We were lucky to catch up with Kek Biel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kek, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Music brings me joy because of the emotions, stories, and connections that it exposes me to. As an independent artist I really don’t have a choice but to balance a regular job and a passion, the biggest hurdle was to step out there and make myself vulnerable. Anything you put out there is for the world to see and hear! Not to mention starting off from point Zero literally!

It was hard starting off at first, in the midst of the “pandemic”, jobless and really searching for the what’s next. I felt that I had a lot of weight on my shoulders, I found my self sleeping in my work van and just in deep self reflection. This is where the writing began and took off. I initially released my first single “Brown Sugar” in November of 2020 and consequently released “Pain Away” in January of 2021. The joy and fulfillment I felt is mainly the reason I decided to pursue music, writing and telling stories.

I felt that I had found something I was blind to all along!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I was born in South Sudan, at the time it was one country “Sudan” but due to civil unrest, the country unfortunately split into two! I left Sudan as a 10 year old refugee by ship to Cairo, Egypt where my family then registered for refugee status with the United Nations. After living in Egypt for 2 years, we immigrated to Windsor, Ontario Canada, where I resumed my studies as an 8th grader.

Most of my teens were spent playing various sports, however basketball was my main outlet. I was a shy and reserved kid at the time, mainly because my life was changed drastically by all the moving around as a refugee and also not knowing the language and culture of my new environment. Through basketball I found peace and purpose, competition helped me regain my confidence and later earned an athletic scholarship and moved to the United States to pursue my “Hoop Dreams”.

Unfortunately, with basketball I did not make it to the big-leagues, many injuries and broken bones and also honestly I needed a different level of support at the time to just simply break through, which I felt was non -existent. However, through the sport of basketball I was fortunate enough to gain a higher level of education and experience a new world of adventures.

After I decided to hand up the shoes, and move on from basketball, I really felt a void that I had no clue how to fulfill, the competitive aspect of sports, team environment, and just simply a purpose and a pursuit for an end goal were a number of things I felt I had also lost!

Discovering Music:

I come from a the Nuer tribe in South Sudan, It is said that we are emotional but a poetic peoples! My younger sister I would say is the true poet in the family, I had an opportunity to watch her perform at her University event and it really just motivated me at that moment to also pursue writing. I felt the joy, pain and life in her poems and just knew that “writing” at least in the beginning was something I wanted to do. It wasn’t until several months later, when I found myself in another city, alone in my car, homeless really due to a series of unfortunate decisions even though I was employed that I began to record what I wrote over instrumentals in my friends closet!

This journey of humility really is what drives my music, the lyrics, instrumentals and stories told were a way to really push myself, for me to deal with my struggles and seek motivation to do better as a person.

What I am most proud of in this process is the fact that I no longer feared being vulnerable! I felt the strength in self-expression and most importantly the feedback I have received from people who listen to my music has been helpful in getting through the pains that independent artists often go through!

What I would like to say to my supporters and those who choose to tap in is that essentially we all find our calling! I am fortunate to have people share with me how my songs make them feel, the emotions that I am able to tap into and how their support is really one of the reasons I keep pushing.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My initial goal when I started recording music was to simply share how I felt, let the world know that I have something to say too!

Now, I am driven by the fact that my music can actually influence a feeling in another person, it can also help them get through what they need to get through. It is no longer, just a method for myself to cope with my days, but as a way to connect with people.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

It is no doubt that art is subjective, and even more so is music! I would say that often there are people who just can’t seem to understand that not everything is made for the audience, an artist’s inspiration could be and many times an internal emotion. Communicating that to the masses could be very tricky and complicated as interpretations at times really miss the point.

I think there should be a space for appreciating “Art” as it is, not always trying to dig deeper than what’s upfront or on record.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkosi_kek/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kek-101703628488208/?ref=pages_you_manage
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ruzcO4RqDDMC2U8HgndHr?si=WqxAMIgfTNec8D7O9RdpuA