Embedded Files
My name is Kevin Coem, and I'm a self-taught singer-songwriter, music producer, composer and lyricist from Spain. I was born on April 29 in Valencia, and I spent most of my childhood using audio edition software. It almost seemed like a game I wanted to keep playing, but I eventually got better at it and I started composing my own songs when I was around 18.
I learned English and Japanese by myself, and after studying more about music theory, composition and different music genres, I entered an audition with a self-composed song for the Japanese TV show "J-MELO" on NHK World, which I passed, by the way! That's where I teamed up with singer Ai Takekawa and guitarist Marty Friedman, and we had so much fun creating a song called "The only star" as a music project for that show.
I started releasing my own songs in Japanese in 2012, and that decision led to so many incredible experiences such as radio and TV interviews, taking part in cultural and charity events, and also performing live concerts in both Spain and Japan. I even held my own live tour in Japan 2 years in a row! And I also got public support from many Japanese artists, like May J., who hosts the show I passed an audition for, singers Nana Tanimura and Miho Fukuhara, music producers Kikuchi Kazuhito and U-Key zone, and many others, so despite the hardships that happened along the way, that music career was an unforgettable experience filled with great memories.
But in 2015 I thought it was the right time to look for a change and evolve as an artist, so I released one last album before stopping my music activities in Japan, I took some time off, and decided I would start over under a new stage name. That's when I stopped using my $4 microphone in favor of brand new professional equipment to keep improving and growing, and here I am, starting over as Kevin Coem!
20 questions
Can you share a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I started making songs when I was around 12 or 13. It was quite an awkward time in my life because that's when I also started experiencing bullying at school, but being able to find a safe place through a computer software allowed me to express myself, be calm and break away from the school environment.
At first it was just a simple audio editing program that had these blocks you could put together where every key was represented by a specific number, so if you wanted to create a song in the key of A you'd have to gather sounds that had the number 6 and hopefully a similar tempo as well, and it's not like I poured much creativity on that activity because I didn't know anything about music composition nor about creating my own work, but it was fun and I enjoyed it a lot. Moreover, eventually I started to get more and more involved in expressing myself through creating songs where all the sounds and melodies were made by me.
What inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
I've always liked singing but it's not like I ever thought I was good at it, so I've never been too comfortable with the "singer" part of the "singer-songwriter" tagline. Besides, when I first started releasing Japanese-language songs I encountered mean remarks about me online, so that made me feel very self-conscious about my vocals.
The truth is I simply wanted my songs to have vocals so they'd somehow feel more complete and polished, but as time went by I started to look for alternative ways to achieve that because I didn't want to sing my songs, such as finding someone else who'd sing them, trying a vocal synthesizer called Vocaloid, or even distorting my voice so it wouldn't sound like me. However, during the past few years I've grown to enjoy my voice, and learning to love myself vocal-wise surely feels much better.
What is your songwriting process like? Do you have any specific rituals or habits when you sit down to write music?
I sit down to write music whenever I feel like it, which could be pretty much any moment. There have been days where I've spent well over 10 hours working on music, and it's because I have this passion and ambition to create as much music as I can while I'm still alive that I'm able to simply drift away and get into my own world in a way I eventually forget even what time it is. As for my songwriting process, it always starts with composing the instrumental section of a song, then I create the vocal melody by humming or singing random melodies, then I write lyrics that match the vocal melody, and eventually I record the vocals, arrange the song, and master everything together so it sounds as good as possible.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
I thought I wasn't the kind of person who had any musical influences, because I mostly create music based on ideas that are born in my brain out of nowhere and no one really inspires me to compose those songs. However, these days I've noticed how much artists like Melanie Martinez, Emei, Cloudy June or Aly&AJ have inspired me as a lyricist, because writing lyrics used to be the part of my songwriting process I enjoyed the least ("English isn't my first language" sounds like a cliché yet it's definitely quite a handicap), but these artists made me realize it's okay to write about anything no matter how deep, sad, or even crazy it sounds, because it's okay to express whatever I'm feeling. So I guess they're definitely some of my biggest musical influences!
