Bringing an incredible new sound to the world, Kevens is a man with a message: Positivity is a Necessity. Originally from Miami, he combines his experience both as a dub DJ and as front man for the rock band, Le Coup (with Richard and Anthony Booker Marley), to create a musical experience capable of stopping riots.
GC
You’ve got to be the only drum and bass artist that tours with a full band. How did that originate?
Kevens
I used to work in London doing films, commercials, I was the face of Coca Cola back in 93/94. So living out there, working in England, you get to hear different music - especially ragga, which is now called drum and bass. Anyway, I was working with Rabbit in the Moon, back in ‘98 to be exact. At a music conference, I saw Roni Size/Reprazent with Rabbit in the Moon. So I was watching two of the most amazing acts and I had a revelation. I see what they’re doing and what they’re not doing - because Roni Size is all electronics with MCs and someone sings part of the time and he has a band that plays sometimes and Rabbit in the Moon being what they are and they were using singers at the time. So I decided I wanted to create an act that is in between Rabbit in the Moon and Roni Size/Reprazent, - something that would bring the rest of the musical world together. Something right in between rock and drum and bass with a hint of dance music. I wanted to amalgamate these three together and it’s been a mission ever since then. I spoke to Roni Size about it and Anthony Booker about it. Both were like, no one does it like that.
GC
I know what you mean. When I came down to Ultra, that’s actually the first time I’ve seen you live and I knew that there was a lot of instrumentation behind it, but I was blown away that it was drum and bass coming from actual people instead of just a machine. It was kind of amazing. How did you meet Rabbit in the Moon?
Kevens
It was ‘97. I was doing Zen Festival and Jason Donovan, who had asked me to perform with my band, also said to me, you know, you are a great speaker and singer. I would like you to take the stage and you can just go talk about positivity. At that time, in that year, was when the media was having a field day with the scene - with drugs and this and that. The police were very ready to shut the parties down. I think CBS was there and so on and so on. It was a very sensitive time, people were being arrested and people were losing patience. I was on the Rabbit Stage and everybody was agitated. So I got on the mic and I spoke to them. I said, I know we are all here because we want to hear the kickass beats and so on. But, the government happens to think and believe that we are all drug dealers, we are all here with the drugs. I know that isn’t so. So if you are with me on this one, I want you and need you to shout, positivity is a necessity. The whole audience started to chant, positivity is a necessity… positivity is a necessity. Then it so happened it was the time that DJ Monk was spinning. So I took that positivity and just started to rap and sing. Afterwards, he told me, man that was really cool, I would love to bring you back. I was like, who are you? He says, I’m Monk from Rabbit in the Moon. I ask, Who’s Rabbit in the Moon - because I had no idea who they were. I come from a Marley background, where everything is reggae and rock and I didn’t know who they were. So, I took their invitation to return that same year, I believe I went to Tampa with them. But that was how I met those guys and we’ve been friends ever since then. Because of them, I was able to get a proper introduction to the hardcore fans down here - because Rabbit was the biggest act and I was their MC. That gave me a lot of exposure.
GC
You’ve performed alongside a lot of very different groups like Prodigy and Crystal Method and even Chuck Berry. Every time, everyone seems to love you, why do you suppose that is? I mean, you got a standing ovation opening for Aerosmith.
Kevens
Mostly, my brother, I have a very, very positive message and whenever you have a strong, positive message, the masses don’t really want to embrace it at first — because basically, sex sells. I’m not selling sex. I’m selling positivity. Nobody really wants to buy it, but people don’t realize they need it, especially at this time.
The whole goal really from the act is just to bring people together. Look at dancing. Dancing is very limited to the dancer, the audience. You can’t get the rock audience to go to Ultra unless you bring certain acts. But when you bring in different acts, it goes out of context, because that music doesn’t fit what’s being played - it’s not what the festival is about. So you take the reggae act and, oh my god, it’s a rave, I can’t do that. But when you put Kevens together, because I’ve played in the rock scene, I’ve played in the reggae scene, I’ve played in the dance scene - so when people know I’m going to play, they come out. Who are they again? People who don’t necessarily listen to this or that, but they appreciate what I do. It’s not easy, but nevertheless, somebody has to do it. It’s a nice way to bring people together.
My ultimate goal is just to bring people together. That’s the main reason why I do it the way I do it. I have fans across the board and right now, there is too much separation in music. This is a time in the world when we have to come together and we can. I’m just doing my part. Look at the state of the world right now. We’ve got war, we’ve got conflict, but at the end of the day, we are brothers. But do we act like that? No! That’s ignorance. There’s a spirit in humanity, and music brings that out. The schools aren’t doing it. The government isn’t doing it. We, the musicians, must bring that out. Everybody dances. Even the man with no legs dances in his mind. Everybody dances. So, therefore, music is like water, we all drink it. Like we all cry and laugh in the same language, so therefore music should be the avenue that brings people together — and it does. That’s my job.
GC
As an artist, what is your opinion on the state of the music industry right now, as far as intellectual property and illegal downloading?
Kevens
I was reading on the subject a while ago and I stopped because, at the end of they day, they’re all sort of raping the artist. See, I write all my songs, I’m a songwriter/composer, and it would be nice to get paid for what I do. When you get signed, basically what they do is they take your rights away and give pennies on the dollar to the artist. So it’s a good thing that, now, artists are getting this level of control. Illegal downloads, I don’t agree with because if you take one of my songs, you put it out there and then I’m no longer selling it because you’ve taken it. That’s taking food off my table. I think this personally, you know, unless someone sends me something in the mail and I’m like, thank you, and I give them something and we go by and by. So I encourage people to pay for your downloads, please.
With the single, Freedom, currently in distribution, Kevens will be headed back to the studio to finish up an eagerly awaited album (release date as yet unknown). For up-to-date tour info, email Kevens or befriend him on Myspace.
Upcoming Kevens Live:
4/26 Gathering of Nations — Albuquerque, NM
5/30 Monterey Music Summit — Monterey, CA
7/5 Mad River Music Festival – Fayston, VT
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