Welcome back to City on Fire, where we will delve into the mind of KAWFEI. Known for his soul-stirring melodies and introspective lyrics, Kawfei invites us into the complex landscape of his artistry, where the duality of his personality becomes both muse and masterpiece.
Kawfei is originally from Monrovia, Liberia but grew up in Phoenix. I was interested to know if his African background has any influence on his music. “Coming from an Afro background where autotune is used as more of a craft than just fixing the vocals puts me at a greater appreciation for the art of what’s possible when it comes to sound, and the subject matter as well. I’ve noticed some feedback from guys that listen to my music that perceive some parts of my music as ‘soft’, but where I’m from the majority of men/boys are lovers that aren’t ashamed of expressing themselves about how they truly feel vocally towards women and their personal situations.” Knowing misogyny is so rampant in the music industry, it’s respectable that KAWFEI continues to stay true to his philosophies of love and respect for women even when it brings criticism from some listeners. He said, “it also influences the way some of my songs are so inspirational because in Africa it’s truly hard and knowing the situations people have to go through over there, you come to understand that while some are so poor, they are still very happy. It’s the community and striving to go after something bigger not only for you but for those that helped you along the way.”
KAWFEI’s single “Bad” is sensually melodic and doting, which plays to the authentic sound of his music. “My type of sound now carries my personas wherever my vocals are heard. In between the lines of bouncy fun vibes, layered on top with reality driven lyrics, either spoken from a perspective I’ve witnessed or through my own very experiences.” His discography covers a range of thoughts and emotions and he expresses them uniquely in every song.
When asked about what genre he considers his music, KAWFEI said “I don’t consider myself a rapper or a singer. I see music itself as a spectrum of art to be expressed in frequency form. Whether you make low vibrational vibes or high ones, it’s all expression taking what you feel or want to portray from your thoughts converted into a way of experience others can view from their own perspectives. In my opinion, KAWFEI’s music sounds low vibration and smooth but the meaning behind the lyrics are high vibrational often times. I think that’s why it’s so relatable, because each song has a mixture of emotions that present themselves in different ways, much like how we process emotions in real time. He added, “My music is very contradicting to itself for those first listening. It could be a sad vibe to a happy message or a happy vibe full of relatable shortcomings. My aim is to show my listeners, fans, and supporters that chill vibes and slower tempos don’t always have to be sad or talking about the wrong subject matters. “
He was featured in an All Eternals single “Monsoon Luv”, which is one of my all time favorites. I couldn’t wait to ask him the story behind his verses in the single. “The verses of Monsoon Luv was written from the perspective of a wholesome good dude that has a girl that he truly cares for and would do anything for, but she doesn’t believe him because of the way he carries himself, his confidence, the way he speaks, the way he walks. All the traits she’s had with past relationships gone wrong, which created an insecure side within her. The song is this wholesome reassuring the girl that there’s no need to feel insecure and embrace his love. Showing her that he’s willing to be there on her rainy days as much as the sun shines.”
In order to reach a perfect duality within the sound and conceptualization of his music, KAWFEI says he has an alter ego that’s a “more raw side of [him] that separates [his] being from the more vibey side of [him].” This alter ego’s name is Soulfood. “He speaks more from the perspective of my reality spoken back to me to help me understand, like a mirror playing devil’s advocate to my soul, and the actions I take, reflected into words.” The project “Soulfood’s Lament” is a mixture of this alter ego and KAWFEI himself, communicating to the world the innermost thoughts of each being.
KAWFEI is a dynamic artist that knows how to utilize all the corners of his mind to create music that feels commercial enough to be widely popular but also appeals to niche crowds. His thoughts, experiences, and background all contribute to his music, creating a perfect harmony of sounds and emotions. You can find him @kawfeiofficial on Instagram, and hopefully on more collaborations with the All Eternal Collective!
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