LUV ALWA’Z was a name his father gave him.  ALWA’Z Carey’s motto has always been, “Don’t love sometimes; love always.”  I was involved in helping get an impromptu music video done for ALWA’Z Carey and discovered his music during the production and post production of the music video for his song, “Wearz I’m From.”  When I listened to this song, it sounded like hip-hop; but the words preached an entirely different message of one man’s struggle through poverty, racism, and homelessness. Carey lived to tell about it and encourage those with similar backgrounds and educate others.  The song “Wearz I’m From” is both uplifting and disturbing.  Carey’s in-your-face lyrics will make you think.  Combined with good production, solid storytelling, and convincing vocal performances, this song will definitely have you listening a few times with an open heart and open mind.

Interview by Kaylene Peoples
Responses by ALWA’Z Carey

What prompted you to become a musician?

My dad was a musician with the Crowd Pleasers, a well-known group in the mid-70s.   They were signed to Atlantic Records.

I take it that is what influenced you to pursue a career as a recording artist?

Yes, I watched them rehearse and perform while I was little.  It’s just something in the blood.

What made you go into your genre?  Do you call yourself rap or hip-hop?

I’m an international good news lyricist—a worldwide view of music around the world.

You are singing, too.  A lot of rappers don’t really do both.

Yeah, and I produce, so I pretty much do all three.

What was involved in putting together the current song?

‘’Wearz I’m From”—you never know where you’re going ‘til you know where you came from.  It’s about just knowing your history, your heritage, and your background, and just letting people know that every city has a ghetto, ‘cause that’s where I came from.  And no matter how high you get up, you still gotta look low and be able to help people.  I do a lot of charity events:  City of Hope, paralyzed veterans, people assisting the homeless, prison ministry . . . anything I can get my hands on that’s going to help give back (with charitable donations, time, and volunteering).

Let’s talk about your career.  What’s in store for you?

I’m ready to take it to the world and to fill arenas, to reach the youth.  My demographic is 0-100, but I say anyone breathing can be touched by the music that God blessed me with.

Well, having edited your video and listened to the words repeatedly, I have to say I was moved by it.  It was you telling a story about your life.  It’s pretty exposing.

It’s called transparence within my parents. (Laughs)  My mom . . . she’s Italian and Irish, Caucasian, and Native American. My dad is African American and Puerto Rican and Venezuelan.  We come from Kenya, Africa.  I just feel like I’m a melting pot.  I’m just a piece of gumbo floating around.

Were you born in Kenya and moved to the U.S.?

No, I was actually born in Columbus, Ohio.  But my grandfather and great grandfather were actually slaves and came from Kenya.  I did some background on my lineage.  My mom’s side of the family were slave owners, and my dad’s side were slaves.

You’ve got some confused lineage there!  So how long did it take you to write and produce “Wearz I’m From”?

It took about a week to write it.  I was in tears.  It was right after I got married to my wife. I sat down at the piano and started playing a song called “Love ALWA’Z.”  Then I just segued into “Wearz I’m From,” and the lyrics just poured out with my testimony of my life.  It was just magical.  Then I went into the recording studio and recorded it and it took me all this time to finally lock it in.

Are you looking for a label? Are you trying to do it alone?  What’s your next step?

I’m looking for a label that understands [me and my team] and wants to work with us.  But we’re independent, so it would be a situation where a label could do the [big box] distribution through the Walmarts and Targets.  The album is finished, and we’re ready to get a budget so we can really do it justice.

At least you have a really good sound, a record that you’re ready to put out.   You’re looking for a label and distribution, but you’re a lot farther along than a lot of artists are.  You’re very polished in your performance.  You can tell that you have been doing it a while.  What advice can you give to somebody who is just starting out?

I would give advice in three segments: 1) If you can dream it, you can live it.  That’s a model that my grandmother taught me growing up.  If you can actually dream something, then you can live it because it’s conceptual and you can bring it to pass.  So first and foremost you have to write down a vision and make it plain so that you can understand it.  On a day-to-day basis it’s going to bring you closer to your destiny.  2) Really put everything into it.  Don’t treat it like a hobby.  Treat it like a profession—go all out—not just part-time.  Like the Vikings, burn the boat and don’t look back! 3) Put God first in your life . . . just live it.

What I find interesting about your song is you’ve given it your own genre.  But people who aren’t familiar are going to put you in the hip-hop category.  When listening to hip-hop, you don’t hear those types of positive messages that you have in your music.  And that’s what I think is different, unique, and the fact that you’re literally helping people in your songs as opposed to tearing people down, something a lot of hip-hop does.  I think it’s going to be an uphill battle in some areas, but I think in other areas if you and your team do it the right way, target the right audience, you can really blow up.  I think people are tired of hearing the negativity in hip-hop and rap.  I think people are ready to hear the kind of message that you have in your music.  Any last words?

We have ownership of our masters, and we have ten albums ready to go.  We’re on the way down.  I call it the “wee” syndrome.  I play with my four-year-old daughter, and when she’s going down the slide, she says, “wee!”  We’re on the wee side.  We already went up the rough side of the mountain, and now we’re on the downslide.

You can download ALWA’Z Carey’s single, Wearz I’m From at iTunes.

Cant’t see the video?  Click here to watch it on Youtube.com.