K Jon is one of those artists that only come around every couple of years. This Detroit native has released what is currently the number one steppin' song in the country right now, “On the Ocean.” ChiStepper recently sat down with K Jon to discuss his success in the recording industry and the dance communities.
Tracey: K Jon, it is a real pleasure to finally be able to sit down and find out some information about your music career and what drives you. “On the Ocean” is definitely a hit with the ladies. Is that title a metaphor for something?
K Jon: It is based on some of the women that I’ve known and have dealt with in my life. I’ve been given testimonies that it helps to motivate women and allows them to escape from the rigors of their lives.
Tracey: Who or what inspires you to write the music that you write?
K Jon: Real life experiences from others and myself. My music builds into a movie storyline. I’m the producer and vocalist, so I try to make sure that the music encompasses the message in my music. I tell the musicians that I want the full aspect directly from the top to the bottom. The end result is hopefully a four star movie.
Tracey: Kem was the most recent R & B artist to have come out of Detroit that fired up the stepping community … now you. With as much talent as I know Detroit has, why is it so hard for musicians to break onto the music scene?
K Jon: It’s the Motown curse (laughing). Berry Gordy must have twinkled his nose before he left … I don’t know. I can say that Kem left a blueprint for us (aspiring musicians) to follow. The grind, hard work and persistence will pay off. A lot of the disparity lies with the radio DJs and the Club DJs. If a song is popularized in the club, it doesn’t seem to transcend into “radio love” as easily. I’ll just have to work harder with the chitlin circuit method.
Tracey: Do you have any plans for future videos?
K Jon: We would love to make some but I want it done right … not the “homey hookup.” When you don’t have a distribution company it makes it tougher to get top quality visuals to go with the top quality music. I’m very thankful that I have Detroit and the Chicago communities holding me down.
Tracey: How did you get hooked up with the steppin' community?
K Jon: The ballroom community gravitated towards me first with my first cd “This is Me.” We were actually pushing the music towards the hip hop community. The local DJs started playing “On the Ocean” and “Prettiest Face” and things started taking off from there. I met Pete Frazier of the Majestic Gents and some other Chicago music producers and things started taking off. The local and Chicago based “Mom and Pop” stores have also embraced the project and that has helped with sales.
Tracey: Many people in Detroit affiliate your music with the ballroom dance “world” while the steppers are embracing you as well. Do you feel torn between the two communities right now?
K Jon: (Nodding his head in agreement) I’ve noticed that. I’m comfortable not knowing how to do either dance so I don’t feel torn. My integrity lies in being an R & B artist … not a dancer. Both organizations have been receptive towards me thus far.
Tracey: Who are you listening to these days?
K Jon: Uhhh … various artists. Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys … I’m bouncing around a lot.
Tracey: Is there anything else you want the ChiStepper readers to know about K Jon?
K Jon: Of course I want to thank everyone from Detroit and Chicago who are supporting the project as well as other dance communities from the other states. I want to be able to get to know the different communities and the people more. I’m also looking forward to meeting and working with other organizations as well. Thank you for this opportunity.
[Editor's Note: K Jon also wanted to thank Mason Radio and 107.5 WGPR for holding it down.]
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