Kem finishes first album in six years

‘Love Always Wins’ has spawned the hit ‘Lie to Me’ and a duet with Toni Braxton.

In the six years since Kem’s last album, “Promise to Love,” the R&B-soul singer married longtime girlfriend — and Georgia native — Erica, added two children to their blended family of five and moved to Fayetteville.

The silky-voiced crooner born Kim Owens is most associated with Detroit, but he’s settled in comfortably outside of Atlanta, where his home studio came in handy during the pandemic.

On Aug. 28, Kem’s latest, “Love Always Wins,” arrived. The album already spawned the R&B hit, “Lie to Me” (complete with a priceless video spotlighting the Brooklyn Groovers soul line dancers) and a classy duet with Toni Braxton (“Live Out Your Love”). But the album is truly a testament to Kem’s contentment as a family man.

In a recent chat from his Georgia home, the congenial Kem talked about finishing his album during quarantine, his rekindled affection for the music of Janet and Michael Jackson, and his hopes for touring next year.

Q: I usually ask artists how they’ve been spending downtime during the pandemic, but it sounds as if you used yours to finish an album. Were you always planning to release something this year?

A: My last release was 2014, so it was time for new music. Most of the music was done by the time we went into full pandemic mode, so since March until June, I was doing vocals at home. When I’m not on the road, I’m home with the wife and kids and being a family man and downstairs writing and recording. It’s been different, but I’m not complaining. We’re all in the house together 24/7, five of us. My son Christopher (3) gets up at 6:30 a.m., so I spend hours with him and make breakfast. That’s the upside. There are a lot of people who hurting and so much tragedy associated with these times. This whole thing has got us all reflecting on what’s most important, what we value. I’m saddened by the negative impact it’s had, but grateful for the positive impact it’s had on our lives.

Q: What were the benefits of working on “Love Always Wins” in quarantine? Were there any issues given the number of people around?

A: We respect the boundaries that we have in the house.

Kem’s new album, “Love Always Wins,” is his first since 2014.