Reggae EDM pioneer Kēvens, known for utilizing the power of his music to bring souls from all four corners of the world to dance together, has released his latest album, Call To Balance. Created during a time of self-reflection throughout the pandemic, this album blends reggae and electronic music with profound messages. In this exclusive interview, Kēvens shares insights into his music and the inspiration behind Call To Balance.


Could you share a bit about your background and family? How did these influences shape your music career?

Kēvens:  I grew up in a multicultural unit where my father listened to a lot of old Spanish music, like Celia Cruz and Miguel Aceves, and my mother listened to a wider variety, from Nana Mouskouri and James Brown to Bob Marley. But it was the Jamaican sound system that got a grip of my heart.

Before the music, there was flying. After high school, my dream was to be a pilot. I went to join the US military, but didn’t pass the entry test. I was a skinny, weak kid who didn’t have 20/20 vision. I didn’t know what to do, so I got a day job driving a small truck and making deliveries for a Toyota dealership, and on the side, I was DJing at night.


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Why did you choose reggaeEDM as your unique style, and what was the journey that led you to it?
Kēvens: The journey began the moment I became part of the dub reggae sound system culture here in South Florida. I was following a little sound called Virgin Virgo, and would jump on the mic from time to time, polishing my skills. After a little while, I started asking more of myself. I got into live music, jumping on any band stand that would give me the mic. And just by chance during a night I was DJing, a guest bass player and I jammed together with the local reggae band Copacetic. He loved what I was doing. He said, ‘Man, I love your energy and style. I have a little musical project I am doing. Come by my house if interested.

So I took his number, and a few days later I went to his house in the middle of nowhere. The house was so big! I walked into this room filled with pictures and memorabilia of Bob Marley and the Wailers. Pictures of Bob you’ve never seen before. I’m thinking, ‘This must be the rarest collection of Bob Marley,’ but everything was just lying around! I didn’t know where I was or who I was really with, but carried on without saying anything!
So we were jamming, four of us, for about an hour and a half. Then the other door that led into the kitchen slowly opened. This Rasta woman comes in: ‘Gentlemen, can I get you something to drink?’ I looked and stopped for a second. I thought, ‘It cannot be.’ I looked back at the walls covered with photos of Bob Marley, then back to this woman. ‘That’s Bob Marley’s mother!’ I looked back to this stranger who invited me to jam, and he was laughing ear to ear!
So I had jumped into a band with Bob Marley’s brother, Anthony. And I had no idea!


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Fast forward into the future, I wanted to break off the Marley brand and do my own thing, and I would get that chance. After becoming the face for a soft drink called Lilt in the UK, one night during a visit there, I went to a party and heard jungle and drum and bass with that ragga muffin MC to that foreign UK underground sound. I was hooked and determined to duplicate that live.

For years I tried, and the end result was unsatisfactory. But in 2023, I struck gold when I released Legal Dreamers, which made it to the top of the Jamaican reggae singles charts in Jamaica. I had already coined reggaeEDM and decided to start telling people about my specific brand of drum and bass jungle I call reggaeEDM.


During the challenging period of the pandemic, how did your approach to music change, and what inspired the creation of Call To Balance?

Kēvens: Call to Balance is simply my musical evolution, both as an artist and as a human being. It is a project that is born from something very deep, not only because of the challenges generated by the pandemic, but also because of the impact of transcendental events in my personal life. During that difficult period, in which I almost lost a loved one and felt the stalking of loneliness, I questioned my abilities and purpose as an artist, but found my strength and reason to live in the midst of a melting pot of doubts and emotions. Through this grueling process, I was inspired and produced an album that seeks to harmonize chaos and invites us to reflect and reconnect with ourselves.


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Could you explain the meaning and theme behind the title Call To Balance?

Kēvens: The title Call To Balance came to me after a meditation. It combines the depth of soul, reggae, and dub with the energy and dynamism of electronic music.


Your music often addresses various social issues and inequalities. What message are you hoping to convey through your work?

Kēvens: As long as mankind refuses to understand the symbiotic connection from nation to nation, people to Nature, spirit, and the Almighty, I will always be here to remind those who refuse to accept this axiom.


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You’ve had experiences performing in Japan. Could you share any memorable encounters with fans or special moments from your time there?

Kēvens: Of course. I was in Takamatsu for a show. During that promotion, my acting manager took me to a spot to enjoy a nice cup of gyokuro tea. There were all these bicycles riding during rush hour, and everyone was coming from work. This young man fell off his bike, and the whole entire flow stopped until this man got up. Nobody shouted out of frustration or used profanity. The man quickly got out of the way when he regained himself, took a bow, and moved on. I would never see something like that here in Miami.


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You performed at ULTRA KOREA, which is a unique achievement for a reggae artist at an EDM festival. What did that experience mean to you?

Kēvens: It meant a whole lot, considering I was the first theatrical artist to bring a live band and the first to bring pyrotechnics to that festival brand in 2000 when it was on Miami Beach.

So when ULTRA KOREA happened, those from ULTRA Miami who love and support my live act felt the urge to tell me how great Korea was. I was curious and anxious, hoping to go there one day. Finally, in 2018, ULTRA’s main VJ, Vello Virkhaus—whom I introduced to Alex in 2001 when he was looking for a VJ for the main stage—returned the favor by introducing me to the ULTRA KOREA booking agents.
In reflection, the head buyer and agents of ULTRA KOREA are some of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of working for in the industry. They practice the spirit of P.L.U.R.—a saying in the rave scene: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect—and that means everything.


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Do you have any particular message you’d like to share with your audience in Asia, especially in Japan and Korea?

Kēvens: I really miss performing for the people of Japan and can’t wait to go back—it’s been too long. South Korea is a special place. I want to spend more time there the next time I go back and can’t wait to rock Seoul with my new show.”


What is the most important message you want to share with the world through your music?

Kēvens: Positivity is a necessity.


Reflecting on your journey so far, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who want to blend genres or create their unique musical style, as you have with reggaeEDM?

Kēvens: When polishing a diamond, it takes a long time before it sparkles the right way. It might seem time is not on your side, but stay focused and keep polishing your sound and message. Be relevant in what you have to say, and everything will be alright.


Call To Balance
1. Battle for Peace
2. Soñadores Legales
3. Save Me
4. This is LOVE
5. Little Boy Blue
6. World Is Burning
7. Burn Down The Throne
8. Sweet Lady Liberty