Not so many outstanding international singers reach as far as Bali. We watch plenty of international DJs coming over here, but singers? Rarely, isn’t it? So when I heard that US soul singer Keith Martin will do a promo tour in Bali, I was quite excited. Unfortunately, I have to share my excitement with only a very few people tonight at the Rock Café. What a shame, people. You don’t know what you missed. I first recognize his golden soulful voice when his single ‘I’ll Never Find Someone Like You’ hits the world as the soundtracks of Will Smiths movie ‘Bad Boys’. Ever since, he had produced 2 more albums.
Tonight, Keith is powered with an Indo band complete with back up singers. The concert opens with Keith swinging a Michael Jackson cover “Rock With You’. He quickly showers the room with his oh so sultry voice, that quickly put the room under his spell. Appears with a funky white hat, a white tee, dark tailored jacket with a matching pants, Keith honestly told the audience that he likes more singing a love ballad, something we all agree, of course, especially after he hit the stage with ‘I’ll Never Found Someone Like You’. Everyone in the room sang along with this famous ballad while starting to walk their way closer to the stage. Keith shows more of his vocal techniques in the next number, a cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Overjoyed’, followed by more ballads like ‘I’m Sorry’, ‘Love Of My Life’, and ‘Coming Home’.
Then Keith made a speech about the importance of accepting the one you love just by the way they are. After, with only a piano that he played, he sang his newest song ‘All That I Am’ and in this song, you can feel all of his passion. If you’re not careful, tears my drop from your eyes.
Keith wraps the concert with one of his most powerful ballad “Because of You’. What a singer, what a talent and I consider myself lucky to witness such a powerful soul singer like Keith. People, you really don’t know what you miss! /MK

The Gospel according toBecause of you… Keith Martin

So when did you start singing?

When I was a kid coming up in [Washington] DC, I sang all the time. At home, with my family, in church – Gospel was a strong influence from the start. I also loved the Jackson 5 back then, they were my heroes. Later in my teens I was playing in bands and that first got me into the studio – but not singing, playing instruments – bass, keyboards, drums and percussion.

You didn’t start out as a vocalist then?

Nope…back then my man was Quincy Jones, both as a composer and producer – he really inspired me to write material and produce tracks. But the singing was always there.

So when did your singing career really kick off?

My friend Michael McCarey [of boyz II men] gave a demo tape to Columbia records and they liked it. My debut ‘It’s Long Overdue’, which was produced by Mike, came out in 1995.

And did your life change after that? The album seemed to get excellent reviews from the critics, but stayed pretty underground, right?

It’s Long Overdue didn’t blow up, but the single I’ll Never Find Someone Like You featured in the soundtrack to the movie Bad Boys. I went touring with MC Hammer on his Too Legit to Quit tour. But you know, as a musician, I can come up with the product, but it’s up to the label to do the promo. I ain’t afraid to say that.

What do you make of the music industry Stateside at the moment?

The industry’s really jacked up in the States – they just wanna pigeon hole, like they have this pre-defined image of what they want to sell. This guy William Hung [American Idol] is a prime example – it ain’t what you know, it’s who you know.

I think the passion I put into the songs. But you know, I learnt so much from the likes of Kenny Latimore and Johnny Gill – back in the day, I wouldn’t be able to speak at the end of a show because i pushed too hard, but then you learn that power and passion is nothing without technique.

You’re living in the Philippines now – what do you make of the local singers?

Oh, there’s some amazing talent in the Philippines. Thing is though, how you sing is all about your influences. So for me growing up in DC I was exposed to Gospel, Soul and R&B since I was a baby – the real thing you know. So I’m trying to work with some of these guys and hopefully will be able to come out with some productions.

Any messages for music artists looking to break into the music industry here in Indonesia?
Yeah – To the future singers out there, without us the industry wouldn’t have jobs, so stay true to the music and the craft. Peace.