Kemal Evans combines original songwriting with infectious melodies and danceable rhythms, resulting in a unique blend of music that defies labels.
His sound is a mix of soul, rock, hip hop and reggae that resonates with listeners of all genres, and this Sunday, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is bringing his energetic mix to Ladysmith as he kicks off the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association’s Concerts in the Park series at the Transfer Beach Amphitheatre.
The concert starts at 6 p.m., and admission is by donation. All proceeds support the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association and its community programs.
Evans’s roots run deep in music and the West Coast. He has been involved with music literally all his life — his parents were professional musicians, which meant he got to “tour” with Gino Vanelli as an infant in 1980.
Although his parents eventually separated, Evans was strongly influenced by his African father, one of the best percussionists and hand drummers in Canada. Growing up on Salt Spring Island, Evans learned to play guitar, piano, bass and drums. Later, he received varied professional experience playing as part of a hip hop crew for eight years in between stints as a drummer in funk and heavy metal bands.
Eventually, though, becoming a singer-songwriter was what mattered, so, guitar in hand, Evans wrote songs from the heart while incorporating and blending a wide array of styles.
Influenced by everyone from Marvin Gaye to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Evans has become “a master of funky beats and ear-catching melodies.”
“His band’s seductive, electro-acoustic sound grabs the audience and lures them out onto the dance floor,” states Evans’s biography. "Evans’s strongest impulse is to share his music, and he loves being able to reach and move an audience. A true creator, Evans has committed himself to a life where making music is what’s truly important."