KMC interviewed by jouvay.com, April 2006

I started to produce for myself and I started producing for other artistes and writing for other artistes. Some of the big big songs people hear they never even knew I wrote them. For example, most of Denise Belfon’s songs from “Bus Dem Up” to “Bounce It” is stuff I co-wrote and produced. Even Machel Montano’s “No war”, that song was written by me and produced by me. “Mad Man” I produced and co-wrote. I made him the official mad man. I am the only Trinidadian soa artist signed to an international label right now. I write all of my songs and do everything. The record company that I signed to owns 20% and I own 80% of the stuff. That was very good. I have new stuff coming out with all of these artistes in Jamaica. So, I am producing Jamaica Dancehall, Trini dancehall, Jamaican soca and Trini soca. I am writing for Jamaicans now too. Dancehall and soca.

KMC
Maryland, April 2006.

Ken Marlon Charles better known as KMC, the versatile writer, producer, and performer is the only Trinidadian soca artiste signed to an international label in 2006!! Having worked with practically all of the soca artistes in Trinidad, this self trained musician has recently been taking the stage by storm with his new band Red White and Black, the national colors of Trinidad and Tobago. He is the man behind songs like Machel Montano’s “Mad Man” and “No War”, Denise Belfon’s “Panic”, “Indian Man”, “Bus Dem Up” and Maximus Dan’s “Doh Break Yuh Neck” and “Obeah Man.” On stage he will perform a series of your favorite songs like “3 Miles”, “I don’t Want to Know If I Getting Horn”, and “Soul on Fire.” Whether on tour with dancehall sensation Beenie Man, shooting a video with Bounty Killa, or dropping a song on Don Corleon’s latest riddim KMC is working with many of Jamaica’s biggest names. Owner and manager of the KMC Music Label based in Trinidad and Tobago, Ken’s main goal is putting soca on the map of the world and promises that 2007 will bring many surprises beginning with a duo with rap musician Akon. Read on to learn about this thirty-five year old musician and businessman who says he’s currently got a wealth of creativity to offer the world.

Jouvay.com: This is jouvay.com and we try to get an extensive interview on your music, where you are from, where you are going so the fans can get a glimpse of who you are. We know you are from way down south in Trinidad.

KMC: Yeah, I am from Rio Claro, born and grow, but I live in Chaguanas for the past ten years. Bus out on the music scene in 1998. That was when I get a break.

JC: When you say break what you mean?

KMC: That was the first time that the public really hear KMC. I had a big hit with a song called “Bashment of Carnival…It’s carnival oye, festival aye…” That song really bus me out on the scene after I had tried for eleven years doing a total of sixteen records. They were mainly dancehall. I only started doing soca in 1996 and bus on the scene in 1998. Since then KMC just keep going. It’s been a long journey, but I never gave up. I also keep a positive vibe. They had one time when I was focusing more on the girls, but then I started to focus more on the music and that is when everything took off.

JC: Girls are good to focus on too though?

KMC: Yeah man, but you really have to be focused on the music to do this thing in soca. Like almost all of the time. Then I started to produce for myself and I started producing for other artistes and writing for other artistes. All of the artistes in Trinidad practically I produced already from the biggest to the smallest. Some of the big big songs people hear they never even knew I wrote them. For example, most of Denise Belfon’s songs from “Bus Dem Up” to “Bounce It” to "roughest wine" is stuff I co-wrote and produced. Even Machel Montano’s “No war”, that song was written by me and produced by me. “Mad Man” I produced and co-wrote. I made him the official mad man. I told him to go into the booth and say “madamadamadamadamad”.... that was a riddim I built for a song called floppin up.  I worked with Maximus Dan since he was Maga Dan. His first soca hit was “Obeah Man” which was produced by me on my riddim called vodoo.

JC: Stick a pin, where you learnt to produce?

