Keb' Mo' enjoys musical independence

For 15 years, singer/songwriter Keb' Mo' recorded for Sony Music. Last month, he released his new CD "Live & Mo' " on Yolabelle International, his own independent label.

Mo', whose given name is Kevin Moore, said it was time he ventured off into the independent-musician world.

"I wanted to have me a musical outlet of my own," Mo' said during a telephone call from Alexandria, Va. "The music business got a little smaller. And it made sense to have an outlet of my own.

"Several years ago, I built a studio at my house, a place to make music. As an artist, I want to make sure I have a way to get the music to the public."

After a pause, Mo' added with a laugh: "If they want it."

The new CD features six live tracks and four studio tracks.

Among the studio tracks is a new version of "Victims of Comfort" and a band version of "A Brand New America," as well as new songs "Hole in the Bucket" and "Government Cheese."

The live tracks include "Perpetual Blues Machine," "Shave Yo' Legs," "More Than One Way Home," "The Action," "One Friend" and "Change."

Mo' said he decided on the live-track/studio-track format because it helped him launch Yolabelle International.

"This is the first go at it," he said. "So, like anyone who starts a new business, I started small. I started with a record that wasn't too expensive to record."

Mo' said finding the right live tracks for the CD was a major undertaking. He listened to a stack of recordings.

"Oh, yeah, I went through a whole lot of them," he said. "I found that I'm more persnickety that I thought I was.

"You record (live) during the circumstances. There's noise, and the band didn't know they were being recorded. And playing live, we were out there having fun.

"When I got home and listened to the recordings, it was like 'uh ooooh.'

"Things that get by when you're playing don't get by when you get down to critical listening."

Mo' said he hand-picked the studio tracks.

"I wanted to bring those songs back in the light again," he said. "I wanted them to be heard right now."

Mo' is comfortable playing solo, in duets and in a group, and the reason is simple.

"I think it's all different ways to do the same things," he said. "First, you're looking to communicate, to share ideas. You frame it in a way for people to hear it. (Playing) with other people there are different degrees of focus. I constantly have to tweak and make sure everybody is on board.

"I want to deliver a message; that's my hook. I try to do it in the most honest and sincere way I can, rather than just try to be different."

While Mo' hasn't had a chart-topping hit, he has songs that his fans adore. And he keeps that in minds when he plays live.

"I have a few that I have to play," he said. "The one — 'She Just Wants to Dance' — I have to play.