I, a.k.a. CMK Beats, is back with his first dance concept album titled “Life Stories”. For this 3rd album under Bentley Records and the 8th overall album, he wanted to create a single story based on his personal experiences and spread it throughout 11 tracks. The album tells the story of a person who was young and wild but lacks confidence, discovers his values and falls in love, goes through relationship changes and breakups, falls into despair and depression then finds hope again and rises from his hurtful experiences stronger than before.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello CMK Beats. What strengths do you have that you believe make you a great musician?
Hi and thank you for having me. My greatest strength, since the day I started experiencing with loops back in 1996, was the ability to bring together various influences and music styles into one track in a harmonious way, and to let my listeners embarkinto a journey in every single track through the music irrespective of supporting it with lyrics or not.
Who inspired you to make music?
The Prodigy and Faithless were my inspiration. The Prodigy for their anger and revolution and Faithless through their lyrics and melodies. Both bands helped me grow as an artist.
Your latest release is 'Life Stories'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Life Stories hold a special place in my career. It is my 8th album yet it's my most personal one and the first concept album. I live in Beirut Lebanon and since 2019 my country is going through its toughest crises (political and financial). This crises affected our wellbeing and many fell into depression. When I wanted to start the production of the new album back in 2022, I wantedto compose hopeful and uplifting songs and thus my first track, Light At The End Of Every Tunnel, was born. This is when I realized tgat I wrote about my self but in a universal language. When I saw the great feedback I decided to create a complete journey that would include goid time and also very bad ones and this is how I started this journey. Writing a full album about my life while making it universally accessible was the unusual thing that happened throughout the creation and tge funny thing is that my bad memories are the ones that are sticking most with listeners.
Can you shortly describe each of the tracks that are on the album?
Life Stories, opens the album in an energetic way describing under its tune, a teenager who is eager to discover life, love and parties.
Highs and Lows, as the title hints, is an energetic guitar infused track that slows a bit in the middle, hinting at the experiences of this teenager along with life's deceptions that will allow him to grow.
Feel The Groove is a disco-funk-electro up tempo track begging the listener to forget about tge hurt, the pain and life's problems and dance setting his mind free. This track comes from the way I used to cope with deceptions and shed my tears away.
Sexy Ladies, a pure EDM track, is a track born from my frustration of how artists are turning girls into sexual objects and fantasies, while categorizing them and products. This uplifting song is a tribute to every girl no matter if she's short or tall big or small, they are all sexy the way they are.
Can't Wait, continues the energy of sexy ladies and is a declaration of love, this is when you though you met the one that makes you stronger and can't wait for tge moment you see her.
I tried So Hard is where things start taking a wrong turn. This is a very heavy techno/house track about a person who feels like loosing the one he loves to someone else.
I Miss You, puts a hold to the uptempo energetic tracks and introduce my first electro ballad title. It tells the story of losing the one you love and being unable to move one.
Waiting For A Savior/Leaving In Peace Prelude continues with the downtempo style. It is a pure instrumental track that takes the listener through the melancholic depression of my story main character.
Leaving In Peace is a very personal track that was born following an introspective analysis. As a married man with two kids, I asked myself what would my final message and legacy be if I die tonight? This track is a downtempo electronic track with rap influences.
Light At The End Of Every Tunnel takes us back to the brighter and energetic side of the album. With hopeful lyrics saying that no matter how dark our days become their will always be hope and a new beginning.
Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now is my album's encore, it was the last track I composed. This track brings my album full circle with its 90's dance influence and showing the resurrection of my character and his rise as a stronger person.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
I don't always rely on radio hits to stay up to date with the musical trends, because in my personal opinion, the gems are hidden with indie artists and people who are lesser known. This is why I go and browse the internet, the social media and TV programs looking for new inspirations.
What do you feel is the best song that you have ever released and why?
This is the question that I feared the most (LOL). Many songs hold a special place in my heart from my early ones to the newest but if I have to choose only one it would be Sexy Ladies because it holds my philosophy and related to a cause that I fight for. I hate bullies and I was bullied back in my youth until I learned to defend myself and rise up. And since that day I try to fight for this cause and help the people who are being bullied to trust in themselves and their values.
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
Nowadays the music scene is very crowded yet you'll find a lack of interesting subjects. Most hits are head bangers or catchy choruses without a true meaning behind it. For that I tend to write or compose about subjects that are dear to me and want yo share it with the world hoping to make a small change.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
As a self-financed indie artist, I lack the necessary money or team to quickly build large fan bases. But this can be taken in a pisitive way because my fans are true organic friends that are positively influenced by my music. Interacting with them is done via my facebook, instagram and twitter pages. I had to ride the Tik Tok wave recently just to stay up to date. And my replies are always done by myself and are authentic replies and I'd like to stay that way no matter how much I grow as an artist.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Being an independent artist is very hard in a crowded music scene. This is why I say to any person you should have not only the passion and talent but also lots of patience. You will hit many roadblocks but should never give up. Find your own voice and identity and believe in your dream and talent.
What are your plans for the future?
Although I just release Life Stories, I already started the creation process for its follow up and have various interesting ideas and sounds. I don't want to spoil anything but I might be creation a Life Sub-Stories. Let's just wait and see so stay tuned.