Interview with Kloud 9


Q: You also pursued a career in the music buisness as managers since the release of your debut album On Kloud 9. Please tell me more about these jobs.

Kloud 9: Well we're actually record executives not managers and it's something we've been doing for quite some time. Kelvis has actually been with Sony/BMG/Verity Records as the National Director of Radio Promotions for over 10 years and Kendall has worked for various companies as the A&R head.

Q: Why don't you release your music on the labels you work for?

Kloud 9: We actually both work for Gospel record companies that exclusively promote and distribute Gospel music and Kloud 9 is smooth R&B/Soul.
However that label Kendall is with now Alliant Music Group/D3 entertainment is doing other things outside of Gospel through Koch distribution and we'll release "Yearning 2 Love" through that system in March 2006.
Also Kendall produced a compilation last year entitled "Soul Sophisticated" which featured music from Kloud 9, Maysa, Laurnea and others through a division of one of the labels he was working for at the time. So whenever it makes sense we do things for the labels we work for.

Q: Will your daytime job affect your career as musicians (e.g. limit your availability for touring)?

Kloud 9: It shouldn't affect us too much, we're both at the executive level and have some flexibility with our personal time away from the office. We've been doing quite a few dates over the last year and have managed to make it work for us thus far.

Q: I really like the way you sing together and assumed that as twins you had a lifetime to practice. Please tell me how you've started singing and how you've finally ended doing it professional.

Kloud 9: I think you're right Dirk, most family singing groups have a special kind of blend that has something to do with genetics. We grew up in a home where our mother was a church musician and always kept us singing in church. There were also times growing up when we actually sang for food, my mother would take us to restaurants and tell the manager she didn't have money but needed to feed her kids and we could sing to show our appreciation. Kelvis and I had to be only 8 or 9 years old and we would get on the table and sing and dance and they would feed us. We grew up in a single parent home and our mother worked 2 jobs trying to raise 6 kids. I recall being at home in our early teen years and the lights were turned off due to lack of payment and we would light candles and sing until our mom got home from work to pass the time away. I guess it just continued and the love and passion for music became stronger and stronger and it eventually led us to doing exactly what we do today.

Q: You've worked with Incognito again on Yearning 2 Love. But unlike Promise on your debut this time you actually haven't recorded it together in one studio. Please tell me how you've finished So Many Reasons without meeting Bluey and his band.

Kloud 9: Well having our studio this time around made a big difference! Last time around we were flying from L.A. to Detroit to London trying to make this record, this time we finished the entire record at the Vibe Room in Nashville and then at the suggestion of the record company we called Bluey to add his touch to what we already laid down. It worked out great and we really thank Bluey and Incognito for being so kind and willing to help us out again. Relationships mean everything in this business!

Q: You've also worked with artists like Mitchell Jones, Karen Bernod, Tonia Hughes or Kirk Whalum on your albums. What is the crucial factor other artists should have? And with which artists would you like to work in the future?

Kloud 9: Well Dirk, we really go with a vibe, if the person adds something we like we go with it. Rather they have a name or not. There is obviously a certain level of skill a singer or musician must have but it's not based on name value alone. Kirk happens to be a friend who we thought would be perfect for the Jermaine Jackson remake on "Don't Take it Personal" But then Russell White who at the moment is an unheard of talent was perfect for "So Many Reason's" and "Just Another Day" The same goes for Tonia Hughes, an incredible talent I discovered through my A&R work at Light records. She really made the difference on the track "Step Away". Then of course our good friend and blood brother Mitchell Jones was just inevitable :-) He's smooth like butter baby!

Q: What do you think of the need for soul songs also to be available as house/dance mixes to appeal to different markets? And what's your opinion about the dance mixes of So Many Reasons by Copyright and Reel People?

Kloud 9: I'm not sure there's a real need or not. Some songs lend themselves to a great dance mix and others don't. "So Many Reason's" already having a driving groove, just felt like an obvious dance mix was needed. As for Copyright productions and Reel people, we absolutely love what they've done to the track! Brilliant guys!

Q: Do you have a favourite Kloud 9 song which sums up what Kloud 9 is all about? Which one?

Kloud 9: Well the songs that we feel are classic Kloud 9 in style are "Happy", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", and "Wanna Show You Love". From the 1st album I'd say "With Me", "Priority" and "If You Ever". But we felt the need to stretch a little and add more R&B infused material to our smooth soulful sound with tunes like "Special One", "Crave" and "I Like it". I think my personal favorite song (Kendall) is "Ready, Willing, Wanting".

Q: Your debut album was released in your home country USA as well. Was it as successful as the European release on Expansion? Will the new album be released in the USA as well and where do you see Kloud 9's main market?

Kloud 9: The last album was not officially released through a proper distribution system stateside, but we sold it to various specialists shops around the country, online and at our shows. This time around we have a nice music video for "Special One" to help with the set up and the new project will be properly released through Koch distribution and I would say our market would be very similar to acts like Kem, Kindred The Family Soul and The Isley Brothers.

Q: You are now based in Nashville, Tennesse. Please tell me something about the music scene there. I'm sure there must be more than just country music...

Kloud 9: Nashville is a great city, it is also home to Gospel music and we're starting to see a budding smooth jazz and R&B scene here as well. Hopefully we can aide in that movement :-)

For more infos visit kloud9.com, expansionrecords.com and read my review of Yearning 2 Love.