KEMMLER // Interview

Kemmler, the rapper from Marseille in the South of France, is a breath of fresh air for the French-speaking Rap landscape, and we have every reason to fall under his spell. A chill side, a cool side, and a voice that takes the time to find the right words to express things as best it can. A devouring passion for music that takes precedence over the rest of his life, and a genuine desire to make human warmth prevail in the music industry, one that is often too business-oriented. This is what defines Kemmler, this great lover of his audience. This artist with an innate talent with words, talks to A Rap & A Cup of Tea on his primordial need to go to the end, and live from his passion. The one who describes himself as an “eternally dissatisfied”, is above all sincere and authentic. Kemmler’s been with the same squad for 15 years, and it pays off for him. Through his sacrifices and hard work, he indulges gently in what is his strength today: that of never having lost his soul on the road to glory.

I heard that you “fell to the Rap” at 14 in college quite randomly. Is this true?

Yes it is. Back then, my friends and I used to listen to a lot of Rap, but we never thought we could do it. The truth is, we were so bored by spending lunchtime at the canteen. One day, there was a Hip-Hop culture worker who came into college. At first, we were not too motivated, but then it quickly became an addiction.

You knew right away that this is what you wanted to do and nothing else?

I had no other passions besides football, and I knew I wasn’t at the level to have a career. In school I had facilities, but I never really felt good in school, and I didn’t know what to do with my life in all honesty. I very quickly quit school and did jobs that I hated, and I didn’t want to get to 40 and say, “Fuck, I ruined my life”. So, I put all my strength into music. Obviously, there were ups and downs but I never gave up. The thing is, my only goal has always been to be able to live from my passion. I never did it for the money, but I always did it for the love of music. From now on, I have the life I love, even though I am aware that everything can stop overnight.

In the song 'J'Avoue' you discuss the difficulty of being an artist, and especially of breaking into that world. You say, “I see the ones older than me snooping when I rapped or laughting at me / I see myself crying nights trying to change my fate, faking celebrity interviews.” Now, your Rap is respected, and you do interviews and so on, what perspective do you have on the situation?

I'm an eternal dissatisfied guy, I will always want more, so I have trouble taking a step back. Three years ago, if I had been told, “You’re going to sign a label” I would never have believed it. I’m someone who’s always working. Even when I’m not properly working, I’m thinking about what I could do and so on. So, I would still like to take it to the next level and achieve the goals I’ve set for myself. I never feel satisfied in truth.

What exactly are these objectives?

My goal is to reach a large audience without misrepresenting who I am, and what I want to do as music. My only feeling of satisfaction comes from my audience. The most beautiful feeling I can experience through music is when I receive messages from fans. It’s an indescribable thing. Yet I still feel uncomfortable when people recognize me on the street because it’s new to me. Being able to go out and meet my audience, play big shows and respond to their message is what I care about most.

Can you take the time to answer your fans' messages?

I try to do it as much as I can, even if from now on, it gets more and more complicated because I get more and more messages. I try to respond to the latest messages I receive, but I also take the time to enjoy my loved ones without always being overwhelmed by my phone. You know, I already work a lot and I'm often on the road or in the studio, so when I am with mypeople, I try to be physically and mentally there. The goal is not to succeed in music and end up alone with myself. (laughs)

I heard a lot of your fans would love to see you on the Colors Show?

It’s something I’d like to do for sure. I find it clean, without artifice, it puts music at the centre of everything. You big up an artist much better this way. Colors is a platform that we follow with my team.

I knew I had to have my own thing. I really looked for what could define me.

I’d like to go back to your journey. It’s impressive, being signed to Def Jam in such a short time, since your first project named Rose released in June 2018. It’s a very famous and influential label, it must make you very proud, right?

