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L-R: Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds (not touring with group), Jason Edmonds, Seated: Keith Mitchell; Photo Credit: Lionel Deluy It’s been 21 years since the release of After 7‘s last album, Reflections. Now, founding members brothers Kevon and Melvin Edmonds and Keith Mitchell and Melvin’s son, Jason Edmonds are back with their hit single “Let Me Know” and a forthcoming new album, Timeless.
Keith gives credit to iconic music producer, and brother of Kevon and Melvin, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, for After 7’s comeback.
“I think one of the things that kept us from coming back over the past 10, 12, 15 years was that Melvin wasn’t a part of the group and the possibilities of recording just wasn’t a possibility, because we, as After 7, cherish what Melvin brings to the table, vocally,” began Mitchell.
“But Babyface intervened, God intervened, got in Kevon’s ear. The rest is history,” he adds.
As for After 7’s current hit single, “Let Me Know,” Mitchell describes how the song came to fruition, also thanks to Grammy award-winning producer, Tony Dixon.
“I think over time when we first started recording, he [Dixon] kept tipping into the room and tipping into the room and hearing bits and pieces of the project. And over a period of time, I think about five or so songs deep, him and his people came up with a couple of tracks!” Mitchell says.
“And wanted to get in on the party, so he brought some heat. And it was heat.”
And in case you were wondering what it’s like to work with Babyface, Kevon is here to tell you that that it feels like home.
“I think all of the pretense and all those other things that I think, the awe, and all those other things that I’m sure come into play when various other artists work with Babyface and to know his body of work and that, ‘You’re in here with the Master!’ or whatever, it’s a different feeling. But for us, it’s family.”
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