soundcloud does just that. but in the same breath this is a business and we all have to survive so most of it have to be for sale first.

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?

Well my advice is to stay focus and put in as much work as you can musically,push it to the limit.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Yes ive made tunes of mistakes but you just have to continue ,recover from it all.people wont notice unless you make it that obvious for them to see.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

 Well to be honest i have not been on tour yet ,we are just focusing on putting out some really great material for the fans right now ,but shortly a tour will be coming up ,i not at liberty to say when but it is around the corner.

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

I normally gather inspiration all around me ,most time from the rhythm im writing from i wait for it to talk to me then reflect on passed events.

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

I currently have music on soundcloud ,youtube, hamage1019booking, itunes, reverbnation and many others once you type KRLIVE you should see everything.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

 Well i would use the word embarrassing songs ,dont think i have any of those cause i expresses myself on different most time on different topics.

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

 i would still spend it in producing and promoting new material.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Well we are always in the mood of upgrading ones self that and the tools used to get the job done,quality is everything in my book

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

 My team and i use social media and a lot of other ways to get it out there to the audience like the radio is one of the best.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

 Thing i would love to perform with biggie smalls in New York city and Spragga bendz here in jamaica.

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

Yes you guys can look out for a new music video for the single betta mi a look and few other singles.

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

 computer Graphics im very good at illustrations.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Yes i remember buying my first album by it was P.DIDDY NO WAY OUT,it was pretty exciting and buju bantons TIL Shilo

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

Its hard but its take alot of balancing and focus ,its alot of work.

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

 Fans on expose vocals can look out for alot of new music and videos from krlive in 2016