Vince Leigh’s Single Review – Legal Dreamers by Kēvens
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
The self-proclaimed ‘Keeper of Dub’, Miami-based music artist Kēvens draws on a varied palette of music genres to create a hybrid style that sits somewhere between dub and drum ‘n’ bass, with a foundational thread of reggae running through all his musical inventions.
Additionally, the songwriter, producer and performer harnesses the power of positive energy to reinforce his personal beliefs and worldview. As the multi-faceted musician states, ‘Legal Dreamers was birthed in solidarity and the belief that we should offer those in need protection, not prosecution.’
So alongside the lyrical focus of the new track is the musical backdrop, a convergence of not-too-dissimilar styles, that is, under the broader EDM umbrella, married to a reggae core, that gives the track its warmth and accessibility without detracting from the contemporary musical labyrinth Kēvens undoubtedly enjoys exploring.
The musician kicked off his career as DJ before making his mark with the ground-breaking reggae outfit Le Coup. After releasing a series of singles, he found a global audience, going on to play alongside such eminent musical figures as Steven Tyler, Ice Cube, Tiestö, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, Carlos Santana, and The Jacksons. As Kēvens has revealed about some of the highlights of his career, ‘In 2013, I performed back to back with The Jacksons at the Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The show was televised on TV1; I was told that the event was seen throughout Russia and all her territories to an audience of 50 million. Growing up watching Michael Jackson and his brothers on TV, never did I dream of sharing the stage with any of them.’ And such is the power of, yes, positive thinking.
Legal Dreamers is a cross-pollination of closely linked styles, which due to Kēven’s choices and skills, can’t necessarily be neatly categorized—and this is perhaps one of the tracks’ strengths. However, the candid nature of the lyric steals the show, a reflective and endearing encapsulation of positive energy that is difficult to resist.
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