East Chicago’s Rhythm & Soul Fest Featuring “Kindred The Family Soul”

Kindred The Family Soul is simply Aja Graydon and Fatin Dantzler; artists, songwriters, lovers, and family. Both got their start as teenagers. In 1997 they were introduced via hip hop band, The Roots, production camp. Fatin was a hired gun to write songs for Aja’s solo project at the time. By the fall of 1998, they became husband and wife and while assuming the roles of a new couple and new parents.

They’d developed a strong creative chemistry for Aja’s solo project, so they decided to try performing as a team and Kindred The Family Soul was born.  Kindred developed a reputation for electric live performances featuring a 10-piece band. 

In 2003 Kindred The Family Soul released their debut album Surrender to Love. “Far Away” and “Stars” both became the top ten urban adult contemporary hits and anthems for lovers everywhere. The album received a Soul Train Award and a BET Award nomination. The group began producing events and showcasing new talent as well. One such event was “The Upper Room” featuring a then-unknown, John Legend, and Jazmine Sullivan. All after welcoming their 2nd child Diya into the world.

Their second album, “In this Life Together” was released in 2005. The project’s lead Single “Where Would I Be (The Question)” was a wonderful follow-up hitting the top 10 on urban AC radio and boasted crowd favorite, “Woman First”, an anthem addressing the sacrifices of women for their family and relationships.

 The 3rd album, The Arrival, was released in 2008. Singles like “House of Love” and “Just the Way You Are” continued the tradition of celebrating love and fortitude. Kindred began producing its own music videos and both songs were known for their touching visual stories.

In 2011 they released their first album with Purpose/Shinachie records, “Love Has No Recession”. An album about triumph over adversity and the enduring power of love. Critically acclaimed and compared in intent to the classic, “What’s Going On?” The album featured single “Magic” and “You Got Love” a surprising collaboration with Snoop Dogg offering a sixteen-bar verse about his love for his wife. The group also founded a media company, The Media Shack and produced and directed 5 music videos for the album. 

The 5th album, simply called “A Couple Friends” was released in 2014. Kindred along with Shinachie records produced a short film directed by hometown friend Jamal Hill, to accompany this album.  The group also wrote their first children’s book, “Mama said, “Clean Up!” based on a freestyle song performed by all their children and featured on the album.

In the Spring of 2015, they received an opportunity to be a part of a national commercial for Walmart. Highlighting the culture of the family reunion, Kindred The Family Soul and all six of their children were featured during a summer-long campaign. The commercial received over a million hits on YouTube and is still of the most-watched ads ever produced by the retail giant.

This Fall Kindred will be releasing their 6th studio album titled Legacy of Love. The lead single has already hit number 1 on the soul charts in the UK and top 40 on AC charts here in the States. Considered timely and needed the single titled,” All my People” paints a vision of equality, peace, and unity. 

You can find Kindred The Family Soul on social media Twitter @kindredthefam and @kindredthewife
 On Instagram @kindredthefam @kindredthewife @kindredshows
 On Facebook at Kindred The Family Soul and Kindred The Family Games and www.Kindredthefamilysoul.com