KMO Performs with a powerful message
Liberty University students hurried to see artist and musician Kristian Morris, better known as Kmo, perform some of his hit singles at this year’s Block Party.
Kmo has been in the music business since he can remember. He started playing the piano when he was 6 years old, and since then, he has created a vast array of music. In high school, he got a job at Chick-fil-A to pay for his first MacBook and mini keyboard. Since then, he has released 38 songs and has amassed over 1,500 monthly listeners on Spotify.
“I’ve done solo gigs before, with just me and a piano at a coffee shop,” Kmo said. “However, I’ve also been very privileged to work with Student Activities. Having a full band set up with a PA system, lights and a stage rig is incredible.”
Kmo’s eyes lit up as he described the rush of nerves and excitement before stepping on stage. After a few minutes of performing, his nerves fade, and he is able to enjoy sharing his art with those around him. While the thrill of performance is exciting for any musician, Kmo is not only a musician for this reason. His music has a purpose. While it is meant to be enjoyed, Kmo’s goal is to share Christ through everything he does.
“I want people to walk away from listening to my music having a higher view of God,” he said. “I always say that the result of my music is not entertainment, it’s edification. If I walk away and the most that I’ve done for my audience is entertain them, I’ve missed the point.”
There is one line in his music that emphasizes this point like no other. In “The Garden,” one of his most popular songs, a line states, “Soon we will be back in the garden where in love the Father wipes away our tears.” This line is based on Revelation 21:4, where the Bible says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
“I’ve done a lot of crying in my life because of losses and other hardships,” Kmo said. “I’ve had to look forward to a day where God himself will wipe away every tear and bring comfort to me. That image is a beautiful and amazing thing.”
Kmo is one of many students at Liberty with a dream in music production. While he has not gone without his share of bumps in the road, each one of them has taught him something valuable. The hardest thing that Kmo has had to learn is how to let go of parts of the music production process and learning that the division of labor is important in giving him focus on what he loves most.
He encourages anyone who is interested in music production to look for people that want to help them and have a similar passion for their vision. In Kmo’s eyes, in order to maintain a long-term music career, they need to know that doing everything by yourself is not sustainable.
Kmo will be graduating from Liberty University in the spring and hopes to move to city with a thriving in the music industry, such as Nashville or Atlanta, to pursue freelance music. He recently released a new single, entitled “The Window,” which is a part of a new album dropping in March 2023. When asked about his new album, Kmo smiled.
“It’s going to be different for sure,” he said. “I’m transitioning from pop to an R&B or soul genre of music. This album will also be much larger, including around 20 different songs. The next single from the new album will be released on Sept. 23, and it is called ‘Steady.’” Kmo’s music is available on Spotify where listeners can keep track of this up-and-coming artist as his career continues to take off, edifying and inspiring all who hear his music.
Falls is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion.