We recently connected with Kemoni Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Kemoni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I have been doing music originally as an Artist since I was 13. I never had a lot of money as a kid so I did not go to professional studios, mainly because I always thought that somehow you had to be famous to go to one and it would be expensive. So, I did what I’m sure a lot of kids in my situation did, go to Walmart and buy a mic, then shop around for some free daws (Music Maker at the time). I have always had a passion for creating music, However, I never took it seriously or even had the means to do it. I would create songs after songs, experiment, play them with a small group of friends and family, and then listen to the criticism that follows. I would often be annoyed by my friends telling me to “Put that out! This is a hit”, but as a person who never prepared for life as a creative, I didn’t.

Eventually, I put myself out there on Soundcloud and I was happy that some people listened to my music even if it was only 300 people. But still, I never remained consistent and with the music I made, I always played it safe. Was a bit discouraged that some would listen to my music once and never again, so feeling down, I stopped sharing my music. I continued recording, but I would never release it. I did not feel my songs were worth putting up.

All that would change in 2019, nearly a decade after my first start, and late in life I decided to finally take a chance and give it my all. I had lost my job even by playing it safe and it was at that moment I have reflected on a speech Jim Carey made online speaking about taking a chance on doing what you love, and that inspired me. So, I set out to learn all there was to know such as, engineering, music industry business, song development, vocal development, and just putting myself out there. I learned a lot, but still, I felt as if, no matter what I learned, I still was not ready. Some months passed and I remember going to a friend’s open mic to show support, no other intentions other than support. The open mic was called ReplayATL. I never sang a song to anyone during this time, hell, I stayed quiet most of the time. I arrived a bit too early and everyone was doing rehearsals and sound checks. I was asked to help rehearse, and eventually, after the artists pried me open they learned I do music too, which prompted them to peer pressure me to perform one of my own songs. After much hesitation, I was convinced that no one would make a big deal out of it, so, I decided to play and rehearse a song one of my friend Don said would be a hit. That song would be a freestyle I titled “Time”.

Never had I left a whole group of people speechless, it was scary honestly. In my mind, I thought I did horribly and I wanted to stop. To my surprise, I did not expect or anticipate that it would become a regular occurrence to perform at the events, testing out songs of mine. It wasn’t too long after that, that other people from other venues started inviting me to other events and places, and from that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be in this life.

So a long story short, the biggest risk I took in my life, started by going to ReplayATL and performing one of my songs for the first time ever.

Kemoni, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Media Vybe Entertainment was not originally meant to be a label for independence just like how it is now. I created Media Vybe Entertainment as a placeholder to hold my works under. Slowly I would meet Lay Luscious, NovaDaBrat, MAI the Official, B-Doug, Ashley The Writer, MacBizzy, 20kShawty, K.O, Psoria, Dria, Valenciago, Syanide, Prosper, Litso, and then add my brother Cali YaYo, and long time friends Big Dezzy, & Shoandphoto.

Creatives from Artists to Producers, Models to Photographers. We are “truly Independent”, just a label full of individuals who lean on each other like family. We hope to show the world that we can make a path ourselves and give everyone who may not have the most money or best resources but rather the talent, passion, and genuine goal to spread love to others. Bringing back love into music. Showcasing we do not need to practice bad business or do cut-throat approaches to make it. You can be 100% yourself at all times and still maintain professionalism. Overall, realism is our selling point. You get the real us, every time. These individuals carry the same love and passion for music as I do and they have the same heart as I do, wanting to help than destroy. And just like me, they have risen from obstacles meant to break them down.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Well, that would be the art of self-doubt and self-sabotage.

I have always been the odd one in any group. Never really normal, had this uncanny spirit of the nativity. I was taught that goodwill only attracts good and only when you are good enough, you should see all the benefits of life. Unaware a lot of the time, I was only the butt of all jokes. Never really believing in myself because of so many times I have been turned down in life in all aspects. music, jobs, cliques. and love. I have always felt as if no matter how good I would try to be, I would only be looked at as a loser or a reject. Hell, my life in a lot of ways reflects that way. It wasn’t until 2019 that I start unlearning playing things safe and starting to bet on myself more. Not caring if it works or fails, I have tasted the bottom, and just as before I can always get back up. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you do not take, why give up before you even take the first shot.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In blunt honesty, bring back love into music as a message, pay artists fairly, stop shady business practices that harm music, and most importantly, allow individualism.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mve-ent.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialkemoni/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kemoniofficial
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/justkemoni
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/kemoni

Image Credits
Kevin “Kerration” Kerr Q. Taylor Creative Media, LLC KeMoNi