Twenty years after conquering the charts with “Femme Like U“, K. Maro makes his comeback on stage. The artist speaks with sincerity about his atypical career and the reasons for his long absence.
“Femme Like U”: a timeless hit
“Give me your heart baby, your body baby…” These words still resonate in people’s minds, two decades after having invaded the airwaves. In 2004, “Femme Like U” by K. Maro became a real phenomenon, selling more than 5 million copies. The hit even won the title of song of the year at the NRJ Music Awards in 2005.
Even today, the song continues to appeal to a wide audience. K. Maro confides to Le Parisien: “The song records between 6 and 8 million streams per month”. A success that transcends borders, as the artist explains: “It was immediately a tidal wave in France. It was a hit later in Germany, Holland, Russia and Central Asia.”
It is so cult that Julien Doré covered it in his new album, “Impostor”.
K. Maro: the underside of a voluntary disappearance
Despite dazzling success, K. Maro chose to step away from the spotlight after the release of his third album. To Le Parisien, he reveals the reasons for this voluntary exile.
“In Canada, as in the United States, rappers wore big neck chains and baggy pants. In France, on TV sets, this style was caricatured and mocked”recalls the artist. He continues: “I played the game when, for example, a press officer invited me to come with a big watch on a show and I was asked the price.”
This image imposed by the industry ended up weighing on K. Maro: “I didn’t make this character, but it became my business. It took over the rest and I quickly got around it in the end.” Aspiring to return to a more serene life, he explains: “I wanted to find anonymity, tranquility.”
A rebirth away from the spotlight for K. Maro
Far from the French music scene, K. Maro, whose real name is Cyril Kamar, has multiplied his experiences. He resumed his studies in finance, opened a restaurant in Miami and a nightclub in Montreal. In 2022, he embarked on a new adventure by opening an art gallery.
“I tried things. I came back to what was essential, finding talent in music and art,” confides the one who also suffered from depression. Drawing on his experience, he has produced around sixty artists, including the singer Shy’m.
Now 44 years old, K. Maro lives in Montreal with his wife and their 3-year-old daughter. He savors this new life: “I produce the artists I love, combining music and contemporary art. I give the concerts I want. I have always been free, that’s my greatest pride.”
On the occasion of 20 years of “Femme Like U”K. Maro returns to the stage for an event concert at the Casino de Paris this Tuesday, October 15.
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