The soul singer reflects on family faith and the musical influences that continue to shape his journey.
For decades, Kem has stood as one of contemporary soul’s most steady and sincere voices. His warm tone and reflective lyricism have long offered listeners a space for healing and connection. Behind the catalog is an artist shaped by faith and recovery a musician who views service as both a calling and a craft. In conversation he spoke with clarity about legacy influence and the ongoing work of becoming.
What does legacy mean to you at this stage of your career
Legacy is my kids. I am working and building for my children. It is nice to not have the focus always be on me and what I am trying to get. I am being of service to my family because my children are truly my legacy.
How have the lessons from your past shaped the man and the musician you are today
My hope is that I am continually becoming a better man a better husband a better partner a better father. I try to operate from a place of faith integrity and authenticity. Hopefully I make the rooms and the lives of people that I am allowed to touch better. My hope is to be of maximum service.
When you think about your earliest inspirations who do you credit for the foundation of your sound and soul
There are a lot of people who helped shape me musically. A teacher named Greg Smith in middle school helped me construct one of my first songs. A childhood friend Ben O’Neill was a keyboardist and still the baddest keyboardist I have known. His music always inspired me. Other artists inspire me too Michael Prince, Anita, Chaka, Patti, Luther and many more. I am a songwriter first so I fall in love with songs. Al Jarreau would also be in that hat.
As far as my soul that comes from the people God brought into my life to teach me a better way to live. My faith is rooted in my recovery and my recovery is rooted in my faith. A lot of people poured into me to make recovery possible and I thank God for bringing them into my life.
What song or album defines your legacy the most and why
I cannot answer that today because my legacy is still being written. In many ways I feel like I am just getting started almost 24 or 25 years in the game. I am still putting the work in. As we speak there is a record of me working at being number one. Rock with me. You have to circle back to me on that.
How does mentorship play into your legacy who are you pouring into next
I am pouring into my kids. They all have musical aptitude and I do not know if they will choose that path though I know a couple of them will. My hope is that I am being a good example and leaving a trail of proverbial breadcrumbs they can follow. So I am pouring into my kids.