Kev.O's Top 9 of 2009

Only by the grace of God, 2009 has been an amazing year in so many ways! It has been the joy of new opportunity and the pain of the purge. I've learned to not only be grateful for what I've gained, but to also to be grateful for the things I've lost, as hard as they may be to separate from. I've learned to love myself in a completely different way, which has allowed me to love others that much more, and to accept help where I clearly need it. Yes, 2009 has had its trials, but I would like to acknowledge (in no particular order) the triumphs of 2009!

1. Lovolution: The Urban Alternative is finally finished and available at KevOTheArtist.com. Go get it! I'm so proud of it. Lots of pleasant surprises there.
2. We had the pleasure of performing with great artists like Andrae Alexander, YahZarah aka Purple Saint James, Bilal Salaam, Deborah Bond, Jessica Gabrielle, Candace Coles, Kim Poole, Emmanuel, KONSHENS, The Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Choir, Bomani Armah, Reverb, Maureen Andary, SolEdler, Tre' Thomas, Shaun H Mykals, Alison Carney, Amber Mimz, Jay Mills, Tamika Jones, J Hill, Green Tea, Distinction, Jon Bibbs, Midian, Indigo Rose, Jason Reynolds, David James, Terrence Cunningham, Carolyn Malachi, Marc Evans, Wayna, and Ayanna Gregory.
3. I was honored to work with the kids at The Grammy Foundation's annual Career Day Vocal Coaching Workshop. Special shout out to Mrs Williams and the students at Wilson High School for coming out the past two years!
4. I reached #5 on the ReverbNation.com Alternative charts! Thanks to all of you who have supported by listening and purchasing my music!
5. I got to hang out with Chanel, CL, and JJ at WOLB a couple times and had a blast both times!
6. We performed on Live! on Woodrow Wilson Plaza this summer. Thanks Aisha Davis for taking a risk on us!
7. We appeared on WHW Rocks! Thanks April Watts! We had so much fun both on stage and in the audience.
8. We performed for Gap's Born to Fit launch, an opportunity for which I am humbled and grateful. A special shout out to the folks at the Bowie Town Center location! Thanks for the jeans!
9. I received my first award as a solo artist this year - "Best Alternative Artist" from Velocity Magazine. A big Thank You to Anthony Anderson!

I'm also grateful for those who have been working with me behind the scenes and on stage with me to make this all possible, including Kimberly E Douglas, Keila White, Frank Sheffield, Eric Pogue, Scott Flicker, Eric Harris, and my incredible band, including Mr. Turner, Jesse Daumit, Robbie McDonald, Zach Cutler, Biscuit Bynum, Sol Zahran, Andrae Alexander, Harris James, Christie Dashiell, SolEdler, and Carmela. Thanks to all the radio personalities, journalists, promoter, venues, and DJs across the nation and around the world who have helped to spread the word! I have the best family in the WORLD, and they've been a great support to say the least. So, thank you Wayne (my dad), Beryl (my mom), Tia (my sister), and Kris and Ken (my brothers) for EVERYTHING!

Finally, none of this would be possible without ears to listen, feet and money to get to the shows, and mouths to spread the word. So, thanks to all of you, my support, for your dependable presence! With your help, I'm looking forward to an even greater 2010!

Peace.

Kev.O

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Searching for Strenth in the Stride

Though I try my best to be positive and encouraging, it's tough when you know your purpose and it seems like everything is coming to hold you back. I mean, I've hit a dry spot with performing, my album release is on hold, which is holding back the bigger, paying gigs, and I can't seem to find employment that'll sustain me in the mean time and allow me enough freedom to keep this ball rolling. (Yes, even with a degree!) So, I'm broke right now. I mean, I am B-R-O-K-E!!

