Kima in ‘Luv Me Back’

Kima is a R&B artist who is launching a solo career after decades of singing with the group Total. The former Bad Boy songstress dropped her first single “Luv Me Back” early this year and is now preparing the release of her first EP. Kima is a warm and passionate artist. Her music comes from the heart. She openly discusses with The Hype magazine, her genuine need for reciprocity in what her song “Luv Me Back” entails. “[It’s] a song about a relationship we’ve all been in and for me, it’s not just a relationship between a man and a woman, it’s a relationship that everyday people experience. Sometimes you’re pouring your all into something and it’s just not loving you back.” Kima goes on to express her overwhelming desire for the music industry and talks about facing her fears head on.

I’m open to whatever this journey has to offer that is beneficial and conducive to where I’m at… You can always pick up the pieces of your incomplete puzzle. – Kima

As a former Puffy prodigy, Kima has developed into an independent solo artist, learning the ins and outs of the industry. She knows how to make things happen for herself and is taking on a leading role when it come to her music. Kima will have a video for “Luv Me Back” that will be dropping soon, and she is highly involved in the media. She loves to serenade her listeners with her heart healing R&B music, so be on the lookout for much more from Kima this year and add her to your playlist.

Kima, you were formally with the group Total and now have started your new solo career. What can you tell me about that?

Total is fine, everything is good. They call me, they’ve been very supportive. We made a decision to not move forward with the three of us touring. Not saying that it won’t happen in the future. So, you know, with that being said, I decided I had been working on some music quietly. I finally decided to put it out there, because for me it was more personal. In the past, I have always lacked the confidence and me putting out my project has really empowered me and I’m just enjoying doing it. I hope everyone is just getting the message that it’s never too late to empower yourself in whatever you feared. Just tackle it head on. And me stepping out on my own has always been a fear of mine. I’ve always wanted to do my own project. I’ve always loved the business side of what I learned from Puffy. I’ve always wanted to executive produce, which my husband actually executive produced my music, but I’ve always wanted to be in control of my own destiny and do things on my own merit as far as the music industry is concerned, and I finally had the opportunity to do it. So, I’m hitting it head on.

What is the difference between you as a solo artist and what you did with Total?

Well, you know, with Totally we were signed with Puffy. He had high expectations, but we learned a lot from him. I didn’t have to worry about who was going to do my make up, you know, I didn’t have to worry about securing my own interview. Now with my own projects, I have to take all that and apply it to making these things happen for myself. Like I have to, you know, look at pictures, pick which ones are the best, listen to music, find my own songs. It’s just different in that aspect. You never really know how much work people are putting in behind the scenes. You have to do it yourself. But I have definitely a different appreciation for it outside of this time, just being an artist now being an artist and the executives of my own projects.

What can you tell me about your new song “Luv Me Back”?

“Luv Me Back” is a song about a relationship we’ve all been in and for me, it’s not just a relationship between a man and a woman, it’s a relationship that everyday people experience. Sometimes you’re pouring your all into something and it’s just not loving you back. The song itself is about a relationship. She’s in love with this man and she’s giving her all and you know, she’s just not receiving it back. I listen to the song and I just love the passion behind the lyrics, and it really resonates with me. Not so much about my current relationship that I’ve been in for 21 years, but so much about relationship I’ve had in the past, whether it was with a male, whether it was with my group, career, with my kids, my dog, like you’re just given some of your all and you just don’t feel like it’s giving your just do in return.

What’s next for you?

I’m open to whatever this journey has to offer that is beneficial and conducive to where I’m at. Right now, I’m working on a book. It’s all about my personal journey, my struggles with my confidence, and feeling like at one point it was too late, but now knowing that it’s never too late. You can always pick up the pieces of your incomplete puzzle. I have music that’s going to be coming out. I haven’t decided if I’m going to do another single or an EP. I’m kind of on the fence with an album because I see how people purchase music nowadays. They kind of cherry pick what they want to purchase and stuff like that or download or stream. So, I’m not sure if I’m going to put out a full album. My video for “Luv Me Back” will be dropping soon. I’ve been exploring the reality TV thing and I’ve shot a pilot docu-series, and I’m going to be releasing that on my own YouTube channel and on my website through social media and hopefully that would turn up some bigger things. So, I’m pretty much open to possibilities.

How did you get started singing?

I’ve always loved singing, but I was that secret singer because I was shy, grew up in church and sang in the choir, actually did my first solo in the choir. My mom was also a singer. She grew up in that Mo Town area. Her and her family moved to Detroit where her and her sisters went to church with Aretha Franklin and sang in the choir with Aretha Franklin later. Her and her sisters had their own gospel groups. So, I’ve always been around music and entertainment and it was just something that was just in me. How I got started on a professional level, like Keisha from the group Total and I went to high school together and we were good friends and she heard me sing one day in a car and she was like — oh, I didn’t know you sang. But she was more outgoing with it. So, she was like, you want to start a group? I was just like, OK. So that is how it started on a more professional level for me.

What do you want your fans to know about you or your music?

My music definitely comes from the heart. I recorded this music at a time when wanting one thing but getting a different outcome and I really like that you can hear the passion. So, I just want people to know that, it’s never too late, never too late again, repeating myself to pick up those pieces of your puzzle and complete it. The road may not be easy, but don’t give up. Don’t give up on yourself, trust the process, you know, listen to that inner voice. Have the confidence to move forward.

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About the Author

David Morales is the Executive Editor of The Hype magazine. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, David has a background as an artist manager, writer, blogger, drummer, and in the human services industry. He is passionate about helping others, learning and has a deep empathy for the creative process. You can follow his social media @dcypherstudios