Kevo Maro – The Rising Star

Kevin Kimaro (19), who goes by the stage name Kevo Maro, has been making major waves with his hit single ’18 Cold’. As the youngest artist to reach number one on the Base FM top 10 chart, one would think he was new to the game but while ’18 Cold’ is his first radio single, he already started making music in 2014 with the release of his debut mixtape ‘Bleeding Pen’.

He takes pride in his music being real by reflecting an authentic experience. caught up with the rapper who shares insights on his inspirations and future plans.

He was signed to DBS Records early this year and says his fans should expect a lot from this deal. Being signed was a huge relief because he now feels his music is being marketed well and is reaching more people due to the backing from the record label.

“Before joining DBS earlier this year, it was a challenge to promote my music and it was difficult to even get paid for gigs. I used to perform at gigs for exposure and even paid for my own manager to enter the show, but things are looking up now,” he said.

Speaking on the lyrical content in his music, Maro says he writes about everyday experiences and what he sees around him. He feels more comfortable narrating stories that happen in his life as well as in his community.

“I just talk about what I see. I also open up about what happens at home, my feeling towards a lot of social issues and personal issues,” he said.

On his artistic growth over the last four years, Maro says he is much more confident in the music he puts out now, saying the content in his music is more astute.

“My music resonates with a lot of people now and I am glad because I want my fans to know that whatever they are going through, they are not alone,” he said, adding that his beat selection has also improved a lot.

On what it means to him when his music proves popular on major platforms like radio, the rapper said that it is a great feeling that lets him know that he is doing something right. He believes that people take time to respond and like music, and the fact that his music finally being well received is a blessing.

“My single reached number one on Base FM and it spent three weeks on the chart. That is a big milestone in my career and I am using the exposure to garner more fans so that my music reaches a lot of people,” he said.

The rapper recently announced that he shot the music video for the track ’18 Cold’ which will be released soon. He is gearing up to release his fourth mixtape ‘Best Mistake’ digitally on Thursday, 9 August

“I released my second mixtape ‘Thats What I Hear People Say’ in January 2017 and ‘Grow With Me’ in November 2017 so it is about time I follow them up with another project,” he said. The rapper said that the forthcoming mixtape will have six songs and is centered around how he is his mother’s “best mistake”, hence the title.

“Like many people out there, I was not a planned baby and on this project, I talk about how I am a mistake that turned into a blessing for my mother,” he said.

On the projected release of a full album, Maro says the model he is using now works by releasing more singles and mixtapes. He maintains that he first has to lay a better foundation before releasing an actual album. “I want to first learn more about the different aspects of the music industry from the business side of things to production. Once I will feel like I have adequate information about the music game, then I will release my album, however, it does not mean that when I release singles or mixtapes, the quality of the music is compromised.”

For talented musicians who believe using drugs enhances their creativity, Maro says artists should set a good example and not make drugs seem cool. He believes talent does not come from any kinds of substances. “Artists must acknowledge that they have talent naturally and stop convincing themselves that the substance some of them take in is what enhances their creativity,” he said.

Vernon van Wyk, who handles Kevo Maro’s public relations, told that he is glad his talent does not consume alcohol nor take drugs as this makes it easier to work with him. “I am glad to be working with someone that does not glorify drugs in their music. Artists are very influential people and I do not like it when they make drugs seem cool,” said van Wyk.