Never been so broke in all my life. So broke it makes me question my drive. Am I working, searching, listening, thinking hard enough? How driven am I? What am I willing to do? Am I as ambitious as I think I am? Am I relentlessly driven enough to be successful with the career path I've chosen? Do I have things mixed up? How irresponsible am I? Will I be an old man in the same position I'm in today or is success really right around the corner, as I tend to believe?

Of course, the plan is always to stay positive, but is what's positive what's true? I guess no one really knows until they do. I just thank God for strength, courage, wisdom, peace, patience, kindness, humility, joy, and faith to see this through and find out.

The Strength of Legacy

It's times like this - having most recently lost musical legends like Michael Jackson - that help us to realize the strength of legacy. Most of us live our lives building a reputation, but legacy goes much further than that. Legacy is that which inspires others and lives beyond the body the concieves it; it lives, breeds, and transforms into generations that fuel a movement.

As we each continue to pave our own roads, whether we're using gravel and a rake or a steam roller and gold nuggets, let's not forget to concider the legacy we each create for ourselves and those inspired by us. True, we may not be the next MJ, but each day, we're the hottest new version of ourselves, and rest assured that the rest of the world is watching and taking notes. Be a legend.

In the mean time, if you haven't already, please opt-in to recieve updates on future appearances, releases, giveaways, and contests right in your Inbox from Kev.O by signing up for the email list. Just click the link below:

http://www.reverbnation.com/KevOTheArtist?add_email=true

Peace.

Kev.O
info@KevOTheArtist.com
www.KevOTheArtist.com

1117 Music
PO Box 44297
Washington, DC 20026-4297

Green Tea's "Crazy Feelin'" Video

I didn't want to post anything until the video was actually released, but it was just on BETJ just an hour ago. So, here we go!

Now, with a videographer for an uncle, I've been on my fair share of music video sets (and movie sets, for that matter), but this was my first time actually performing in front of the camera for a music video. Green Tea made it an incredible experience! She's like magic in front of the camera!

Hope you enjoy it, and please continue to request it on your favorite TV and internet stations that play music videos.

Imitation is easier than re-creation!

If my name is written "Kev.O" EVERYWHERE in all my communications (websites, posters, CD's, emails, business cards, etc.), where do these variations, like "Kev-O", "Kevo", "Kev O", "Kevin O", and "Kev O." come from? In fact, on my MySpace page, I actually reinforce the spelling right next to my name. If I were referencing sombody named Jim in writing, I wouldn't write "Jym". To me, it would seem as if imitation is so much easier than re-creation, but maybe I'm missing something. Can you help me out?

It's Not Easy Being Indie

This journey as an independent artist has been interesting to say the least, but I wouldn't trade any moment of it for the world! Just earlier this week, I was honored with the opportunity to perform as a feature act at one of more historic venues in DC - Bohemian Caverns. Thankfully, everything went incredibly well! However, this triumph did not come without a few lessons:

1. Timely communication goes a long way. People love to have options. Not communicating in a timely manner rids people of those and causes unnecessary stress. Understandably, things happen, but communicating early shows that you at least care, which can keep you on the good list and off the "do not call" list. In many cases, you know when you're on the prior, but you may not know if you're on the latter.


2. No one is indispensable. Last minute stunts will almost certainly rid you of your gig and guarantee that you won't be hired again (at least not by the same folks or people that ask them for referrals).


3. God will never set you up for failure. All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called to do that which is being attempted. For the first time, I actually played keys on my set with a band and realized this is something I can do more often. I also got the opportunity to include an amazing guitar player in the line-up! On top of all that, I've been blessed to be in the company of some incredibly capable musicians (singers and instrumentalists). So, though there were a few bumps in the road, a train wreck was nowhere in sight.


