Kenya is a richly inspired vocalist/songwriter whose
jazz-kissed soul style is wooing admirers simultaneously in the U.S. and U.K.
Ironically, her lyrically captivating compositions almost never made it to the
ears of the public. Kenya’s life roles as wife and mother of two sons plus
working for over a decade as a clinician and educator nearly eclipsed her
vision of herself as a viable artist bearing valuable musical gifts. Now—thanks
to her reinvigorated relationship with God, the support of her family and
counselors that cosmically expanded her viewpoint on life purpose—Kenya shares
her first full-length CD, My Own Skin on her label, KenyaMJ Music. Time
invested finding herself has resulted in songs informed with wisdom first
gleaned for self that will be balms of insight and comfort for others.
Based in Chicago, Kenya released her debut version of My Own
Skin in the UK/Europe on March 15, 2015. The album peaked at #1 on the UK Soul
chart for four consecutive weeks (she knocked out Charlie Wilson from the #1
spot). My Own Skin reached #1 on both the Solar Radio Gary Spence Sweet Rhythm
chart and the Colourful Radio chart for two consecutive weeks.
"There are many layers to me and spaces within
me," Kenya shares. "My Own Skin is about the importance of being
yourself. For me, that means as a woman and as an artist. In the music business
today and with the aid of technology, vocal identity is almost
non-existent."
As an `80s kid that melded the Jazz from Billie Holiday to
Grover Washington, Jr. that her drummer father sat her down to study, the Soul
music of Minnie Riperton and the Jackson 5 she gravitated to at a young age,
and the Top 40 of the Police and Robert Palmer that she rocked out to from
radio and videos, Kenya’s musical vocabulary is broad and spoken fluently
throughout My Own Skin.
The U.S. lead single "Let Me" represents Kenya’s
danceable side singing an open invitation to let her give you joy (video shot
in Los Angeles features Amin Joseph of the summer release Dope, as well as the
"Zane Chronicles" and "Transparent" TV programs). "Be
Here" is a romantic duet produced by and featuring twin brothers Kloud 9
(Kendall and Kelvis Duffie) that bursts into your ears with unmistakable guitar
vibe similar to what Ernie Isley brought to his brothers’ gemstones (it peaked
at #28 on Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary chart, #2 on the UK Soul chart
and remains in rotation on Sirius XM’s Heart and Soul channel). "Makeusmile"
is another soulful relationship duet, this time with Brandon McKenzie. And
Kenya brings a seductive touch to "I Can’t Help It," her second take
on Michael Jackson’s classic penned by former Supremes member Susaye Greene with
the legendary Stevie Wonder (video stars Malik Yoba).
"Stevie Wonder is my Jesus of music," Kenya
confesses. "I’ve been listening to him since I was five. His music is very
accessible when you first discover it. As you grow older and peel back the
layers, you start to relate to his work in different stages of your life. I
love how he tells stories, getting you to navigate what he’s sharing without
making everything plain."
Kenya picked up on Wonder’s vision with numbers that require
listeners to dig deeper. One is "Wednesday Girl," a single that
peaked at # 2 on the UK Soul chart. "I originally wrote it as ‘Wednesday
Love’ but got bored with the idea of simply falling in love. Then my producer
sent me an unorthodox track switching from major to minor keys that could only work
in a jazz context and for a darker, quirkier story. That’s when I got the idea
to write about wrong love and switch ‘Wednesday Love’ to ‘Wednesday Girl.’ I’d
been watching ‘Scandal’ and ‘Being Mary Jane,’ relating that to my experiences
and wondering, ‘Why are we always the side chick?’" Kenya busts spoken
word and transcendental vocals here.
Equally intriguing is "Mirror" with its soft to
loud dynamics and rock edge. "I wrote this song inspired by a girlfriend
who was having a moment. As women, married or single, we often let life
situations carry too much weight in validating who we are. We should place more
value on our purpose and who we are inside. I first wrote it as an acoustic
guitar ballad, but I needed it to feel fiery not sappy. One day I jumped out of
bed thinking, ‘I know—I’ll make it a rock song’—in the style of John Mayer’s
‘Assassin.’ My drummer Chuck Lacy and I co-produced that one. My father, Calvin
McGuire, was once a drummer—he played with Marvin Gaye in D.C. way before he
got famous. That’s why a lot of my music is so percussive."
Deepest of Kenya’s catalog is "Brown Soul,"
produced by Khari Cabral Simmons (with partner Darren Benjamin), and inspired
by the tragedy of Trayvon Martin. "At first I wanted to write something to
console his mother," she shares, "but after even more incidents
happened across the country, I felt as if the spirits of all those young Black
boys were crying out for us to do something. There was so much I wanted to say.
I’m the mother of two African American boys. My oldest knows no fear though I
teach him to always be aware of his surroundings. I shared all of this with
Khari and asked that he focus on the bittersweet guitar-oriented sound of women
like Wendy & Lisa, Alana Davis and Emily King. The music he came back with
had me crying just listening to it…exactly what I needed to wrestle with my
thoughts and whittle them down to that song."
Kenya McGuire Johnson is a native of Denver, Colorado who
began singing at eight and playing flute in third grade. By middle school, she
was fully active in the arts as a member of advanced and exclusive citywide
choirs, jazz ensembles and theater troupes. She also studied voice with Ms.
Bennie Williams (who also taught Dianne Reeves before her), skills from which
prepared her once to open for the legendary jazz drummer Art Blakey. While
attending historical Black college Howard University in Washington, D.C., Kenya
was a member of its renowned gospel choir. She graduated from Howard with a
Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy which she practiced. She later
earned a Master of Arts degree in counseling and student development, becoming
a counselor and educator.
Having placed music on the backburner, a profound void
developed in Kenya’s life. She’d chosen fields she could excel in to make a
living yet ultimately failed to feed her passion. Through one-on-one
counseling, Kenya learned that her life did not have to be confined to a narrow
traditional space. She later embarked upon a spiritual retreat in Sedona, Arizona
that positively changed her life with a vigorous shakeup—teaching her to
recognize that she can be a "Paradigm Shifter" and should follow her
divine purpose. Kenya figured out it was music she was supposed to use as a
voice for the world. Vocal coach Lyndia Johnson also affirmed, "Stop
praying for the money, the gig and the right musicians, and start praying for
God to make the space in your life for you to be able to create your music.
Everything else will fall into place." Through that wisdom, Kenya was able
to strategize her life to live her divine purpose.
Kenya released two EPs prior to My Own Skin: the self-penned
Starting Over in 2010 and another covering favorite songs Jazz Made Rhythm in
2012 (both via her own label), building fan bases both here and abroad. Her
song "Starting Over" was produced by Maurice Joshua who won a Best
Remix GRAMMY® for Beyonce’s "Crazy in Love." Kenya has opened shows
for Lalah Hathaway, Rachelle Ferrell and Raul Midon.
"My music, like me, has evolved," Kenya concludes.
"It’s very spiritual for me which is also why I connect so strong to
Stevie. While I love doing music, there are zero guarantees. So as supportive
as my family is, I ultimately look to God as The One to help me. My music
mirrors what I’ve had to do for my own spiritual growth—to release things, take
on new things and to take a giant leap of faith."
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