KMC: Is just a vibe you know. I think is just a talent from the father. Because I never learned music anywhere. I started playing drums at the age of seven. Downstairs a guy called Erwin Julian. After they done rehearse I used to go and play the durms. Every time I see a keyboard I would go and press press until I started playing. So I was self taught from writing to producing to playing. Self taught. Until I am producing artistes, and myself. I have my own record label. Right now I am signed. I signed last year through Soul on Fire with a company called Ultra Empire Sequence Records. Now 2006, EMI records took over the deal. They are really going to promote the album starting from Europe in June. I did a lot of combinations this year from Beenie Man, Fat Man Scoop, Bounty Killa. I did Bounty's first soca song. Bounty never really wanted to do the soca, but he feel the vibes and I grateful for that. I did a soca song with Sizzla also and I did a remix of “First Experience” with Wayne Marshall. I am just doing my thing and keep heading to the stars. My journey is not like any of the other guys journey. Some of the guys come on the scene and get a serious push from the start. Me, as a soca artiste in the business I don’t know how I get all of these fights in the business. But, I will be here for a very long time because I am creative. I am one of the soca artistes I am proud to say I create my whole vibes. I don’t depend on any writer, producer anybody. Just me and the Supreme being. I am just working and I am in studio again. I have moved from working with Trinidad.  I created a deal called Party Alliance with all of the artistes trying to work as one. I was trying to tell them we need one another at all times. When we have that unity we become very powerful, but when we separate we depend on our own strength which can only get us so far. So, everybody gone they separate ways.

JC: Who was party alliance?

KMC: Me, Mximus, Denise Belfon, Machel, Tony Prescott just to name a few. It was something really nice happening. That come and crash. This year everybody do they own thing. Everybody gone and this year was my strongest year since everything was concentrated on me and my band. Everybody calling me back now. It move from where they running away from my riddim and say they want to do they own thing. But really and truly they did not do that. They were doing stuff with all type of other people. But here we reach now. KMC gone down in Jamaica, play two riddim and end up having Capelton, Bounty Killa, Vybz Kartel, Tanya Stephens and all these artistes coming on my riddims. I have new stuff coming out with all of these artistes in Jamaica. Pinchers, all of these men them link and calling my phone almost everyday now. So, I am producing Jamaica Dancehall, Trini dancehall, Jamaican soca and Trini soca. I am writing for Jamaicans now too. Dancehall and soca. I have that respect from them and am grateful for that opportunity through Bounty Killa and Sharon Burke.  She is Bounty Killa's manager and a part of my management team. Nuff things my hands are into now and I looking out for the benefit of more soca music going international. The soca music is out there, but the word soca must meet out to more people. Like Kevin Lyttle have "Turn Me On" or my "Soul on Fire" and they saying is reggae. Reggaeton is soca music and they calling it reggaeton. It's soca, invented by Ras Shortie I. So, that’s where I am heading, straight to the stars.

JC: EMI, the album actually launched last year?

KMC: October.

JC: In Miami. How was that?

KMC: The launch did not come off too right because of the politics of the promoters. The promoters did not understand that it was a record launch. Other promoters sent out saying that my party was off. It had a few people.

JC: It also launched in Japan.

KMC: Yes, the album is taking off in Japan. We already sold 285,000 copies. I will meet with the record company on the 12th of June to set up the whole overseas promotion. I already doing interviews over the internet. It’s just a matter of time for KMC to understand that whole side. starting in June I will be in Italy, Germany, all over. Right now the new “Soul on Fire” video is on BET jazz and on Tempo.

JC: Where was it shot?

KMC: It was shot in Tobago by a guy called Jessee and B. Phillips from BET.

JC: Are you the first Trinidadian artist to be signed now?

KMC: Well no, Machel Montano was signed to Atlantic...

JC: No, I mean who is currently signed.

KMC: Yeah, I am the only Trinidadian artist to be signed. I am not too proud of that. Many places I go to people in Trinidad or soca artists don't mnow about. I am lonely because I would be the only one singing soca. I was on Beenie Man’s tour. It had five dancehall artistes and I was the only soca artiste. Plenty Trinis and Bajans came out. I was the opening act and we had all of the Jamaicans running out to see who was mashing it up. We get help from dancehall just as dancehall get help from hip hop. I am looking forward to work with Akon very soon. I have some real big combinations for carnival 2007.

JC: So who influenced you a lot when you were starting?