4. Being in good spirit is always a great idea! The morning before the day of the show began as a stressful one due to the complications of being an independent artist - being broke, dealing with my body's painful response to stress, entertaining insecurities... Imagine anything, and you'll probably hit the nail on the head. Though not much would be required of me that day, I would have plenty of time to dwell on what was NOT going the way I wanted. Once I realized what was going on with my energy, I immediately began to thank God for the opportunity to do what I do, for the people involved in the process, and for the people who actually enjoy it. As you can imagine, this completely changed my mood, and I decided that the rest of the day and the next would be fantastic! It all comes back around to gratitude, and gratitude breeds joy. Likewise, the energy flowed from the figurehead to the toe.

Winter Vacation in Atlanta

As a independent musician, it's often a challenge to find time or money to go home and visit with family. Add to that a younger brother who now lives in Dallas pursuing his career goals and an older brother who was traveling a lot with his job, and you get a family who doesn't get to see each other all at once very often.

With the economy going the way it's going and anticipation of the new LP release, life itself has been quite a challenge to say the least. With so many things that have gone lacking, the one things I yearned for was to see my family. I turned 26 this year on November 17, and I have to say I have the best friends in the world! We celebrated the ENTIRE month! Yet, my heart still yearned for my family. It's like we as people give so much of ourselves in our day-to-day interactions, especially those of us who are in business for ourselves, leaving one void that only family can fill.

So, not long before my birthday, my mom and I were on the phone, and somewhere in there my birthday came up. Now, I'm not really one to ask for things, even for my birthday, unless I'm down to the wire and I need a bailout. In a way, I usually enjoy the risks and challenges of life, but this was one of those times I needed a bailout. I needed to be bailed out of DC and to Atlanta to spend some quality time with my family, who I had not seen in about a year. So, I said to mom, "Mom, you know what I want for my birthday?" My mom didn't know this, but my eyes were full of tears.

She said, "What?"

I said, "I want to come home."

"When," she asked.

Initially, I wanted to come home for Thanksgiving. Honestly, If I could have gotten on a plane that same day, I would have, but she reminded me that my younger brother was out of town, and a few other family members (who I can't recall right now) would not be around for Thanksgiving. As a performer, my holidays are usually a hectic time to try and take a vacation, but somehow the weeks of Christmas and New Years were wide open!

Anyone comes into their adulthood away from home might say that suddenly returning home to Mom and Dad's house is an interesting situation to say the least. Though I absolutely LOVE my parents, the thrill of my own independence usually calls me back to DC after a few days. However, this time (and last time, to be honest), was so different! Though I was a little upset because I was challenged financially for the entire vacation, there's something soothing about being around a group of people who love you just as much as you love them, despite any shortcomings or achievements.

Though the entire trip was great, there were a few moments that really stood out to me. The first of them was seeing my mom and dad exchange gifts. Stylistically, my parents are exact opposites; my dad is very basic while my mom is tastefully flashy. It was touching to see them acknowledge each other for exactly who they are through their gifts. One of my best friends/manager also joined us for Christmas, and my entire family agrees that she was a fantastic addition to the celebration. I was also introduced to my new favorite game Cranium!! My niece, who is only 6, sang so beautifully for a group of us, and she really commanded the audience's attention. I was so proud of her. My aunt took me to see this incredible band at a place called Arizona's in Lithonia and actually worked me into the set! Right afterward, I rushed over to see another of my best friends and his wife, who I haven't seen in about 6 months, at a jam session. During our sibling outing, the first we've all really been able to do together since we're all separated by three years, except my younger brother, who is four calendar years younger than me, I took up a new hobby, POOL! I also, got to hang with a family friend who I had not seen since he was a toddler, and he's grown to be an INCREDIBLE producer! We actually did some recording together while I was in town. Then, I found out that my mom is good friends with one of my favorite songwriters ever, and she had been in my parents' home for hours before I found out who she was! I think what made the biggest impact on me during my vacation was finding out that my grandfather was not only part of the first integrated troop from the US during the Korean War, but he was also the only African American from Georgia.

Needless to say, this trip was packed with some incredible experiences, and I return to the District refreshed and with a new drive.