Heart & Soul

It’s been more than five years since singer-songwriter-producer Kem released the jazzy R&B-flavored “Kem Album II.” With contributions from Jill Scott and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s string section, the 10 songs on his new release, “Intimacy,” reveal an artist who is stretching his versatility and opening up about deeply personal lessons.

HEART & SOUL: What made you want to delve into the land of intimacy?
KEM: I was at a place in my life where I thought I knew all there was to know about intimacy. I mean, I wrote “When Love Calls” and “Can’t Stop Loving You.” I should have the market cornered on intimacy. But that wasn’t the case. Things transpired in my life and relationships that let me know I had more exploring to do, more learning to do about the subject of intimacy.

HEART & SOUL: Intimacy is definitely complex.
KEM: I’ve always seen intimacy from the lover’s perspective, not from the perspective of a friend or my son. There are all types of intimacy. It’s about having a conversation about being vulnerable—intimacy on levels deeper than just the physical.

HEART & SOUL: Are you exploring how women forgive in “Why Would You Stay?”
KEM: The song is about a man who sees his woman is still willing to work on their relationship and stay in spite of his infidelity. Women will stand in a man’s corner and take things a man wouldn’t take. Women are much more forgiving. Their love comes from different place. All we see is the physical act. We don’t see all the stuff that comes underneath.

HEART & SOUL: What are you referring to when you talk about accepting yourself on the YouTube video introduction to Intimacy?
KEM: Acceptance of self is an ongoing process. The insecurities we have as men and women, the doubt and fear we live with, I’m starting to notice all that melts away as we get older. I’m okay with me. I’m cool with who I am. That’s not to say we don’t have faults. Overcoming our faults begins with accepting ourselves. That is the first level of intimacy. Then you are able to do the same for other people—accept them and let them be who they are.

HEART & SOUL: Getting to that level of intimacy seems challenging.
KEM: It’s definitely work. We’ve lived our entire lives perceiving life through our eyes, establishing habits and perceptions and ideas. To change some of those inner workings is quite an exercise that needs to take place if we are to grow.

–Joyce E. Davis

Tell us: How intimate are you with the people in your life?