This week’s Artist of the Week is Jamil Kassam! Known for his single, “Rise Now,” Kassam has premiered music on AXS, Huffington Post and more. We spoke to the singer about the story behind his music, his tea addiction and more. Read our Q&A below!
- For our readers who haven’t heard you before, can you describe your music for us?
I’d say that my music has a strong Pop Identity, although it embraces different styles of music and draws influence from many musical backgrounds. You see, I’m a little bit from all over. I’m Belgian but I grew up in the Ivory Coast, Dubai and France, I have an Indian background and I’ve been living in the US for the past 4 years. So even though I’m writing Pop music, I feel like all the musical cultures I encountered have impacted and influenced my sound. My music is a result of my musical journey and I love combining genres. I’m constantly in the optic of trying to create something new.
- What are your musical influences?
Michael Jackson is definitely one of my greatest inspirations. But I can also say Stevie Wonder, Freddie Mercury (Queen), Marvin Gaye, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston or Chaka Khan. And as for more contemporaries, I really feel inspired by Lady Gaga, Sia, Ariana Grande, Emeli Sandé, Jennifer Hudson, Years & Years, Stromae, Jain or the songwriter Justin Tranter.
- What are your non-musical influences?
I really look up to people like Steve Jobs; his whole life was an inspiration. This could turn into a very large answer so just to name a few, I’d say Victor Hugo, Alfred De Musset, Apollinaire, Emmanuel Kant or the Aga Khan.
- You’ve recently returned to music, what was that like?
Music has always been a part of what I do. But If you’re talking about me having another career path before the artistic one, I became a full-time musician 5 years ago. It’s so liberating and was the best decision I’ve ever made.
- You premiered “Rise Now” on Huffington Post, what was that like?
It was such an honor to have the Huffington Post telling my story and sharing my music, especially as part of the Queer Voices since “Rise Now” is a song about coming out. To be honest, it gave me a lot of exposure and helped me reach a bigger audience. I am really grateful for that. Rise Now’s video almost reached 70K on Youtube, which never happened to me before.
- You also premiered the Remix of “Rise Now” with AXS, what was that like?
The experience was pretty similar.
- What’s something you want people to know about you and your music?
I want people to know that my music not only has a unique sound, as I described it earlier, but also has a depth to it, especially in the lyrics and among the topics I choose to write about. I feel like nowadays pop commercial music is mostly polarized by superficiality and shallowness. So I want people to know that I also tend to write about more serious issues, like I did in “Rise Now” about coming out or like in my next single “Citizen of the world” about the current social and political climate.
- Why do you think its important for musicians to connect with their fans?
I think it’s very important to connect with fans because they’re the ones keeping the music alive. You’re writing for them, so you have to keep them interested in your music. I think being an artist is also making your music about the people who listen to it.
- What’s the story behind “Rise Now”?
“Rise Now” is a song about coming out. It’s a song about affirming your own truth no matter how hard it is and no matter how afraid you are.
My original intention was to write about a close friend struggling with coming out as a gay man, but as I was writing and showing it to people, I saw them identifying themselves, their own stories, their own struggle with it.
So I decided to make it more universal so that anyone could relate. Whether it’s an issue about race, gender, orientation, being bullied or just an internal conflict, I wanted this song to be a hymn to all those in need of a voice.
- What’s your dream tour?
My dream tour would have been to open for Michael Jackson or to open for Lady Gaga.
- What’s next for you in 2017/2018?
A lot of music! I have an album on the way and I’m also preparing a US and European tour.
Fun questions:
- Coffee or tea?
Tea all the way! I think I drink 4 or 5 cups of tea a day.
- Trains or buses?
Trains! I think I got traumatized by buses. For almost a year, I took the bus from Boston to New York every single weekend. It was long. The traffic was insane and I feel like almost every time something had to go wrong.
- Dogs or cats?
Dogs! I love them and grew up around them.
- Homebody or party animal?
Party animal
- Ideal burrito toppings?
Salsa, beans and cheese.
Find Jamil Kassam:
Facebook // Website // Soundcloud // Twitter // Youtube
- GTK: PJ Harding - June 16, 2023
- Big Time Rush is Just Getting Started - February 13, 2023
- 2023 GRAMMYs: The Nominees - November 15, 2022
