CREATORS CONNECT – KADEEM FRANCE FROM LOATHE
On today’s Creators Connect, I have a very special interview with Kadeem France, lead singer of the heavy metal band Loathe. These guys have been making waves across the UK and US for quite some time now, and I live for interviews like this because it’s always so interesting to speak with someone in such a unique position.
In this interview, I had the chance to pick Kadeem’s brain on how he first got into music, some of the band’s biggest accomplishments, and what it’s like navigating the heavy metal space as a Black musician.
Without further hesitation, let’s get into it!
Tell me about how you first got into making music?
My music journey started young, around the age of 9 or 10, when I was spitting bars with my childhood friends to Stimpy and Scruface instrumentals on YouTube. We’d record it on our Sony Ericssons, but at that age, I never really imagined myself taking music seriously. I was more of a drama/theater kid. It wasn’t until my preteen/early teen years that I got into metal and rock. I used to chill in the music room after school every day, becoming obsessed with the idea of being in a band. It all seemed like such an interesting new world to me.
It wasn’t until my mid-teens that I met Erik (our guitarist). He was starting his own band at the time, and I was really into the music he was writing. We both enjoyed a lot of the same music, so much so that I helped him write some of the band’s first EP and went to every show they played.
The vocalist of Erik’s band eventually left, which left space for me to step up as the new vocalist. Since I already knew all of their songs and was close to the band, it made perfect sense for me to join. That band was called Our Imbalance, and a few years later, after member changes and a complete rebrand, we came back in 2014 as Loathe.
Your work in the heavy metal space is groundbreaking in many ways. What are some of your biggest accomplishments, in your opinion?
In my opinion, one of our biggest accomplishments was selling out most of our first US headline tour. We’ve been blessed to tour a lot of the world and meet so many amazing people along the journey.
Another big accomplishment is having artists and bands that we look up to and admire shout us out and give us praise. But, most of all, the biggest accomplishment has been making a genuine connection with so many people all over the world through the music we’ve created.
Tell me a little bit about being a Black musician in the heavy metal space.
It can be jarring at times, but it can also be empowering. Having to deal with the ignorance of some people is frustrating, but being able to represent Black kids at shows is very important and empowering to me because it’s something I didn’t see much of when I was younger.
I’ve also made some lifelong friends by going to shows, especially when we were the only Black kids there.
You tour heavily. What’s your favorite part of performing live?
My life would be bland if I couldn’t express myself through music; it’s genuinely a part of my DNA. My favorite part of performing live is the sense of freedom I get from it. Being able to be in my element and express myself to the fullest, making a connection with the crowd, and feeling the energy in the room when it’s electric—it’s an unreal feeling.
Can you explain how you use music as a tool in your everyday life?
I listen to music everywhere I go and get inspired by it daily. I can’t go anywhere without listening to it. Life without music is like cereal with no milk.
If I were to make a super band, it would be:
- 2Pac on vocals
- Joey Jordison from Slipknot on drums
- Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine on guitar
- Joe Goldman from Code Orange on bass
That would be the hardest band of all time!
What are your top 3 songs that would be the soundtrack of your life?
- Grief by Earl Sweatshirt
- Be Quiet and Drive by Deftones
- USA Lullaby by Show Me The Body
That concludes my conversation with Kadeem France. His journey with Loathe continues to break boundaries in the metal scene, and we can’t wait to see what comes next!