Can you describe the type of music you create in three words?
I'd define my songs as varied, cool and personal! After all, each song I create feels like my own baby somehow, so I try to pour as much individuality and originality as I can in each track I create so it becomes unique among my own song catalog.
What message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from your music?
It really depends on the song itself, as sometimes I make a specific song thinking it sounds like the kind of track you'd want to dance to no matter where you are, while other songs might sound less exciting musically and what actually adds depth to them is the lyrics. But if there's a message I'd like people to get when they listen to my songs, that'd probably be "I hope you liked this song enough you'll want to listen to it again!".
Do you have a favorite song or piece of music that you've written? If so, what makes it special to you?
The thing is my favorite song pretty much changes all the time! Sometimes I create a song, I write its lyrics, I record it, I edit everything, and after listening to it I realize my eyes are kind of teary because I'm really moved by how good it sounds, and then I usually think to myself "wow, this is the best song I've ever made!", but the truth is I go through this specific emotion quite often so I guess I probably make my best song like once a month. There are times when I make many songs in a row and they all sound like the best one I've ever made, so it's like I'm constantly getting teary-eyed feeling super proud of myself by thinking this new song sounds amazing without realizing that a couple days ago I had the exact same thoughts about my previous track.
How do you handle writer's block or moments of creative doubt?
I never really experience writer's block as in not being able to create music, but I definitely go through times when I just don't feel like creating music. For example, as an independent artist who manages pretty much every aspect of a music career, not obtaining the results I worked hard for can be quite discouraging and that might affect my motivation to sit down and create songs. Moreover, having my computer crash and lose a big part of my work is also one of the biggest blows I go through sometimes, as devicess simply break down eventually, and starting over with a new computer isn't always so easy when it comes to installing everything and dealing with system compatibility issues and stuff, so when that happens it usually takes me a few months to bounce back and go back to my so-called normal self where I'm able to enjoy creating music again.
How do you incorporate feedback or criticism into your creative process?
I actually don't really pay much attention to comments because, even though I always try to look on the bright side of things, there's this hate culture that affects pretty much anyone who shares their content online, no matter what that content is about, and cruel comments can feel really painful. I mean, I love to know it when someone liked one of my songs, and I truly appreciate honest opinions and constructive criticism, but I also know that I can't just focus on the positive comments, and since I don't want to be let down by mean comments it ends up being easier not paying attention to any kind of comment.
What has been the most memorable moment of your musical journey so far?
Standing on many stages in Japan! It's definitely been my favorite moment when it comes to my music career, not only because I know that an independent artist coming from Spain performing live in Japan without support from any kind of record label was a really bold move from me and I'm really proud of myself for it, but also because it's a really tangible event. I mean, I was there, I sang, I signed autographs while selling CDs, I took pictures with people in the audience, and I had all these experiences that feel somehow unreal but they were real indeed! It's an incredible memory I'll never forget, and I'll never be thankful enough for it.
Are there any upcoming projects or releases that you're particularly excited about?
Lately I've been in this kind of introspective mood where I'm taking things at my own pace, which is actually very necessary when it comes to any kind of creative process, as it can help you overcome feelings such as being tired or apathetic. Sometimes I feel like it's hard to keep a good motivation, mainly because the effort you put into projects and the recognition you might get aren't always on the same level, but I know when the right time for a new idea will eventually come, and when that happens I know I'll be ready for it. In the meantime, I try to keep growing and evolving as an artist with each new song I create.
How do you balance the creative aspects of being a musician with the business side of the industry?
I'm really creativity-oriented, which means I often struggle at the business side of the music industry, but I know it's important so I always try to be active on social media while studying trends and actions that could have a positive impact on my career.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes or stories from your experiences performing live?
