We were lucky to catch up with Kevin Laurent recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

It was March 2024. I had just gone through one of the worst break ups ever while living in Pennsylvania. I was devastated, distraught, feeling all the feels. I moved out towards the end of the month and by April I was in New York. Since I had to leave the state, I also had to leave my job and so for about a month I was unemployed. I started recording music to pass the time. I told myself I was going to pour it all into the craft but I couldn’t get her out of my mind. We tried to stay in contact but it was no use, the bond was dead. By May I had blocked her across all of my social media platforms just to get her out of my head and locked myself in the gym, working out twice a day. I had a few talks with close friends about the situation and my feelings afterwards and they just kept reminding me of what I had accomplished in life, who I was before any of this occurred. That’s when it clicked.

I decided to go back to the music and this time I started making some of the best songs I had ever made. It was a dance album about heartbreak. The project came about by way of the universe and I titled it “Forgot Who I Was”. It was a double entendre, both describing the feeling of being forgotten by someone you love and them moving on without you, but also the feeling of discovering who you are and who you were in the first place. The album is full of affirmations and confidence boosters for not only myself but for anyone who listens to it. It saved my life, and my career.

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

My name is Kevin Laurent, or simply Laurent. I was born and raised in the Bronx and started writing music around 13, but I didn’t take it seriously until I was 21. That’s when I dropped my first mixtape, Center of Attention (2011), which received strong local acclaim. I’ve always loved the art form—everything from structure and riffs to samples and production fascinated me.

In 2014, I moved to California, and that shift in environment gave me a new spark. The sound of radio was different, and the entire music landscape—from distribution to promotion—had evolved. I adapted, got creative, and began releasing music professionally on major platforms in 2017. By 2018, I was ghostwriting for other artists, and in 2019 I dropped my first EP, Resort.

Since then, I’ve been recording, mixing, and mastering independently, traveling the world, while also earning plays on internet and international radio stations worldwide. I’ve also stood in as creative director for small independent brands as well as other artists, assisting in creating content, putting together shoots with major production all out of pocket, for the love of the craft. I’ve also designed my own merch, which is going to be put out very soon as well.

What sets me apart from other artists is not only about pushing the button on what I think will excite the fans, but most importantly just making music that I love. I think the most vital aspect for me is being honest and vulnerable in your art. I can be very reserved in real life but on record I’m all over the place emotionally. I got my artist name from the great Yves Saint Laurent. I visited his atelier in Paris. I read about him online and watched documentaries. He was also reserved but his passion lived in his art, and I strive to do the same.

My brand is about how I experience the world. It’s also about discovering your power and putting it at the forefront of what you do. When I go I want my impact to be that I added something to the conversation, to the culture, whether it be sonically or visually.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Honestly, pay for the music you love. I come from a time when your favorite artist dropped an album or a project and you went out and bought the CD. Even if you could stream it, you’d still buy the physical disk because you needed to have it. It was that impactful. I used to buy two, so I can listen to one and keep the other one in pristine condition. As much as I love streaming, it’s made the tangible intangible. Even though some of the aspects of a physical disk are still available, with digital booklets and etc, it’s not the same as opening your favorite artists’ CD and finding a cool poster or keepsake inside.

You want your favorites to keep making impactful music? Pay them. Support them by buying the music.

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

I strive to be timeless. I want to make timeless music. I hate to hear a record and it sounds outdated. And that’s only something that’s recently come about. It all started with BMF in 2010 or 11, but thats a different conversation. Regardless, I want to make music that transcends time. I don’t want to rap forever. I want to ease into the house and dance lane seamlessly like a David Guetta or Calvin Harris, respectfully.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/laurentareyouserious
• Instagram: @laurentareyouserious
• Twitter: @whotfislaurent
• Youtube: @laurentareyouserious
• Other: Tiktok: @laurentareyouserious