Their
unique sense of style and unbelievable talent caught the
eyes and ears of Joey NgWai, who immediately recruited
them to form the core unit of a band that was being revamped
called ‘Imij and Co.’ This presented a new
challenge for the boys, as it would mean pursuing a genre
of music that they had never made their mainstay: soca.
Regardless, it was a challenge welcomed with open arms,
and from the period 2001 through 2005, the four brothers
would tour extensively under the ‘Imij and Co.’
banner and visit territories such as Canada, Miami, Jamaica,
Barbados, Antigua and the Cayman Islands, to name a few,
establishing themselves as one of the best touring bands
emerging from the island of Trinidad. The years spent
with ‘Imij & Co.’ were productive ones,
in which the boys became polished performers and solid
songwriters, creating memorable hits such as ‘One
Day’, ‘Push’, and ‘Runaway’.
In early 2005, Hans, Jon, Kees and Riad would part ways
with ‘Imij and Co.’ and form, KES THE BAND.
The objective this time: simply to create a new identity
for themselves in which people can respect the band for
the music they create, and their contributions to the
artform.
Not
an easy feat, but one that is being accomplished one step
at a time: whether by winning the praises of Mark McGrath,
performing as the opening band for ‘Sugar Ray’;
being featured as the only live act on the popular MTV
series “The Gauntlet II”; performing as one
of the few invited acts for the launch of MTV’s
network TEMPO – which now shows in over 17 countries
throughout the Caribbean; headlining a national touring
promotion for Coca Cola, such as ‘Rock Your Crib’,
with other major celebrities such as Machel Montano, and
Rikki Jai; or working extensively with internationally
renowned producer Derek Bramble on creating songs such
as ‘The Calling.’ A track which has been chosen
by ELECTRONIC ARTS SPORTS (EA SPORTS) to be placed on
on the soundtrack to their highly anticipated football
(soccer) game called FIFA 2006 – WORLD CUP EDITION,
which will debut on platforms such as PS2, X-Box &
X-Box 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on over 6 million
units shipped worldwide.
Other
members of KES THE BAND include, Keithson Cruikshank (keyboards)
and Richard Balgobin (vocal and rhythm sampling technician).
The addition of these professionals together with the
managerial expertise of S.E.G. (Sepetys Entertainment
Group based in Los Angeles) and Question Mark Entertainment
(based in Trinidad and Tobago) make a formidable team.
KES THE BAND is definitely a force to be reckoned with
and with plans to spread their gospel of Caribbean Pop
across the globe like a ‘bush fire’, it is
but a matter of time before the band’s name becomes
a familiar one in every household worldwide.
www.KesTheBand.com