Meet Kenery Smith

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kenery Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kenery, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

True story—oddly enough, my purpose found ME.

I have always been a Creative spirit. As a child, I was quiet and introverted, so I mainly depended on my own imagination to keep me busy, even though I had an older brother (and later a younger one as well), and a loving attentive mother, who was also an amazing Creative in her own right. My father was also present for my entire life until his passing in 1994; but he was not a man who entertained much in the way of creativity or entertainment.

My father was very practical, focused on being the best provider, father and husband he knew how to be. And In spite of only having a formal 5th grade education himself, his goal was to raise educated young Black men in a world that did not support such a thing, nor make it easy to achieve.

So when my talent as an artist began to manifest at age 5, it was only seen by my father as an aside; however, my mother who also had a talent for drawing and writing, began to nurture that interest within me. A very spiritual person, my mother saw my gift as my purpose, and encouraged and supported it accordingly. And fortunately, so did many of my grammar school teachers.

However even though art was the gift that first manifested, I was soon shown my true direction and purpose in the form of what can only be described as a divine vision. At 8 years of age—even before I ever thought about music beyond the interests that every kid has of listening to it in one form or another; I had a dream one night that very vividly and very purposefully, laid out a glimpse into my future.

I was shown my future self; traveling to a foreign land with a small group of people, there to perform as a musician. At the time I had no idea what it meant because I was indeed just a kid. And it would be at least three years later before my interest in becoming a musician was piqued.

But in December of 1997, after being a professional musician for 8 years—I got the opportunity to travel to Europe for the very first time, to perform with a small Gospel ensemble. And the very first place I stepped foot off the tour bus in Europe to perform—was almost the EXACT hotel and town I saw in the vision I received at 8 years old.

That’s when I truly knew that music had been given to me as my purpose. And through music came the manifestation of my ability to express myself not only through instruments and song, but also through storytelling. Thus, my purpose was multi-layered to include writing, as well as my “first love”, art. God gave a shy little Black boy from the Robert Taylor housing projects, a few creative ways to break free, not only from the dangers and limits of my environment, but also from my own status as an introvert; to be able to express, and to name myself—in spite of the challenges that life presented for someone who looked like me and came from a place like the place I called home.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

What I do basically is tell my story, both through words and through music; sometimes even through visual art. And it is the most amazing thing to be able to speak your personal truths to the world. There is nothing more liberating and empowering; and nothing more frightening.

Because in order to speak your truths, you must be willing to be vulnerable. And in order to be vulnerable, you must do the work of learning and knowing yourself. So the first person you are narrating a story to is your own self. And you have to be willing to embellish as little of the story of you as possible, while constantly holding a mirror up to yourself in order to maintain your authenticity in the telling of that story. That includes the bad and the ugly, as well as the good.

But in doing so, you also create a means of self-healing and constant growth. And that is the best part of being a Creative; it’s the fierce authenticity it requires from ourselves.

I am simply a messenger and a conduit for whatever divine purpose God has seen fit to give me. Music and words are not simply created by me—but they are given TO me and flow THROUGH me. And that is the single most joyous thing to experience. So in return, I try to share that same experience, although second handed, with the world.

After 30+ years of being a professional musician, becoming a published author has been a revelation in a new/old space for me of creative expression. I have been writing and telling stories either through music or prose since childhood, but only now have those stories come together as a whole. My first publication was as a co-author in a book by author Jaime Gill entitled “Lessons For the Little Boy.” And that blessing of an opportunity provided by Ms Gill, led to the manifestation of the confidence to tell my own story through words with the publishing of my first memoir/self help book, “I Said What I Said.” Both books are available via my Author’s Page on Amazon.com, as well as through direct sales from my website, K2Sproductions.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe that curiosity, honesty, and perseverance have all served me well on my journey.

The curiosity to both know myself and the world. The honesty to accept my truths and to speak them out loud. And the perseverance to always move forward in those truths in spite of the pain and offer personal coat and sacrifice. Because to NOT do so is like a slow death.

My advice to those who are on their own journey of discovery, is to never get off that road. Take a temporary detour sometimes; catch your breath. Smell the flowers. Heal the wounds. Reap the benefits.

But NEVER stop learning, stop growing. Never stop manifesting. You owe it to not only yourself—but to the world, your contribution to the greater good of your experience, wisdom and knowledge.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Life.

I have been dealing with clinical depression for many years; ant least since my divorce, the pandemic, and the last few years being a caregiver to my mother up until her passing in 2024. And the current state of the world doesn’t help much.

But—I am not unique in this dilemma; not by a long shot. So as much of a challenge as it can be to get through each day, let alone accomplish some form of creativity; I cannot see myself ever giving up or giving in. I love God, myself, and life far too much to let depression win.

So I seek the help and support that I need, both professionally and personally. I pray and manifest my faith as much as possible. And I remind myself that purpose comes with not only reward, but responsibility. It comes with both pleasure and pain. And it comes with not only gain, but also with sacrifice.

And with purpose, there is no giving up or giving in. Because if you give up in your purpose, you give up on yourself. And that ain’t never gonna happen. If God saw fit to give me purpose, then He knew I could handle the responsibility if it. He saw me, and said to me, “you are important. You matter.”

And I’m gonna keep rolling with that. And so should you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://k2sproductions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenerysmith?igsh=ZWwwa25pd3ltY2U1&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musical.low.b
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenery-kent-smith-a222b816?
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kenery-Kent-Smith/author/B0D8HBT1X4?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits

Evan Marcus Imagery