KMC: I was always influenced by dancehall music because that was what I used to do. Dancehall music say something that in the old days soca was not saying. Older men were singing soca and if it was something partyish it was always jump and wave. I like to hear about men who are lyrically skillful. Those guys in Jamaica were building a story out of things that they read in the papers. “Hurricane Gilbert mash up Jamaica. If you see people run for shelter.” That is what made dancehall music so real and reach out to all parts of the world. And want to be involved in that music. I believe dancehall is one of the strongest in the world from Marley to Buju to Beenie to Bounty Killa to Capleton to Sizzla.

JC: You were actually in the studio with them?

KMC: In these days that is not necessary. You just email and email back. Sizzla came into the carnival this year for 3 to 4 days and we met and chat. And we looking to do some serious work together. Bounty Killa and I were conversing on the phone all of the time. I write all his parts and send it down for hm. He in the studio there and he write a verse for himself too. And now me and those guys link real strong.

JC: How was the Beenie Man tour?

KMC: I think that was one of my best experiences. It was just KMC opening for Beenie Man. It was a promotion for my album.

JC: He is such a good performer.

KMC: I learned plenty from those guys.

JC: You did a video with him?

KMC: No, not as yet. Me and Bounty did a video for three miles. That was filmed in Jamaica about three weeks ago.

JC: Caribbean producers?

KMC: Yes, Caribbean producers.

JC: Which soca artistes you have lined up to work with you on the next album?

KMC: I ain't really have any soca artistes lined up on the album. I do work with guys on my label. One guy called Jungle.

JC: What’s the name of the label?

KMC: KMC MUSIC Ltd.. I got a young girl called Shivonne. She’s like 15 years which is very interesting.

JC: They don’t have any young Caribbean artists...

KMC: The market closed. Everybody closed it up to secure theyself. They hardly giving the younger ones a real chance. Everything takes time before they really dominate. When they really ready they will have enough experience with stage and so on when they have a big hit.

JC: There are alot of girl and boy bands in the States...

KMC: Well remember this is America with millions of people where it have many avenues for different people. In Trinidad the established soca artistes don't even hear their music all year round. Is only now you see other music like reggae coming out of Trinidad that is actually playing.

JC: I thought they had Point Alive with 24 hours soca.

KMC: Yeah, but do they have any new soca? Will people accept it as all year music? I have tried it...

JC: And it did not work? You have to release it for D.C. carnival. So, I read somewhere that the foreign label was very happy that you produced also.

KMC: Very happy. I produced the whole album.

JC: I remember when I interviewed Machel he mentioned that Atlantic tried to link him with many producers who did not understand soca.

KMC: Yeah, he just needed to go in a room with Shell Shock and he would have been alright.

JC: You work with Shell Shock?

KMC: Yes, I have in the past. I worked with most of the producers. Right now I do my own thing. My imagination and creativity are a very very broad road. Soon I will be working with other producers: soca, dancehall and hip hop. I already got about 45 riddims from Jamaica...Don Corleon...I have about fifteen riddims from him. I not really planning on being a dancehall artiste so I won't be riding all of those riddims. I will drop about four dancehall tunes on the album.

JC: And about the European tour this summer...

KMC: Not a tour. It’s a European promotion. I don’t know when I will have a KMC tour. I will be opening for people. I have a lot of shows in Germany that have nothing with the Trinidad Foundation.

JC: Is it in time for soccer?

KMC: Very in time and I will be there. The record company and EMI are starting the promotion. I think I will be there for at least a month.

JC: So, I hear you got on the TRIBE truck quite late this past carnival?

Ken Marlon Charles: I was not billed to sing you know. I was playing mas', having a time, taking a wine. Me and my girl and my crew. After the stage and the park, I decided to go on the truck and mash up the place. Things went crazy.

JC:Well, that definitely made it because I heard it was a bit dry before that. Tell me about the label deal. How much of the music do you own?

KMC: I write all of my songs and do everything. The record company that I signed to owns 20% and I own 80% of the stuff. That was very good.

JC: Definitely. And when you produce for other people?

KMC: When I produce for other people I give them 50/50. Even when I write for them, I am not interested in owning people material. I am interested in being fair.

JC: In Trinidad where there are so many issues going on with piracy and so, how you keep track of stuff? How you keep track of the times your stuff plays?

