ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Kemuel

Emerging from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Kemuel’s journey from a church choir at 17 to receiving cosigns from Olamide and DJ Spinall is remarkable. His EPs ‘Escape’ and ‘Clouds’ blend R&B, pop, soul, and Afrobeats. Kemuel's music aims to make listeners feel good, less alone, and at peace.

1. Your musical journey began in the church choir at 17. How did that experience shape your approach to music, and what lessons did you carry forward from those early days?

The church helped me grow patience for music and myself, learning all those instruments and realizing I’d have to give music time to be a part of me really helped me grow in ways never thought it would.

2. Your debut EP, ‘Escape,’ garnered attention, and you've since received cosigns from industry giants like Olamide and DJ Spinall. How have these endorsements impacted your confidence and artistic direction moving forward?

⁠I’m just a kid from PH city with zero connections in a city like Lagos, so of course the moment with those two legends was definitely redefining, I had more confidence in the music but in all honesty, the love from Spinall and Olamide just made me wanna work harder.

3. Having studied Fine Art and Design at the University of Port Harcourt, how do you merge your visual arts background with your music, if at all?

It’s almost like I’m drawing and painting with sound, sonics the dynamics of sound is a whole different ball game from the concept of the brush and canvas, but then again painting images with my music is something I try to do intentionally, so yes in a way everything I learned played a role in my music journey.

4. ⁠ Your latest EP, ‘Clouds,’ showcases a blend of R&B, pop, soul, and Afrobeats. What inspired this eclectic mix of genres, and how do you maintain cohesion while experimenting with different styles?

It definitely wasn’t a day job, but then I’m what people may call a perfectionist, and the ‘Clouds’ era was a life changing era for me, so it was everything I was feeling and going through at the time that was expressed through melodies and groove, I know exactly what I want it to sound like so I work tirelessly to make sure the feel in my head matches the feel in reality.

5. ‘Alone’ and ‘POLO’ have been standout tracks from ‘Clouds.’ Can you walk us through the creative process behind these songs, from conception to completion?

‘Alone’ was made out of a desperate need to save a relationship that deep down I knew was already lost. Music saved me though, because the whole process of making ‘Alone’ is one I’ll never forget, from the writing process to the beat making, everything felt surreal, it was almost like the song was already recorded on my soul and the echo of my soul is what I was encrypting till the song was complete. ‘POLO’ was created off a conversation I had with a friend, it was initially supposed to be an R&B song, but I wanted it to be more happy and jovial cos I honestly need an emotional boost, cos I always try to stay positive no matter what, so at that time I needed a really happy song, that was how ‘POLO’ was made.

6. Your press release mentions that your music aims to make listeners "feel good, feel less alone, and at peace." How do you ensure that your music connects with listeners on an emotional level, and what impact do you hope it has on them?

I try to be as vulnerable and transparent in my music so my listeners can connect instantly to the music. The music feels like home to me, so I intend to make it a safe place for my listeners as well. I hope it offers a place for self-discovery and self-reflection too.

7. With accolades from MTV, BBC 1Xtra, Clash Magazine, Notion, and Earmilk, among others, what has been the most rewarding moment in your career so far?

Performing at the AMVCAs marks a pivotal moment in my career, two years in the game and I can’t even count the number of times I gasped at where the music has taken and is taking me.

8. As an artist from Nigeria, how important is it for you to represent your country's musical heritage while also pushing boundaries and exploring new sounds?

Honestly, I can’t shake off my roots, despite the fact I get commended for my global tone, I’m still a Port Harcourt boy to the core, so that shows in my music regardless of the genre.

9. Your sophomore project, ‘Clouds,’ marks a significant step in your artistic evolution. How do you feel you've grown as an artist since your debut, and what challenges did you encounter during the making of this EP?

I feel like I’ve always been like this, but of course I have more knowledge now on so much about the music and music business, so I would say I have evolved, massively. My voice is stronger, my lyrics have been crazy, but lately I’ve been trying to be more vulnerable and honest with my music and I achieved that with ‘Clouds’.

10. Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you're particularly excited about?

So many collaborations, some I’m very excited for, I’d love to spill the collabs I have coming but that’ll take away all the fun. My plans for the future remains “world domination” so much crazy music too.