Kēvens


Kēvens is an American singer/songwriter, residing in Miami, Florida. He has appeared at festivals worldwide, including the Ultra Music Festival in Miami and South Korea, the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia and the One Love Fest in Takamatsu, Japan. He has guested with acts Stephen Marley, Rabbit in the Moon, Heavyweight Dub Champion and Liberation Movement, and describes his style as "theatrical rock reggae".

History

After a career as a commercial actor, Kēvens started in the music business in Miami as a DJ and MC. He was part of the Miami based group Le Coup founded by Bob Marley's half brothers Richard and Anthony Booker. Kēvens said of this early period of his career,
Le Coup disbanded in 1997 and Kēvens continued a relationship with the Marley family occasionally performing with Stephen Marley, Damian Marley and Julian Marley.
After his time with Le Coup ended, Kēvens moved his career towards genre-crossing explorations of rock, trip-hop, drum and bass and EDM, while maintaining his reggae foundation. He created a variety of live acts to be a feature at different festivals throughout the world.
Kēvens has released one full studio album called We Are One and a variety of singles since 2000. In 2018, he released the single, Sweet Lady Liberty of which FSHN Magazine said "Timing couldn’t be more perfect for a new anthem that everyone can relate to and breaks down barriers in an era where hatred and divide seems more prominent then ever."

Live performances

Kēvens has emphasized his live performance throughout his career stating "What keeps me alive... is the show" He was the first live act to play EDM's seminal Ultra Music Festival and has performed at the Miami version 11 times and in June 2018 performed at a newer extension of the festival in Seoul, South Korea. In 2013, Kēvens, alongside the Jacksons and others, participated in the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. The festival is broadcast throughout Russia and the Russian territories to an estimated audience of 50 million on Channel One Russia.
According to Miami.com, Kēvens is "one of the first to blend a live band with electronic dance music" and they name his particular style of fusion "an exceptional unique sound." In 2008 Kēvens headlined North America's largest Pow-wow the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Indian Country News calls his live show "powerfully profound".

Ideology

An ideological foundation plays a strong role in Kēvens' artistic presentation. He explains his perspective:
Through his music he "works to spread a message of peace and brotherhood that transcends all cultures". In an interview with the Sunday News in Zimbabwe he declares “I don’t talk about religion, age and nationality because that is meant to separate and divide us." In another interview, with MIA Magazine, he states "Reggae to me is the sound of truth". He has become synonymous with the mantra "Positivity is a Necessity". The Indian Country News explains that although "his elaborate stage costumes and theatrical concerts are pure 21st-century, his goal is timeless: to bring all races, cultures and backgrounds together."

Discography

Singles