Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Flores.
Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a child of Ecudorian parents. Growing up, I would listen to all types of music. I taught myself how to make beats when I was 18. Guitar Center let me put an MPC1000 drum machine on layaway and I would stop in every week to leave an installment until I could take it home. Shout out to Nosaj Thing who used to work there and gave me a nice discount! I studied audio engineering at Musicians Institute and built a home studio soon after. My producer name is Kev Da Khemist and I’ve been on an interesting journey with music. From hearing records I worked on playing on the biggest radio station in LA, to recording the son of a Hip-Hop mogul in a San Bernardino town home bedroom closet. I produced music for middle-weight boxing champion, Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and have also done a beat set at a USC apartment for 8 drunk kids. Making music and being creative, even if it’s just for myself, is therapy for me. I even revived a child-hood dream of writing a movie that my friend and I later turned into a book titled, Love Hertz, which was published on Kindle in 2022. Big shout to Aaron Mostow aka Sum-In-1! Every achievement would not have been possible without god and the support of my family and friends.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life in general has not been a smooth road. I do have an appreciation for the low points though. Those lows made the highs so much sweeter. Rather than get into specific moments, I’ll just say this: If you let obstacles get in the way of what you love to do, then your heart was never really in it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a producer and recording engineer. I make beats as well as record and mix music. My specialty is sample based Hip-Hop of different types, from boom-bap to trap. I also like to incorporate live musicians whenever possible. Lately, I’ve been building up my catalog of beats and aiming to collaborate with more artists and release new music this year.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Best:
My sports teams, the Rams, Lakers and Dodgers! They all exemplify excellence and make LA shine brighter! I’m also a super casual LAFC fan.
Worst:
City leaders and the homeless industrial complex.
Pricing:
- $10,000 per beat
- $100/hour studio time
- $1000 consultant fee
- $100 per complaint
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kevdakhemist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevdakhemist
Image Credits
Photos by:
@erikflores_on_art
@catapult_world
“Love Hertz” book cover by:
@devindilmore
