Kemit Price has spent his life deeply immersed in music. He’s now jumpstarting a career in roots reggae, having put out his first solo single, “Liberation”. Kemit wants to send positive messages with his songs, giving people hope and peace. Join him in his noble efforts and hear his story, told in this poignant Drooble interview.

Hello, Mr. Price! Tell the world about yourself. How did you grow up to become the musician you are today?

I grew up in a very musical household in Baltimore, MD. Both sides of my family sang and played instruments. My dad played the drums and piano. My grandmother played the piano and my grandfather directed a drum and bugle corps. I’ve played the drums since elementary school and I also play the piano. I’ve always loved creating new sounds and songs.

Introduce your current musical projects and tell us what makes each one special for you!

“Liberation” is my first single as a solo artist and it pulls from my love for foundation roots reggae. I listened to a lot of Bob Marley, Garnett Silk, and Buju Banton when I was growing up. With the positive message in this song, I want to give people hope, especially within the current political climate of the United States.

How did you cultivate such a love for reggae?

My parents, especially my dad, listened to mostly jazz and gospel. I grew to love those genres as well as soul, hip hop, and R&B but reggae is my true love. Although I am not Caribbean, I’ve always gotten great inspiration from roots reggae and dancehall reggae with conscious vibes. I remember the first time I heard reggae when I was about 9 or 10 years old. It was a Bob Marley tune and I was blown away! From that point on, I learned as much as I could about the genre and read lyric sheets so I could improve my understanding of the Jamaican patois language.

You have been playing music for over 20 years now! How do you find the drive and inspiration to keep going all this time?

Music is such a passion for me. Creating music rejuvenates my spirit. I write songs everyday and it brings me so much joy.

You seem to have a well-developed spiritual side. How does spirituality and religion influence your art?

I work to be responsible with the type of content within my music. I hope to have inspirational messages in all of my songs. My dad was very spiritual and he would pray for and help many people. He passed away in 2009. I try to continue his legacy.

How is the local music scene in Baltimore? Do you feel like you belong there?

I know a few musicians in my area but I am not deeply connected to the local music scene in general. My interactions with the few musicians that I do know give me a sense of belonging.

What is your all-time favorite record and how did it change you as an artist?

My all time favorite album is the Miss-education of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill. It changed me as an artist because helped me to understand how seamlessly Hip Hop, R&B, and Reggae can be blended into a wonderful fusion. Lauryn Hill is my all-time favorite artist.

What are your favorite software and hardware tools for music production?

I use Audio Evolution on my mobile phone it allows me to quickly record multiple vocal tracks anywhere as long as I have a pair of headphones. It is great for recording ideas.

Out of all the live shows you played, which one was the most memorable, and why?

I am a really new artist and I’ve never done a show before.

What is your biggest musical goal?

My biggest music goal is to be able to work in the music industry full-time.

How has being on Drooble helped you as a musician?

It has allowed me to create a press kit and to collaborate with other musicians.