I'm so bad at remembering my own lyrics, and by "bad" I mean I'm actually terrible at it! So I've had multiple experiences forgetting the lyrics and either making them up on the spot or singing other parts of the song. And it's not like neither of these work anyway, because there's always a backing track with pre-recorded support vocals playing and exposing my mistake as what I'm singing and the backing track don't seem to match. It's never been so bad I stopped singing because you know, they say "fake it 'til you make it" for a reason, but I must admit I've thought to myself "wow, there's no way this sounded good" a couple times because of the backing track completely exposing my mistake. Also, one time there was this naked guy running around the concert venue in Tokyo minutes before I was supposed to go on stage, so that was such an unexpected experience too!
How important is it for you to connect with your audience during live performances?
Most of my audience was Japanese after all, so it was really important for me to be able to express myself while speaking to them in Japanese, tell them why a Spanish person was standing on stage that night, and connect with them so they'd get to know me, my aspirations and my dreams. I must say I'm really proud of myself though, because I really think I was able to connect with the audience during those live performances, and it definitely shows seeing people really had a genuine interest in knowing more about me both during and after those concerts.
What advice would you give to aspiring singer-songwriters who are just starting out?
Don't read the comments online! A few weeks ago I posted this video called "moments that surprised me while performing in Japan", and there was this random old lady who left a comment saying "none of that happened, buddy" insinuating I was a liar, and then a teenager popped up saying "those moments surprised no one because they never happened, loser", and it was frustrating because first of all, what would I gain from lying? And the most important part is that those are some beautiful experiences I treasure in my heart, so I was really sad after seeing a couple strangers questioning they even happened.
As I mentioned previously, we live in these hate-influenced times when it comes to social media, so I'd recommend that person to focus on enjoying the creative process and not let the reactions online influences them. Social media is a great tool when it comes to connecting with other people, but losing your own essence in that word full of likes, views and statistics can definitely happen, so loving the creative process is really important no matter what happens next.
How do you see your music evolving in the future?
It's evolved so much during the past few years that I think it'll simply broaden to new genres, new sounds and new ideas. Last week I made my first track inspired by Jersey club music and I created a trap-inspired beat for the first time, and this week I chose a French word for the first time for a song's title, so I'm constantly trying out new stuff when it comes to my music, and I definitely think the way it'll evolve in the future is by expanding even further to approach new ideas.
Are there any specific themes or topics that you find yourself drawn to in your songwriting?
Freedom is quite a recurring topic in my songs. I tend to find myself writing about running away quite often, and it's not that I want to literally run away and start from scratch somewhere else, but somehow I want to feel that kind of freedom when you fully know who you are, as I don't think I've achieved that yet. After all, when I write about running away I don't mean it in a literal way, but as a way to find out who I truly am through my own songs.
Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines that you follow before going on stage?
I haven't performed live in quite a few years, so I'm not sure whether I'd come up with any pre-show ritual these days, but back then I was simply waiting for my turn to go on stage. I didn't really get nervous and I didn't do anything special before performing, I was just waiting standing like a robot. I remember some staff members from the Japanese concert venues even complimented me on that saying "wow, you are so diligent and hardworking you seem like a Japanese person now".
What role do you think music plays in society today?
Music can change everything. It can make you feel happy, it can remind you of a traumatic breakup, and it can even encourage you to do things you never thought you'd do. It can affect your mood in any way, and it can add much more depth to daily life events like taking the subway or going to college. I recently discovered how much joy I get from discovering new artists on Spotify on the way to work, because the 1-hour subway ride feels endless and sad, but listening to new songs and artists makes me feel less worn out somehow.
Music can make all the good moments feel even better, and it can definitely make all the sad moments feel even more awful, but if it can influence our lives so much and have such a big impact on them, that truly shows how magic music can be.
Finally, what do you hope to achieve with your music in the long term?
Performing live in Japan was my goal for quite a long time and, despite how hard it seemed, I eventually reached it, so my goal at the moment is getting my music played on the radio. I know some radio stations have already played my songs, but they're often located so far that it somehow doesn't feel real to me, so I think if one of my songs was played on a Spanish radio station I'd come to realize I've truly achieved that goal. And I hope I will!
Google Sites
Report abuse