KMC: I don’t really keep track of when my song playing. And dem man on the street,  you can’t really stop them from pirating. They pirating the music and they gotta live. Is a way for a man to eat a food. But it hurting us too.

JC: What’s the KMC website?

KMC: It’s under construction right now.

JC: Are you going to be selling the music on line?

KMC: I have about four people who are interested in doing that, but everything has to go through the record label right now.

JC: A friend of mine just started a site called rebelmix which hosts a Black Chiney radio show on Sundays and he wants to be the itunes of the Caribbean. So, I will put him unto you definitely. So, what’s your family like? Married, children?

KMC: Nope.

JC: Girlfriend?

KMC: Yes. I am not married, but I think it’s time to get married. Marriage is a must. I ain’t plan to live my life sinning all my life.

JC: What’s sinning?

KMC: Having sex without marriage. We born and we grow in sin. You always have to get closer to the almighty and make things better and right.

JC: So you go to church?

KMC: No I don’t go to church. Having sex without marriage is a sin. I have a lot of that so I am sinning all the time. But, there comes a time where we have to stop doing that and put a ring on a woman finger. So, when you having sex now you legal.

JC: What a reason to get married!

KMC: That is a real good reason, to be legal in the sight of God.

JC: How old are you?

KMC: I am thirty five and just going.

JC: You have anything else to add?

KMC: I just want to add that you must just keep promoting the soca music. Let’s really push the music and really make it good. Jouvay.com, soca.com whatever. Is a tough thing because you doing the music out there and our country is like a dot to the rest of the world. We want soca to spread from this little dot to all of the world. That is a lot of work, but music is powerful and we just need to come correct. All the people who like to criticize the artists and them…ah mean we always have we lil thing with one another, but they should really promote the music in a good way and not how some websites does promote it like xxxxxxxx.

JC: That’s my friend’s site.

KMC: They don’t promote soca. All they really interested in is the negative stuff. When the positive is written, the same people who dissing all the time stay quiet. As something negative come up they like to say things about artistes and artistes friends.

JC: If you want to find anything about the Caribbean you just post there and get it.

KMC: But they don’t promote soca in a proper way. It makes it look like we don’t know what we doing. When you read about the music and the things they saying they just don’t promote the music. We need a good site to promote soca.

JC: I think they do that, but maybe it’s because it’s the open forum that allows anyone to post.

KMC: Yeah, they focus too much on the forum stuff.

JC: I will log in to see what they put about you.

KMC: They will try to mash you up, but what they call bad is not really bad. A man might have a weak year and they will forget about all of the good music that he give them. And these people they hardly go and buy a soca CD.

JC: They go the shows instead.

KMC: They go to the show and come back on xxxxxxxx and criticize the whole show.

JC: You know we not putting this on jouvay.com (at least all of it)

KMC: Even if you don’t put it I am talking my mind. I am here and what I am doing is something to enhance our country and our music. I am doing that to the best of my ability.

JC: You head out to California as yet?

KMC: No, not to perform.

JC: Well, we have a lot of people from California on our site because that’s where we started. Hopefully they are logging on to read the interview.

KMC: I heard that Soul on Fire was playing a lot in Texas. When we checked the media base we saw a lot of hits coming from Texas.

JC: Well they have a big Houston Carifest coming up. Are you coming to Tampa anytime soon?

KMC: I was coming to Tampa with Beenie Man, but I had to do a show somewhere else.

JC: I went to that show back in October. How about Guyana? I always have to ask.

KMC: I am going there at the end of May for two days straight the Friday and Saturday and then going to New York.

JC: First time performing there?

KMC: No man I am always in Guyana. I was there last year in Linden. 2003 I was there with “I don’t Want to Know If I getting Horn.”

JC: That’s my home so I always have to bring it into the interview. Is there anything else?

KMC: Just keep the soca music going. Jouvay.com I am glad to be a part of this. What we say? We jumping one mile, we waving two miles, we wining three miles with jouvay.com. You done know this is KMC with jouvay.com. Just keep logging on.

Thanks to ICE for facilitating this interview. Check them for D.C. carnival.