Interview with K’coneil

INTERVIEW WITH

by Mike Ponin

K’CONEIL

K’CONEIL is a singer-songwriter with aspirations of acting. He enjoys the creative process of the industry and takes pride in being involved in the entire process. This includes writing, recording, and performing his creations.

“I combine different types of genres to create my own sound”

#GENREFLUID

G_enrefluid is a concept that my manager and I created, which truly defines my music and has transformed into a movement and a brand. We define it as “the ability to float through different genres in an attempt to create a palette of sonic perfection.” Essentially, it encourages the release of art and supports creativity so as not to be bogged down by stereotypes and by people trying to label you. These same labels limit your potential or creativity and thus your progression. I try to promote this message in my articles on my websites, www.kconeilmusic.com and www.genrefluid.com.

A REMARKABLE ENTRY ON THE US BILLBOARD

K’CONEIL — LOVE / LUST EP

LOVE / LUST EP

I’ve had many remarkable moments in my short career so far. My Lovelust EP debuting at number 20 on the Billboard Reggae chart and number 10 on the iTunes reggae charts is by far my greatest achievement to date. I’ve been blessed with several “number one” rankings for different songs from the EP, but none surpass these two accomplishments.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR SECRET SAUCE, K’CONEIL HAS FOUND HIS

— Mainstream media might compare you to artists like Usher, Kranium, or OMI, but perhaps you don’t appreciate the labels. What’s your “secret sauce” that sets you apart?

Comparisons in this industry are inevitable; fortunately, these comparisons have put me in good company, as they are all artists I genuinely love and respect who are successful in their own right. This means my music is probably being received well, and for that, I am grateful. However, I’d like to think I’ve developed my own “Genrefluid/Mixfluid” sound in which I combine different types of genres to create my own sound.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you the sauce… as you said, it’s a secret :)

THE ISLAND BOY

— So far, you’ve evolved a lot in the United States, but what about the Caribbean?

My fan base is growing every day in the United States as well as in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. The island boy in me will always be in my music and adds a lot of flavor to that secret sauce you mentioned earlier. I hope this aspect will attract more Caribbean fans and lead me to release more productions. I’m looking forward to performing in the region and converting more fans.

LOVE HOW YOU WHINE

— Tell us about your duet with Kreesha Turner.

I met Kreesha a few years ago when we performed on the On The Reggae and Soca Tip show on New York’s Hot 97 radio station, and we’ve always kept in touch. Due to our schedules, we never had the chance to work together on music. However, when I recorded this track: “Love How You Whine,” producer Troyton Remi suggested adding a female voice to the final rendition, and we immediately thought of Kreesha. We sent it to her, and she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Kreesha flew to NY the following week, and we went into the studio and wrapped up the sound in one night, and the story continues from there. The song highlights the sultry dances of women when they “Whine”… how it doesn’t leave men indifferent around the world. It’s a whole art form that deserved to be highlighted, and I enjoy doing it.

— “THE FRENCH WEST INDIES” Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Martin, Guyana, does that resonate with you… Have you ever thought about collaborations?

Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to visit those islands or perform there, but I’m seriously considering it in the near future. I hear that French is the language of love, so I’m excited to bring the Love / Lust experience to those shores. Promoters feel free to reach out to us on www.kconeilmusic.com.

_In fact, I don’t personally know any artists from the French Caribbean, but I will do some research after this interview and get familiar with them :).

I admire the opportunity to collaborate with any talented artist. If it makes sense and the song is promising, then I’m in!!

MY INFLUENCES

I grew up in a singing household where we went to church every week, and I started singing there. Gospel music taught me to sing with soul and a connection to the heart.

Beyond the church, I was and still am a huge fan of Soul and RnB music. So R Kelly, Babyface, and Brian McKnight captivated me early on with their writing and singing styles. Being interested in their songs at a young age really helped me develop my early admirers and aided me in my loves. I fell in love with that music.

Beres Hammond is also another one of my influences, for his tone and dexterity in the lower register. This pushed me to experiment and try to develop similar skills.

K’CONEIL & BEENIE MAN

Beenie Man might be my favorite artist without a doubt due to his ability to masterfully handle any audience during a performance.

— RNB, Reggae, Dancehall... why not Soca or Zouk soon? Do you have a genre that you particularly favor?

To be honest, I feel comfortable in all genres, but the one I’m least comfortable with would be soca. My preference is RnB soul music because it’s music from the heart, but I really love everything, and I’m not one to shy away from a challenge… so Machel and Bunji better watch out, lol.

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“Big up KRIBBEAN and keep pushing the culture!! Much love.”

— The French Kribbean —