Kxng says ‘It’s a vibe’
Recording artiste Kxng Izem is gearing up to release a double EP titled Midnight Til Dawn which he believes will introduce listeners to his versatility.
“The project is designed to take you on an exciting journey of new musical experiences. The vibe and feel is youthful and energetic, upbeat and embodies the youthful phrase ‘it’s a vibe,’ “, the artiste told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.
Set for debut today, March 24, the project — which features two sides, namely Midnight and Til Dawn — is a combination of dancehall, reggae, rock and trap.
It was co-produced by Ten24 Music Kalex. The body of work also features contributions from other producers and composers, among them Shakespeare, Island.Wav, Delagroove, Ambrose (Sweet Rush Music), and Ceddii Sosa.
“The Midnight side expresses potent and relatable lyricism, wittiness, consciousness, and a soulful Rastafari messages in a new and modern form with a lot of vibes. Til Dawn modernises 90s dancehall, which the industry has been yearning for. It also has elements of rocksteady and R&B to evoke soothing and sultry feelings,” the entertainer, whose given name is Dmitri Cummings explained.
The St Andrew native anticipates that the relatability of the project will yield him his big break.
“I expect an explosive breakout into the world of Jamaican music. I want this project to propel my music into the mainstream music industry in Jamaica and garner international attention. I want this not only for myself, but also for others who are doing the music in a positive way that is still youthful and ‘dope’ enough to play on the global stage,” he said.
Intrigued by music, Kxng Izem started his musical journey in high school. His first official studio recording Wildfire was released in March 2021. Since then he’s released other successful tracks such as Haunted, Guard Ring, Stone Love and The Ruler.
His earlier influences came from the likes of Bob and Damian Marley, Protoje, Kendrick Lamar, and Capleton.
He further noted that one of his main mandates is to positively influence society through his craft.
“For me, as a musician, the message is everything. I learnt a lot from Rastafari and reggae music also helped me to have a more positive mindset towards life and people. With that knowledge, I always felt music was a very important way to share important values and so I always ensure that I put that back into my music,” he said.
While the focus is currently on the double EP, the artiste is looking ahead and already anticipating future works following this project.
“The journey is long, and the rise is inevitable. I see myself as a front-runner and so I’ll continue to work and remain humble as I welcome the opportunities as they arise while Kxng Izem’s music grows bigger and bigger,” he added.