At first, I worked in the shadows for a long time, I invested my time, my money, etc. Working with my best friend, we had released a single that had worked really well on Facebook and I was soon contacted by independent Rap labels, but when I talked with them, we had no chemistry. They were all talking about business without ever talking about music and I wasn’t comfortable with that. My passion was music, and I had to work harder, and harder, to reach a good level. And then one day, I was contacted by the Dancecode label that makes electro music, and after our first exchange I really thought, “This is who I want to work with”. Musically, I still needed to find myself, and we worked like crazy for two years before releasing Rose, my first album. Sales were not great, I have to be honest. But in the professional world, it was a real upheaval. Before the album came out, no label wanted us, but once it came out, everyone wanted me back. I was even contacted to write for other artists, it was a crazy thing.

Was that revenge for you?

Not necessarily, because in real life I wasn’t really popular enough to sign a record label. I felt that no one really understood my music, and my world. Until the day I met Pauline Duarte [e.d: Def Jam’s label boss] and she showed me a real enthusiasm for my music, and what I was doing. I felt that Def Jam could take me to the next level. It’s a really street label that has signed artists like Rémy [e.d: interviewed in this magazine] Koba La D, Alonzo, Kaaris, etc. Nobody did what I do. I also liked the idea of taking people off guard and showing that I wasn’t going to sign where everyone thought I was going. Here we have just released ‘Ça Me Gêne’, which is the first single before the album’s release, and we are in the in the middle of a promo and I'm happy to be there.

This album you just mentioned, when is it planned?

It should be released in early 2020. The goal is to really create a buzz around its release via the singles, before we begin to unveil it fully, and see the reaction of the public.

It's often said of you that you have a “surgical flow”: you take every emotion through an in-depth examination. You think that's a definition that fits you?

That’s a nice definition. (laughs) Actually, I needed to stand out from those I was rapping with at the time, and who had a crazy level including my sidekick Verbal - who became my backing performer on stage now. I knew I had to have my own “thing”. I really looked for what could define me. Naturally, I decided to talk about the things I experienced personally, and the way I lived it, to give a real authenticity to my writing. I'm also a real perfectionist, if I have to make a new song 200 times to end up at the emotion I want to convey, I do it without hesitation. You know, I think a sentence can be said in a thousand ways, and until I figure out how I want to say it, I keep working and working.

Are there sometimes things you keep in mind and think "I have to talk about this", or do you write on instinct?

It really depends on everything; my mood, the albums I listen to, etc. I write all my ideas down on my notes, and sometimes I read them and think, “I don’t even know why I wrote this”, and then I come back on it a week later and say, “Wow, that’s hot!”. What helps me to start writing lyrics is the idea I want to pass on, or a theme I want to address. But I know that I often write about love and the different angles that this theme can take because it's something that inspires me a lot.

Moreover, the sound ‘Dansé’ has a very strong message because you talk about a breakup. Isn’t it hard for you to be so open in that way?

When I have to talk about such an introspective theme, it's always more difficult. Sometimes I want to make a song, but I don’t know how to do it, or how to express myself well on a subject that affects me.

I never did it for the money, but always for the love of music.

The making of the video 'Ça Me Gêne' is really great, it looks like a collection of archival videos that represent the story you tell in this song. Are you also involved in the audio-visual production of your videos?

Yeah, on that piece I totally got involved. I had already worked with Louis Azaud - the director - and I had felt this alchemy between our two universes. And for this clip, I knew that it was he who could best stage the idea I had in mind, and I wasn't mistaken. In the future I also want to get involved this way.

Are there career models that inspire you?

In truth, there are artists that I don’t necessarily listen to but in interview I find them truly inspiring. There are some who have an incredible background and it may be weird to tell you that, but sometimes I’m more passionate about their journey than their music. For example with Fianso, we really feel that he worked hard to get there and he's happy to be here now. He’s someone I like because he’s telling the truth in saying “Damn it, I’ve worked so hard to get there”, and it’s that sincerity that touches me.

And there are feauters that you would like to do with artists that you like?

The process of going to someone and saying “I like what you do, can we do something?” is something that bothers me a little. I prefer to have a nice, human encounter that ends up leading to a collaboration, rather looking for people. For example, with Youssoupha, there was a real human connection during our meeting, and this is what encouraged us to work together on certain projects. He’s someone I get along with really well, and I’m glad I can have the human side go with the musical side.

Instagram: Ke2mler

Words © Fanny Hill Scott // Photography © Fifou