How I Got Here
Amazing Advice From the Most Accomplished Musician You Know Nothing About
Soul singer Kem drops gems he’s learned over the years
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
For nearly 20 years, Kem has been making aunties everywhere swoon. Born in Nashville and raised just outside of Detroit, the neo-soul/R&B singer (born Kim Owens) has carefully paved his musical path, cultivating the art and image of a world-wise gentleman. But make no mistake, the 51-year-old singer has been through the fire, with scars to show and lessons learned in abundance.
As a young adult, Kem battled drug addiction and alcoholism, was homeless for a stretch of time, and served stints in jail. After getting sober three decades ago, he turned his life around, becoming a waiter and wedding singer. His self-released 2002 debut, Kemistry, features the mellow classic “Love Calls,” which still gets burn during chill-out hours at cookouts and family reunions. He’s since signed to Motown, dropped five albums (including his rereleased debut), and scored a handful of Grammy nominations.
All of that internal wrestling we do as men — we have holes inside. And when…
